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Residents interested in learning more about Danville’s Magee Preserve project are invited to the property’s first-ever PumpkinFest on Saturday during which attendees will have the opportunity to explore the property and join in on some Halloween-themed activities.
The day will begin at 10 a.m. with a two-hour guided hike of the Magee Preserve led by Save Mount Diablo’s land conservation director Seth Adams, offering residents the opportunity to explore the scenery of the area.
Interested residents who will be unable to attend the hike are still invited to PumpkinFest’s other activities starting at noon, which will include inflatable fun houses, shaved ice, face-painting and other activities — plus, the first 200 kids that attend can take home a pumpkin from the preserve’s pumpkin patch.
Activities and the pumpkin patch will be held from 12-3 p.m. at 21 San Andreas Dr., Danville.
Halloween costumes are welcome, said organizers, who encourage attendees to RSVP online at www.mageepreserve.com.
The Magee Preserve project is a proposed 69-home development centered on the south side of Diablo and Blackhawk roads, with the main entrance to the housing complex being based adjacent to Jillian Way. The project would develop approximately 29 acres — or 7% — of the 410-acre property, with the remaining 381 acres of open space preserved by the town on a permanent basis.
The project has proven divisive among residents in Danville, with some who fear the site will create increased traffic in the area. Voters in Danville will have the opportunity to approve or deny the development proposal themselves during an upcoming election in 2020. According to Danville officials, the Town Council will select a date for the election during its regular meeting on Nov. 5.
Magee Preserve proponents have previously said that they will be launching a series of hikes on the Magee property — such as the PumpkinFest morning hike — to help residents become more acquainted with the potential open space that may become available to them.
Shouldn’t normal journalistic standard dictates the following to be included?
“Ad paid for by Yes on Open Space, a Coalition of Danville Environmental, Business, and Community Leaders to Preserve 381 Acres of New Public Open Space; Committee major funding from Davidon Homes.”
Agreed, Real Resident of Danville. It would have been appropriate to seek input from the opposition before printing this fluff piece for Davidon Homes.
Public safety is in jeopardy from this appalling project—-flooding, erosion, increased fire hazards in an area known to have no reasonable chance of fully evacuating in an emergency. Indeed, the site of the ranch off of Blackhawk Road is designated in the 2030 Danville General Plan as having “EXTREME WILDFIRE THREAT TO DEVELOPMENT” (Figure 22). The Plan goes on to say (P. 6.12) “CONSISTENT WITH STATE LAW, THE TOWN DECLARED CERTAIN AREAS IN DANVILLE IN 2008 AS VERY HIGH FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES. THE AREAS RECEIVING THIS DESIGNATION WERE IN THE THE VICINITY OF MAGEE RANCH, OFF OF DIABLO ROAD WHERE SINGLE FAMILY HOMES ARE IN IMMEDIATE PROXIMITY TO FIRE-PRONE HILLSIDES.”
And by the way, Save Mt. Diablo, the group that is leading the hike today and continuously promoting this project to the naive public, received at least $10,000 from the previous developer, SummerHill Homes. SMD has no business promoting this project without a disclaimer about the funds they have received from the developer(s). I used to support SMD, but no more. SMD uses projects like this—–which will result in NO PARKLAND, and contrary to Davidon’s claims, NO PUBLIC OPEN SPACE LAND—- to build up its cred with developers so it can get them to support SMD for projects that actually result in land being added to Mt. Diablo State Park. This will be a big win for SMD if they can help Davidon ram this down our throats, endangering our safety, our property,and basic standards for quality of life.
Btw, SummerHill pulled out after the Town Council lost the lawsuit about the project. Davidon specializes in coming in on highly controversial projects and successfully shoving them down an unwilling public’s throat through massive expensive publicity campaigns such as are being waged here.
Town of Danville voters: PLEASE DON’T BE DUPED BY DAVIDON and SMD!
As usual these comments are from the people who oppose this wonderful development just to keep others from enjoying what they enjoy. They are doing this because they are selfish. They have their homes and want to deny others what they have.
What Mary said.