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As residents in Danville continue to debate the merits of the Magee Preserve project, the Town Council is working to carry the process along and has officially selected the statewide primary election on March 3 as the date the referendum will appear on the ballot.
Confirmed on Nov. 5 during the council’s regular meeting, come March 3 residents will have the opportunity to either vote in favor of the town-approved Magee Preserve project, or vote no against it.
With election costs associated per voter estimated at between $2 to $3, town staff estimate the special election will cost approximately $60,132 to $90,198 in total
Proposed by Walnut Creek-based developer Davidon Homes, the Magee Preserve project consists of building 69 homes on the south side of Diablo Road and Blackhawk Road.
Located on a 410-acre property, the Magee Preserve would develop approximately 29 acres — or 7% — of the project site for housing, with the remaining 381 acres preserved as open space on a permanent basis. That open space would then be opened to the public with a variety of hiking and biking trails combing throughout the property.
Approved by the council back in July, some residents in the area created a petition seeking to deny the project due to fear of increased traffic and a general opposition to any form of development on the property.
The process is still ongoing, and supporters and opponents to the Magee Preserve will have until Dec. 18 to submit ballot arguments making their case, according to town staff. After initial arguments are filed, both sides will then have the opportunity to file rebuttal arguments if filed by Dec. 23.
To help provide a resource for residents to learn more about the project and election process, the town has created a website with additional information.
The traffic on Diablo is already congested! We will see longer wait times at lights and more angry drivers.
The developers, who have paid for all the fancy signs, will make their money and not have to suffer the consequences of more crowding and pollution.
Vote NO to Magee Preserve
This is a housing development!!!! A vote of yes will reduce the open space. The developer has cut down a forest to send me all the slick brochures.
I’m still on the fence. I agree traffic and safety on Diablo Road is an issue and 59 houses in this development will make it directionally worse. However, I have not seen anything from those opposing the development on their end-game. If successful in blocking this development, it will not solve the existing problem. Are they suggesting to hold any development hostage until Diablo Road is widened? There seems to be a lot of emotion and name calling, but the critical issue appears to be traffic on Diablo Road.
Diablo Road will never be widened – the cost is too astronomical. I’ve been on the fence about this developments but ultimately I’ve decided on NO. I kept and open mind, I attended the open house event and admittedly got caught up in the “big shiny toy” of new trails and open space being waved in front of me. Shortly after, reality sank back in – I don’t want 69 McMansions crammed on 1/3 acre lots. I don’t want 800 plus extra vehicle trips per day on a narrow road that is already congested during peak hours. I don’t want more overcrowded schools for my children. I worry about the risk of fire evacuation. I want the beautiful views, open hillsides and clean air kept for generations to come. I don’t want more wildlife being driven out with more housing developments. I want property values to stay high for all my neighbors. NO ON MAGEE PRESERVE.
Thank goodness NIMBY Diablo residents cannot vote in this election. This is a beautiful project for The Town of Danville. Diablo- it sure looks like you enjoy your pearly gates and want to lock everyone else out of the area.
Hi, Town of Danville Voters. Please read the article below that appeared on Nextdoor yesterday. Then VOTE NO on March 3rd to the rezoning of Magee Preserve to allow 69+ houses to be built.
From Dr. Clelen Tanner:
“How many people can evacuate in a wildfire emergency when the only escape route is a two-lane substandard width, winding road with blind curves, no shoulders, trees, poles, walls, and a deep creek perilously close to the road edge?
The answer to that question demonstrates why public safety considerations alone require that Town voters VOTE “NO” in the March 3rd election. Vote “NO” to the rezoning needed for the phony Magee “Preserve” 69+ home residential development on Open Space land.
In the aftermath of the tragedy in Paradise last year during the Camp Fire, USA Today-California Network staff undertook an analysis of roads in Paradise and why people couldn’t escape. The bottom line is that there were too many people on too narrow roadways.Here’s a link to the analysis:
https://apnews.com/6f621c1c54734d0b95d374556c2cf5c0
Paradise had more than 1,000people per lane trying to escape. The eastern Diablo Road/western Blackhawk Road corridor has 1526 people needing to escape per lane(based on Town Attorney’s average of 2.71 residents per Danville household; and 1126 existing homes from the Diablo Road/Green Valley/McCauley Road intersection east about 3 miles to the Blackhawk Tennis Villas just below the soccer field).
The 1526 doesn’t even count the 135 permanent residents at Athenian School and the additional 470 students that are there every school day.
And that’s in an area designated by the Town of Danville 2030 General Plan (Figure 22) as having wildfire hazards that are an “Extreme Threat to Development”.
Based on Danville averages, the phony Magee “Preserve” project will add about 185 residents, plus those that live in the attached second residential units (7 required, 50 possible), to this potential disaster. Given the large size of the luxury homes (about 3200 to4500 sq. feet), there may be far more than 185 residents living in the homes.
So that’s perhaps 200 more residents trapped in a wildfire, or preventing others from escaping.
It’s no wonder that two fire chiefs that live in the corridor urge you to VOTE “NO” on the rezoning to allow 69+ more homes to be added to this potential disaster.
Please, protect your family and your neighbors from the overreach of special interests and a complicit Town Council. On March 3rd, vote your conscience—VOTE “NO”. ”
Thank you, Dr. Tanner!