In Meet Around the Greenbelt—

Memoriam Farmer Al Regional Reports.

PAGE 2 PAGE 3 PAGE 3

GreenbeltAction P R O T E C T I N G O P E N S PA C E A N D P R O M O T I N G L I V A B L E C O M M U N I T I E S

BAY AREA’S LAND CONSERVATION AND URBAN PLANNING NONPROFIT SAN FRANCISCO ■ FAIRFIELD ■ SAN JOSE ■ SANTA ROSA ■ WALNUT CREEK FALL 2002

YOUR VOTE COUNTS!

Greenbelt endorses Measure I because it
would protect approximately 400
Measures on acres of open space and preserve
the Ballot a critical part of Marin County’s
spectacular ridgelines. For more
information, contact Kelly
DAN FAHEY
Brown, Greenbelt Alliance
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
Sonoma-Marin Field Represen-

O
pen space protec- tative, (707) 575-3661, kbrown
tion and smart @greenbelt.org.
growth don’t hap- California Proposition 50 is
pen by accident. a $3.44 billion bond to fund water
Every year, people quality projects, purchase coastal
concerned about how and where lands, and restore wetlands
the Bay Area grows take action statewide. Proposition 50 would
to preserve our greenbelt and provide hundreds of millions of
create livable communities. Vot- dollars to the Bay Area to pro-

© Richard Rollins
ing is a particularly important tect wetlands and watersheds,
and effective way to make the and is endorsed by the Trust for
Bay Area a better place, and Public Land, Save the Bay, and
every year voters decide signif- the Nature Conservancy.
The future of the Fremont hills will be decided by voters in November.
icant open space and commu- Although at the time of print-
nity development issues at the ing this newsletter Greenbelt and moderate-income first-time shelter programs and loan assis- For more information, contact
ballot box. homebuyers. Greenbelt Alliance tance for first-time homebuy- Natalie Dumont, Greenbelt
This year, Bay Area res- endorses Proposition B because ers. Greenbelt Alliance endorses Alliance Solano-Napa Field
idents will vote on several Greenbelt Alliance it would direct funding to afford- Proposition 46 because it will Representative, (707) 427-2308,
local and state ballot Nov. 2002 Positions able housing in the city, set a vastly increase affordable hous- ndumont@greenbelt.org.
measures addressing positive example for other Bay ing options in the Bay Area and California Proposition 51
open space, housing and Local Area cities, and provide a criti- other urban areas of California. would redirect 30% of state taxes
transportation issues. cal complement to state funds For more information, visit collected on motor vehicle sales
The results of these votes Fremont’s Measure T Yes for affordable housing. For www.prop46yes.org/. and leases from the General
will affect our quality of more information, visit www. Fund to a special fund for trans-
life for years to come. San Francisco’s Prop B Yes voteyesonb.org. TRANSPORTATION portation improvements. The
In Sonoma County, Wind- Solano County’s Measure E money would pay for road and
OPEN SPACE
Solano’s Measure E Neutral sor’s Measure X is a growth would increase the County sales highway expansion, intercity rail
In Alameda County, Tiburon’s Measure I Yes cap initiative that would limit tax by 1/2 cent to fund trans- projects, safety and security
Fremont voters will con- the number of residential portation improvements includ- measures, and clean air pro-
sider Measure T, which Windsor’s Measure X No building permits within the ing bus and rail service and grams. Greenbelt Alliance
seeks to protect the city’s city to an average of 75 units local road maintenance. How- opposes Proposition 51 because
undeveloped hills from State annually. Of these permits, ever, Measure E would also it would take funds away from
sprawling development. an average of 25 a year would finance highway expansions other important state budget
The measure would main- Proposition 46 Yes be earmarked for the city's that are likely to increase traf- priorities, such as education and
tain existing use of the downtown. Affordable hous- fic congestion and accelerate health care, rather than cre-
hills for agriculture, out- Proposition 51 No ing for very low, low and mod- uncontrolled sprawl develop- ate new funding sources for
door recreation, very lim- erate incomes would be ment into rural Solano County. transportation improvements.
ited residential develop- exempt from the ordinance. Greenbelt Alliance has taken a For more information, visit
ment, and open space. Greenbelt Alliance had not established a Greenbelt Alliance opposes neutral position on Measure E. www.votenoonprop51.org/. ■
Alliance endorses Measure T formal position on Prop. 50, the Measure X because it would
because it establishes needed focus of the proposition is gen- limit Windsor’s ability to pursue FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THESE AND OTHER
protection for Fremont’s rolling erally in line with our goals. For compact infill development BALLOT MEASURES, VISIT:
hills, including important habi- more information visit within its urban growth bound-
tat, watershed, and recreational www.calvoter.org/2002/. ary and redirect pressure for California Online Voter Guide
lands. For more information visit new housing onto neighboring http://www.calvoter.org/2002/
www.fremonthills2002.org/. HOUSING communities. For more infor- The League of Women Voters of California
In Marin County, Tiburon’s San Francisco’s Proposition B mation, contact Kelly Brown, http://ca.lwv.org/
Measure I would prohibit devel- would create $250 million in Greenbelt Alliance Sonoma-
California Official Voter Information Guide
opment of designated “prime bond funding to finance the Marin Field Representative,
http://www.ss.ca.gov/elections/elections_
open space” on Tiburon Ridge. acquisition, construction and/or (707) 575-3661, kbrown@green-
viguide.htm
The measure would only pro- rehabilitation of housing for low- belt.org.
hibit multi-lot development and moderate-income house- California Proposition 46 is Links to sources are provided for information only and do not
constitute endorsement.
plans and would exempt afford- holds. It would also provide a $2.1 billion bond to fund
able housing. Greenbelt Alliance downpayment assistance for low- affordable housing, emergency

1
 MISSION

In Memoriam
TOM STEINBACH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
To make the nine county
San Francisco Bay Area a
better place to live by pro-
tecting the region’s green-
belt and improving the
orld-renowned wilderness photographer and livability of its cities and

W writer Galen Rowell, and his wife and busi- towns. We work through
ness partner Barbara Cushman Rowell, a pho- public policy development,
tographer and writer in her own right, died advocacy and education, in
August 11, 2002 in an airplane crash out- partnership with diverse
side of Bishop, California. coalitions.
Galen and Barbara Rowell shared a boundless passion for pre-
serving nature. Among their many legacies, the Rowell’s created CENTRAL OFFICE
a vast library of images documenting the beauty of the Bay Area 530 Bush Street, #303,
and its greenbelt. The Rowell’s and their company, Mountain San Francisco, CA 94108
Light Photography, also generously lent their services and images 415-398-3730
to many environmental and land use organizations, including info@greenbelt.org
Greenbelt Alliance. www.greenbelt.org.
It is with profound sadness and deep admiration that we mourn
the passing of Galen and Barbara Rowell. SONOMA-MARIN OFFICE
For more information on Galen and Barbara Rowell, visit 50 Santa Rosa Ave., Suite 307,
www.mountainlight.com. ■ Santa Rosa, CA 95404
707-575-3661
kbrown@greenbelt.org
From top:
Galen and Barbara Rowell SOUTH BAY OFFICE
Spring wildflowers beneath black oak tree, 1922 The Alameda, Suite 213,
Ohlone Regional Wilderness. San Jose, CA 95126
Aerial view of San Francisco and the 408-983-0539
Golden Gate Bridge from over Marin County. acrealock@greenbelt.org
Three photos: Galen Rowell/Mountain Light
EAST BAY OFFICE
1601 North Main St., Suite 105,
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
925-932-7776
estivers@greenbelt.org

SOLANO-NAPA OFFICE
725 Texas Street, Fairfield,
CA 94533, 707-427-2308
ndumont@greenbelt.org

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Officers
Michelle Yesney, President
Betsy York, Development
Vice President
Ignacio Dayrit, Policy
Vice President
David Azevedo,
Secretary-Treasurer
Guadalupe Arellano, Lynn Bagley,
Bob Berman, David Bomberger,
Roberta Borgonovo, Andrew W.
Butler, Janet Byron, Peter Cohen,
Zach Cowan, Don Dickenson, Tina
Duong, Volker Eisele, Marilyn Farley,
Robert Hambrecht, Bud Johns,
Robert E. Johnson, Vivian Kahn,
Jake Mackenzie, Jean McCown,
Trish Mulvey, Andrew Nash, Marcus
O’Connell, Annette Rose, Cindy
Rubin, Margaret Spaulding, Michele
Stratton, Ellen Straus, Dee
Swanhuyser, Laney Thornton,

Endangered Spaces
George D. Tuttle, Gary Zimmerman

Give the gift of Staff

Tom Steinbach, Executive Director •

Photo Exhibit the greenbelt! Rachelle Acuña-Narvaez, Internet

Outreach Coordinator • Blair
Alpert-Sandler, Systems Coordinator
• Kelly Brown, Sonoma-Marin Field

A
photo exhibit by Greenbelt Alliance volunteer photographer

G
ive your friends a meaningful gift—a membership Representative • Elinor Buchen,
Richard Rollins exploring the “Endangered Spaces” of the to Greenbelt Alliance! With a donation of $60, your Associate East Bay Field Represen-
Bay Area will be held Oct. 19 to Nov. 27 at Saint Albert Hall friend will get a one-year membership and a copy of tative • Anne Crealock, Interim
Library at St. Mary’s College, Moraga. A reception and panel dis- 101 Great Hikes of the South Bay Field Representative •
Julie Cummins, Outings
cussion featuring Rollins and Eli Buchen of Greenbelt Alliance will Bay Area or Cooking Coordinator • Natalie DuMont,
be held from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Oct. 30. For more information visit Fresh in the Bay Area. Solano-Napa Field Representative •
http://greenbelt.org/regions/bayarea/event_rollins.html. ■ Give your friends a gift Dan Fahey, Communications
they’ll enjoy—and a gift Director • Jeremy Madsen, Field
Director • Anne Shelley, Director of
that makes a difference. Administration • Elizabeth Stampe,
Call Elizabeth at (415) Membership Coordinator • Evelyn
398-3730 or send us a Stivers, East Bay Field Represen-
tative • Janet Stone, Livalble
note that includes the
Communities Director • Rebecca
recipient’s name and Sutton, Bookkeeper • Mike
address. Be sure to note Tomlinson, Associate Development
this is a “Gift Member- Director • Steve Van Landingham,
Development Director • Megan
ship” on the envelope, Ybarra, Office Manager
and tell us your book
choice for the gift. We’ll Founder:
Dorothy Erskine (1896–1982)
do the rest! ■
PRINTED BY UNION LABOR ON RECYCLED PAPER

2
Member Profile: Farmer Al
A peach a day keeps sprawl at bay
DAN FAHEY grapes. The farm also features “When I first started farming, developments only provide
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR a delicious line of jams, chut- farmers cared about raising high a one-time shot in the arm
neys and marmalades made by quality food and saw themselves to the local economy and

A
l Courchesne, better
known as Farmer Al, is
the founder and owner of
the 120-acre Frog Hollow Farm
in Brentwood. A Bay Area native
and Greenbelt Alliance mem-
ber, Farmer Al planted his first
crop of peaches in 1976. In 1989
he changed his practices to farm
organically.
Frog Hollow Farm currently
produces 25 varieties of organic
peaches, nectarines, plums, plu-
ots, apricots, pears, and table
Becky Smith.
While other farmers around
him try to turn their fertile fields
into massive sprawl develop-
ments, Farmer Al promotes the
viability and importance of agri-
culture in Brentwood and east-
ern Contra Costa County.
“Brentwood enjoys a wonder-
ful marriage of incredible soils
and a great climate that make
this one of the most productive
farming regions in California, if
not the world,” says Farmer Al.
as stewards of the land. In too
many cases, that caring stew-
ardship has been replaced by
greed for development dollars.
“We need leadership, vision,
and public investment to pre-
serve agriculture in the Bay
Area. Investment in agriculture
is an investment in our future.
An economy based on agricul-
ture is sustainable, producing
dividends economically, aes-
thetically, and environmentally
for future generations. Sprawl
end up creating a lot of
problems in the future.
“Agriculture is a pre-
cious and irreplaceable
local resource that pro-
vides food for the entire
Bay Area and should be
protected for future gen-
erations.”
For more information
on Farmer Al and Frog
Hollow Farm, visit
www.froghollow.com. ■

A R O U N D T H E G R E E N B E LT

Stopping East Bay

(Contra Costa and Alameda Counties)
South Bay
(Santa Clara and
Our Coyote Valley Vision Project is
actively working with a diverse group of

sprawl and Evelyn Stivers

EAST BAY FIELD REPRESENTATIVE
San Mateo Counties)
Anne Crealock
INTERIM SOUTH BAY FIELD REPRESENTATIVE
stakeholders to evaluate smart growth
options for the development of Coyote
Valley, on the southern edge of San Jose.

spurring smart Eli Buchen

ASSOCIATE EAST BAY FIELD REPRESENTATIVE
Gilroy’s City Coun-
The Vision Project has taken on
increased importance since the City of

growth Our work intensi-

fies in Antioch,
cil voted earlier
this year to allow
development on
San Jose created a Coyote Valley Task
Force that consists mainly of landown-
ers and developers and largely excludes

throughout where developers

are pressuring the
660 acres of the
Santa Clara County
environmental, transit, and affordable
housing advocates.

the Bay Area. City Council to

approve a massive
5,000-unit sprawl
Agriculture Pre-
serve, but the bat-
tle to save “the
Sonoma and Marin
Counties
Anne Crealock
development in 660” is far from
Kelly Brown
Solano and Napa Counties Future Urban Area over. The county’s Local Agency For-
Evelyn Stivers SONOMA-MARIN FIELD REPRESENTATIVE
1 (FUA 1) south of mation Commission (LAFCO) must first
Natalie DuMont town. In August, Greenbelt Alliance co- approve changes to Gilroy’s boundaries.
SOLANO-NAPA FIELD REPRESENTATIVE
sponsored a town hall meeting on FUA We are now working with Gilroy resi- Greenbelt Alliance,
1 with the Sierra Club, Antioch Trail- dents to convince LAFCO to negate the along with the
In Solano County, masters, Save Mount Diablo, and other city’s plans to develop this prime chunk Sierra Club and
Greenbelt Alliance of the County’s dwindling other local envi-
is working with farmland. ronmental
elected officials In Morgan Hill, activists, has been
and open space Greenbelt Alliance is watching Sonoma
advocates to cre- taking part in the County’s General
ate a countywide Plan update pro-
Kelly Brown
Open Space Dis- groups, cess closely. The
trict that would which was county is expected to release a draft of
Natalie DuMont
help purchase attended by 150 the General Plan update this winter. After
and manage undeveloped lands and local residents. the draft has been released, Greenbelt
preserve farmlands. Greenbelt Alliance Alliance will release an assessment of the
In Fairfield and Benicia, we are work- is building on the proposed changes to the General Plan.
ing with local residents to strengthen momentum of this We are on track to complete the
smart growth policies currently in the meeting and is now Sonoma County land use audit next
cities’ general plans. In Vacaville, where working closely with spring. This project brings together
over 4,000 acres of farmland and open local activists, groups, a diverse group of environmental and
space are at risk of annexation and and agencies to pre- agricultural leaders to conduct a com-
development, Greenbelt Alliance will vent approval of this devel- prehensive assessment of land use
soon release a report documenting how opment. For more information, issues in Sonoma County. This one-
the city can pursue smart growth or to get involved contact year effort will examine the history,
instead of sprawl. For a copy of the Eli Buchen, (925) 932-7776, current condition, and future chal-
report, contact Natalie DuMont, (707) ebuchen@greenbelt.org. lenges affecting land-use and sprawl
427-2308, ndumont@greenbelt.org. In Livermore, in Sonoma County.
Napa County is nearing completion local activists are We are also working with hous-
of its housing element and is negotiat- gathering signa- ing advocates in Sonoma County
ing with the cities of Napa and Ameri- tures for a Fall to promote adoption of jobs-
can Canyon to accept some of the 2003 ballot meas- housing impact fees by each
County’s required housing. American ure to establish an municipality. This fee, which
Canyon, a sprawling suburb at the south- Urban Growth would apply to new commercial
ern border of Napa County, is asking a Boundary to pre- development, would
high price in return. Rather than accom- vent sprawl devel- provide much-needed
Eli Buchen
modating this new housing within its opment in North funding for the devel-
borders, American Canyon is requir- Livermore. The ballot measure will also City’s Task Force to amend the opment of affordable
ing that its boundaries be expanded, a create a Transfer of Development Credit growth cap measure and allow the housing. ■
move that could hasten the loss of open Program to encourage revitalization City to meet state affordable housing
space in southern Napa County. of the downtown. requirements. We are making sure that
the end result will promote livable,
affordable neigborhoods in town while
protecting the beautiful greenbelt that
surrounds Morgan Hill.

3
Endorsement Team Helps Create Livable
Communities
JANET STONE
LIVABLE COMMUNITIES DIRECTOR
G
reenbelt Alliance has long recog-
nized the importance of linking
the protection of open space with
the promotion of smart growth develop-
ment. Our efforts to establish urban
growth boundaries and fend off poorly
planned developments go hand in hand
with our support for livable communities
with housing choices and transportation
options. One important tool in our work
is the Compact Development Team.
The Team is a group of volunteers that
meets monthly to evaluate proposed devel-
opment projects brought to our attention
by Bay Area developers. Projects that meet
Redwood Shores Senior Housing in Vallejo is one example of a project
aided by an endorsement from Greenbelt Alliance.
San Francisco, CA
Permit No.9294
U.S. Postage Paid
Nonprofit organization
strict smart growth criteria will be granted
a compact development endorsement by
Greenbelt Alliance and receive our sup-
port for approval by the local planning
commission and city council. To gain
Greenbelt Alliance’s support, a project
must meet the following criteria:
■ Be located within an existing urban-
ized area;
■ Have a density of at least 20 units per
acre;
■ Promote transportation options
including public transit;
■ Make a percentage of the units afford-
able to low and moderate-income
households or contribute resources
to affordable housing;
Greenbelt Alliance brings non-traditional and highly
credible environmental community support to the table
and influences decision makers...Greenbelt Alliance
doesn’t just talk the talk, they walk the walk when it
comes to supporting infill development projects.
— Eric Morley
Morley Hunter Group, Inc., a San Jose based
real estate development advisory firm
■ Be pedestrian oriented; and, endorsed in 1996 and now provides 101
■ Strengthen a sense of community units of housing for low-income seniors
identity. and families.
Recent endorsements include proj-
Whenever possible, after sending an ects in Santa Rosa, Vallejo, Livermore,
official endorsement letter to the city, a San Leandro, Los Gatos, Berkeley, San
member of the team will also offer tes- Francisco, Santa Clara, Palo Alto, and
timony at a council or planning com- San Jose. Altogether, these endorsed
mission public hearing where the proj- projects and community plans represent
ect is being considered. This extra boost thousands of compact homes, apart-
of support is particularly useful when ments, condos and townhouses —many
the project faces tough opposition. of which blend shops and offices with
Over the last decade, Greenbelt the housing units—that have been, or
Alliance has endorsed more than 95 com- will be, built over the next decade.
pact infill projects, along with a number Our endorsement process leverages
of specialized community plans such Greenbelt Alliance’s credibility as a
as downtown or neighborhood-specific respected environmental and smart
plans. Many of these endorsed projects growth organization. Putting these kinds
and plans were subsequently approved of projects on the ground is one impor-
by local leaders and constructed. For tant way that Greenbelt Alliance is simul-
example, Orysom Village, an affordable taneously promoting livable communi-
housing complex in Fremont, was ties and protecting the greenbelt. ■
Greenbelt Alliance, 530 Bush Street, #303, San Francisco, CA 94108
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