Government agency tells Modesto to hit the brakes on putting urban limit on 2020 ballot
The government agency that regulates cities’ boundaries has raised red flags over Modesto’s proposed urban limit line, saying the city is not following the normal process to set boundaries for its growth.
Mayor Ted Brandvold is leading the effort to have the city place an urban limit line on the November ballot for voter approval. The City Council will hold a Thursday workshop on this and could vote at its July 7 or July 14 meeting on whether to place the limit line on the ballot.
The Stanislaus Local Agency Formation Commission sent a June 23 letter to Brandvold and the City Council. “LAFCO respectfully requests the City Council direct its Staff to initiate the standard land-use planning process ... .”
That process includes amending the city’s general plan, which serves as blueprint for a city’s growth, conducting an environmental review and extensive public outreach, all of which could take more than a year.
LAFCO states in its letter that following the standard process “would provide a more reasonable opportunity for engagement with affected agencies and persons ... prior to the City Council’s adoption of a ULL and submittal to voters.”
City spokesman Thomas Reeves said it was too soon for Modesto officials to comment because the city just received the letter.
LAFCO is concerned that the proposed urban limit line includes land outside of what is called Modesto’s sphere of influence. A sphere is a LAFCO-approved boundary outside of the city limit but where a city can expect to grow through annexations, which also are approved by LAFCO.
That land includes 1,164 acres along the west side of Highway 99 in Wood Colony, the close-knit farming community. Brandvold has talked about how Modesto needs that land for business parks and jobs and to help secure Modesto’s economic future.
Modesto ‘putting the cart before the horse’
But many Wood Colony residents are outraged and see it as one more attempted land grab by Modesto. They say they don’t believe an urban limit line will protect them, and once development starts it will not stop, eventually destroying their 151-year-old community.
“Thank you LAFCO,” said Lisa Braden, a member of the Wood Colony Community Association and Municipal Advisory Council. “Once again it’s the city putting the cart before the horse. I just honestly feel that’s what they are doing. I’m glad LAFCO ... told them they are doing it backwards.”
Modesto could put an urban limit line on the ballot then start the planning process outlined by LAFCO. But even if voters approved the urban limit, there is no guarantee LAFCO would approve Modesto’s land-use changes.
Brandvold said in a text that the city appreciates LAFCO’s response, and it’s why the city sent 143 letters to government officials seeking input. But he did not respond to a follow-up text on why Modesto, which has planning and land-use experts, did not follow the normal process.
The agenda for Thursday’s workshop states council members also will hear a presentation about and discuss a proposed residential limit line. There is no agenda report explaining this proposal. Reeves referred questions to Brandvold, who did not respond to a text about this.
Modesto moved the potential vote on placing an urban limit line on the ballot to its July 7 or July 14 meeting to allow the public to attend the council meeting after Wood Colony residents complained about being shut out of the decision.
COVID-19 could keep meetings closed
Modesto has barred the public from attending council meetings in person because of the new coronavirus pandemic. But the public can watch a livestream of the meetings and participate by email, which they can do at Thursday’s workshop.
Modesto expects to allow the public to attend council meetings in July. But Reeves cautioned because Stanislaus County has seen a recent spike in COVID-19, which is the disease caused by the coronavirus, that might not happen.
Reeves said city officials understand the public needs to attend meetings when items of public importance are considered, but the city has to balance that against the public’s health and safety during the pandemic.
Brandvold has said Modesto has until July 20 to get a ballot measure to the county to ensure it gets on the November ballot.
The public can watch a livestream of Thursday’s council workshop — which starts at 10 a.m. — at http://media.modestogov.com. The public can send emails of no more than 250 words to ccmeetings@modestogov.com.
This story was originally published June 24, 2020 at 3:00 PM.
