Denny Jackman: Limits on Modesto’s sprawl coming to ballot

Never in the history of humankind has an assembly of resources been amassed that compares in scope or potential with the food-generating capabilities of the great Central Valley of California. Combine our natural resources with modern technology and one can see our importance to the world.

But we need political will to prevent us from sprawling out of urban communities and smothering our best food-producing soils.

We must direct growth into urban areas and away from our superior farmland and groundwater recharge areas.

In November, the Stamp Out Sprawl initiative will be on the Modesto ballot as Measure I. Nearly 10,000 voters signed petitions to place urban limits before voters. It will place boundaries on three sides of the city and direct development toward the east onto lesser soils. It will also have the effect of creating a land budget and bringing focus onto improving existing communities.

Urban limits are tools to assure self-determination for voters and taxpayers over where and when cities develop. Modesto voters are used to directing their council through advisory votes. But Measure I will be mandatory, requiring the Modesto City Council to get voter approval before planning or expanding beyond mapped limits. To see the limits, go to www.stampoutsprawl.com.

Other cities in Stanislaus County have taken action to manage urban areas. A supermajority of Newman voters adopted an urban limit in 2014. Other cities, such as Hughson, have adopted farmland protection measures, which require protection of 2 acres of farmland for each one developed. Mayor Richard O’Brien of Riverbank has said that the city will have an urban limit measure on the ballot in 2018.

So, what is your city doing to protect surrounding farmland?

Reasonable measures can be generated at the local level through a city council. If not, organize a local citizens initiative, just as the citizens of Modesto have done. After all, we are only trying to protect “the most productive agricultural area the world has ever known.”

This story was originally published July 9, 2015 at 7:00 PM with the headline "Denny Jackman: Limits on Modesto’s sprawl coming to ballot."