3–2 Vote Puts Measure on Ballot Asking to Annex and Develop County Land—Breaking Urban Limit Line
The Road Is OK, Development All Along It Is Not
The East Bay Regional Park District’s Doolan Canyon property. Photo by Scott Hein
Save Mount Diablo and allies in Dublin and Livermore are preparing responses to the Dublin City Council vote.
That vote put a measure on this November’s ballot that would call for the annexation of the southern end of Doolan Canyon.
Southern Doolan Canyon is located along Highway 580, and is the site of the beautiful Crosby property between Fallon Road and Airway Boulevard.
The East Bay Regional Park District’s Doolan Canyon property. Photo by Scott Hein
The supposed purpose of the annexation would be to construct an extension of Dublin Boulevard and connect it with North Canyons Parkway in Livermore, north of I-580.
We’re fine with the road, but the problem is, Dublin also wants to put commercial development all along the Crosby property, destroying the only open space between Dublin and Livermore.
A road extension could help circulation. But unnecessary development along it could overwhelm any improvements, as well as cutting off the only wildlife corridor in the flat land of the valley.
Development along the road would also impact Cottonwood Creek, and cause Dublin and Livermore to merge with each other, creating Los Angeles–style sprawl.
Save Mount Diablo staff, volunteers, and allies touring open space near Dublin. Photo by Scott Hein
The City Council Vote
The vote on Tuesday, July 16 was three to two. Councilmember Kashef Qaadri and Mayor Michael McCorriston voted against putting the measure on the ballot.
Vice Mayor Sherry Hu and Councilmembers Jean Josey and Janine Thalblum voted for it.
Councilmember Qaadri thought the environmental impacts of the proposal outweighed the uncertain financial benefits, and that the project is premature while Dublin negotiates with Livermore on a compromise.
Cottonwood Creek and the Crosby property. Photo by Scott Hein
Mayor McCorriston cited revenue and financial concerns. We thank both Councilmember Qaadri and Mayor McCorriston for their vote.
This Would Break the Urban Limit Line Dublin Voted to Uphold
This proposal would bust the 10-year-old Urban Limit Line for commercial development on the greenbelt between Dublin and Livermore, at the request of the owner of the Crosby property.
Doolan Canyon is the only county land remaining between Dublin and Livermore.
Cottonwood Creek and the Crosby property. Photo by Scott Hein
Time has shown that merging two cities into one with development, “LA-style,” is never a good idea.
A concern of ours is that Dublin wants to also build commercial and industrial uses all along the road, eliminating the open space buffer between Dublin and Livermore.
Save Mount Diablo, Dublin, and Allies Saved Doolan Canyon 10 Years Ago
We and our allies are considering all our options. Ten years ago, Save Mount Diablo and other community groups sponsored an initiative that created an Urban Limit Line on the east side of Dublin.
People campaigning for open space near Dublin.
The initiative passed, stopping a 2,000 housing-unit development called “Dublin Preserve” on 2,000 acres in Doolan Canyon.
Our Urban Limit Line initiative was adopted by the Dublin City Council in June 2014, but then we had to defend it from the “Dublin Preserve” developers’ Measure T in November 2014.
We won in a landslide with 84 percent of the vote.
The same partners who helped us win in 2014 are now discussing what steps to take in light of Dublin’s interest in breaking the Urban Limit Line.
The East Bay Regional Park District’s Doolan Canyon property. Photo by Scott Hein
What’s Next?
The Crosby property is between Dublin and Livermore but not part of either city. It’s currently unincorporated land controlled by Alameda County.
Dublin wants to develop it. Livermore would like it to be protected.
If the two cities can agree on a compromise, we’re OK with the road.
However, building commercial and industrial developments along its entire span (and outside the Urban Limit Line that we created) is concerning.
That’s because these developments would eliminate the green space buffer between Dublin and Livermore.
Save Mount Diablo and our partner organizations and residents are considering future steps, even a “no” campaign against this Urban Limit Line–busting, greenbelt-destroying measure.
