Lucky 13: A Record-
Setting Year for
Go Greenbelt!
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
Cause for Celebration:
Cowell Ranch on the Way
to Permanent Protection
EVELYN STIVERS,
EAST BAY FIELD REPRESENTATIVE
W
hen Green-
belt Alliance
began work-
ing for the
protection of
Cowell Ranch over a decade
ago, we never imagined how
long the campaign would
take. Now our perseverance,
focus and collaboration with
other organizations are
beginning to bear fruit. It has
been a lesson about the need
for strong, stable and vision-
ary organizations like
Greenbelt Alliance to
protect and advance
the Bay Area quality
of life for the long
term.
Cowell Ranch con-
tains 4,200 acres of
grasslands, 300 acres
of orchards, and is
the site of the historic
John Marsh home,
built in 1856, the first
Anglo homestead of
Contra Costa County.
Cowell Ranch was
once proposed for
major development.
Now, while there are
still hurdles ahead,
Cowell Ranch is in the
process of becoming a
new State Park!
The Cowell family,
famous for their lime-
stone processing
empire with land
holdings in 14
California counties,
purchased the ranch in 1924.
Samuel Henry was the last
heir to the family business,
and, when he died in 1955
leaving no relatives, the land
was willed to the Cowell
Charitable Foundation.
In 1991 the Cowell founda-
tion proposed a development
of 6,800 homes, 1.5 million
square feet of commercial
space, and a four-lane road
Housing Crisis
Report
PAGE 2
that would have passed with-
in 150 feet of the historic
John Marsh House. Greenbelt
Alliance launched a cam-
paign against the new town
proposal, gathering opposi-
tion to the development from
citizens, environmental
organizations, government
agencies, and unions.
Although the project propo-
nents slightly amended the
proposal and made large
donations to local agencies
and groups, opposition to the
development held. Frustrated
by the lack of support on the
Contra Costa County Board of
Cowell Ranch
contains 4,200
acres of grass-
lands, 300 acres
of orchards, and
is the site of the
historic John
Marsh home, built
in 1856, the first
Anglo resident of
Contra Costa
County.
Supervisors and the slow
pace of the planning process,
Nathaniel Taylor, vice presi-
dent of the Cowell
Foundation, shifted gears and
focused on annexing the land
to the city of Brentwood.
In 1991 the Foundation
moved a step toward develop-
ment with this new approach.
As part of Contra Costa
County’s process of tighten-
Card
SAN FRANCISCO ■ FAIRFIELD
ing their Urban Limit Line,
then Supervisor Joe
Canciamilla struck a com-
promise with the Cowell
Foundation, Trust for
Public Land, and
Signature Properties. In
exchange for permanent
protection of 4,000 acres,
approximately 400 acres
would be left within the
line and open to consid-
eration of development
by Brentwood.
Greenbelt Alliance
remained diligent, insist-
ing that the entire 4,400-
acre property be perma-
nently protected. This
hard work at the local
level complemented
strong efforts over the
last two years by the
Trust for Public Land
(TPL) to raise funds to
acquire the entire Cowell
Ranch and ultimately pro-
tect it as a new state park.
In July, TPL succeeded in
reaching its fundraising goal.
While there are still many
steps left on the way to State
Park status, we are hopeful
that the final transfer to TPL
will be completed by the fall.
For now we can celebrate
this historic benchmark in
our campaign to permanently
protect Cowell Ranch as open
space. ■
Around the
Greenbelt—
Regional Reports.
PAGE 3 PAGE 3
■ SAN JOSE ■ SANTA ROSA ■ WALNUT CREEK SUMMER 2002
Help Save Local
Farms from
the Bulldozers
Join a CSA Program!
ELIZABETH STAMPE, MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR &
JULIE CUMMINS, OUTINGS COORDINATOR
ne of the best things about summer is the fresh pro-
O duce-nectarines, peaches, strawberries, cherries, black-
berries, tomatoes, corn.... And what better way to get
the very freshest fruits and vegetables—while helping
to protect the
greenbelt—than
as a CSA member?
CSA stands for
Community Sup-
ported Agriculture.
In a CSA program,
community mem-
bers sign up to
receive a basket of
fresh produce
every week from a
local farm. By joining the farm’s CSA program and paying regu-
lar dues, CSA members support the farm directly and provide it
with a stable source of income.
Joining a CSA is a great way to support local agriculture, which
is under serious threat - much of the Bay Area’s farmland has
already disappeared under suburban sprawl. Though people might
not think of the Bay Area as agricultural, it is still home to more
than 7,500 farms producing almost every major crop you can think
Save Local Farms: Page 4
1
 MISSION

Lucky 13: A Record- To make the nine county

San Francisco Bay Area a
better place to live by pro-

Setting Year for Go Greenbelt! tecting the region’s green-

belt and improving the
livability of its cities and
towns. We work through
nd they’re off! 73 cyclists stream word about Greenbelt Alliance’s work to public policy development,

A away from the St. Francis Yacht

Club after a short introduction
to the 2002 Go Greenbelt! Bay
Area bike tour. The riders zoom through
the sunny morning, past the Golden Gate
protect open space and promote
smarter
growth—
building
within
advocacy and education, in
partnership with diverse
coalitions.

CENTRAL OFFICE
Bridge, disappearing into eucalyptus for- our exist- 530 Bush Street, #303,
est for the ride up and out of the Pre- ing cities, San Francisco, CA 94108
sidio. They are eager to get out to the instead of 415-398-3730
long coastal stretch and the winding paving info@greenbelt.org
wooded roads on the way to Los Gatos. A majestic valley oak shades a South Bay hillside over www.greenbelt.org.
From the 21st to the 28th of April, rid- farmlands
ers pedaled through the scenery that and wild- SONOMA-MARIN OFFICE
makes the Bay Area so unique—past lands. 50 Santa Rosa Ave., Suite 307,
lush, productive farmlands, along craggy They also Santa Rosa, CA 95404
coastlines, over fog-draped hills, and helped us 707-575-3661
across grasslands bursting with wildflow- to get A rider approaches Mt. Hamilton’s kbrown@greenbelt.org
ers. Riders also cycled past the suburban great summit
sprawl that threatens to overwhelm our media SOUTH BAY OFFICE
coverage by drawing attention to
1922 The Alameda, Suite 213,
threats to the greenbelt. And this year, San Jose, CA 95126
riders raised more funds than ever 408-983-0539
White lupines on Mines Road near Livermore before to help us fight those threats. acrealock@greenbelt.org
Many thanks to all of our volunteers
The perfect weather and gorgeous and sponsors, who helped make this EAST BAY OFFICE
scenery we had on the first day of this year’s success possible.
year’s Go Greenbelt! were characteristic of 1601 North Main St., Suite 105,
the entire seven-day ride. With more par- Walnut Creek, CA 94596
925-932-7776
estivers@greenbelt.org
A new McMansion for sale
SOLANO-NAPA OFFICE
open space, as new luxury developments
and strip malls spread outward from 725 Texas Street, Fairfield,
cities across the region. CA 94533, 707-427-2308
ndumont@greenbelt.org

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The whole gang gathers on Mount Tamalpais
Officers
Cheerful riders find a picturesque spot to rest Michelle Yesney, President
SIGN UP FOR NEXT YEAR NOW! Betsy York, Development
ticipants than ever before, the 13th annual Next year’s ride will be April 20–26, Vice President
Go Greenbelt! was our most successful yet- 2003—you can register for the ride now Ignacio Dayrit, Policy
the riders blew past our goal of $80,000, at: www.greenbelt.org/downloads/get Vice President
raising more than $91,000 to promote liv- involved/go_reg_form_2003.pdf David Azevedo,
able communities and protect open space! Sprawl and traffic outside Brentwood This year’s ride was dedicated to Secretary-Treasurer
Karen Salinger and Veritable Vegetable, Guadalupe Arellano, Lynn Bagley,
As they rode, Go in appreciation of their tireless support Bob Berman, David Bomberger,

Greenbelt lands Greenbelt! partici-

pants learned and
and donations of delicious organic pro-
duce for the ride.
Roberta Borgonovo, Andrew W.
Butler, Janet Byron, Peter Cohen,
Zach Cowan, Don Dickenson, Tina

threatened by slow
taught others about
the threat of sprawl
to our open space.
Special thanks also to Mike Kahn, who Duong, Volker Eisele, Marilyn Farley,
created the daily web journal of the ride Robert Hambrecht, Bud Johns,
Robert E. Johnson, Vivian Kahn,
—visit it at www.greenbelt.org/get

cap sales.
Jake Mackenzie, Jean McCown,
They spread the involved/events/go_photo_gallery.html Trish Mulvey, Andrew Nash, Marcus
O’Connell, Annette Rose, Cindy
Rubin, Margaret Spaulding, Michele
As you read this, demonic
bulldozers strain to escape
Our Sponsors Stratton, Ellen Straus, Dee
Swanhuyser, Laney Thornton,
Almaden Cycle Touring Los Gatos United George D. Tuttle, Gary Zimmerman
Urban Growth Boundaries, Club Methodist Church
devouring pristine open Alpine Meadows Magnolia Brew Pub Staff
Berkeley Bowl The Mindful Body Tom Steinbach, Executive Director •
space and frightening bun- Blue Waters Kayaking Moose’s Rachelle Acuña-Narvaez, Internet
nies. According to legend, Bonny Doon Vineyards Mountain Peoples Outreach Coordinator • Blair
only the sale of Greenbelt Café La Mediterranée Warehouse Alpert-Sandler, Systems Coordinator
Church of the Noah’s Bagels • Krista Brown, Program Assistant •
Alliance caps and t-shirts Incarnation Episcopal Oliveto Restaurant Elinor Buchen, Associate East Bay
will appease their wrath. Don’t Cowgirl Creamery Odwalla Field Representative • Anne
Davis Bynum Winery Peet’s Coffee & Tea Crealock, Interim South Bay Field
lie awake wracked with guilt because you Evergreen Valley Church Point Reyes Cheese Representative • Julie Cummins,
haven’t bought one. Falcon Trading Rainbow Grocery Outings Coordinator • Natalie
Funky Door Yoga Ravenswood Winery DuMont, Solano-Napa Field
Good Shepherd Redwood Hill Farms Representative • Brad Erickson,
Lutheran Church San Francisco Communications Director • Jeremy
ORDER FORM (PRICES INCLUDE TAXES) The General’s Daughter Symphony Madsen, Field Director • Jessica
Greens Restaurant Sierra Designs Parsley, Sonoma-Marin Field
No. Item Price Circle sizes Sub total Hayes Street Grill Sonoma County YMCA Representative • Anne Shelley,
The Inn On Tomales Bay St. Mark’s Lutheran Director of Administration •
____ Black logo hat $15 one size adjustable __________ Insalata’s Church Elizabeth Stampe, Membership
Jeremiah’s Pick St. Francis Yacht Club Coordinator • Evelyn Stivers, East
Special Prices on Vintage Models
John Bentley’s Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Bay Field Representative • Janet
____ White hat w/ green brim $10 one size adjustable __________ Restaurant Station House Café Stone, Livalble Communities
Joint Juice Straus Family Creamery Director • Rebecca Sutton, Office
____ Black logo tee-shirt: $8 medium only __________ Judy’s Breadsticks Sun Microsystems Manager • Mike Tomlinson,
Livermore Valley Ama- Terry Precision Cycling Associate Development Director •
teur Radio Club Timbuk2 Bags Steve Van Landingham,
Add $2.50 postage and handling to all orders. $2.50 Lagier Trader Joe’s Development Director • Rumika
Lagunitas Brewing Whole Foods Market Wijetunga, Bookkeeper
Total __________ Company Wildflour Bakery
Laurel Glen Vineyard Wildwood Natural Foods Founder:
Make checks payable to Dorothy Erskine (1896–1982)
Left Bank Wylder Inc.
Greenbelt Alliance, 530 Bush Street, #303, San Francisco, CA 94108 Los Gatos Athletic Club Zoic
PRINTED BY UNION LABOR ON RECYCLED PAPER

2
Answering the Housing Crisis: San Francisco
Bay Area Housing Crisis Report Card
Report Card reveals that the
Bay Area is in the midst of a
severe housing crisis and our
cities and towns are not doing
enough to solve the problem.
All Bay Area cities and coun-
ties were required by the state
to produce plans to meet their
“fair share” of affordable
housing needs by 2001. This
report is the first in-depth look
at how our cities and counties
sprawl development that drives
up infrastructure costs, sacri-
fices Bay Area hillsides and
farmlands, and snarls traffic
into ever more dismal com-
mutes. This trend is bad for
people, bad for the environ-
ment, and bad for our economy.
The solution is reachable. In
fact, the success of the seven
Bay Area cities on our “honor
roll” shows not only that it can
If you’re part of a city or
county government, a housing
advocate, an open space advo-
cate, a housing developer or
other concerned community
member, the San Francisco
Bay Area Housing Crisis Re-
port Card will show you where
your local government stands
in planning for affordable hous-
ing and how to improve those
efforts.
Key findings
72% OF BAY AREA GOVERNMENTS
ARE FAILING TO TAKE THE MOST
BASIC STEPS TO ADDRESS THE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING SHORTAGE.
THREE LOCAL ACTIONS COULD
DOUBLE THE PRODUCTION OF
AFFORDABLE HOMES: ALLOWING
MORE APARTMENTS TO BE BUILT,
DEDICATING LOCAL FUNDS TO
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND
ADOPTING INCLUSIONARY ZONING.

I
n June, Greenbelt Alliance
released a new report with
the Non-Profit Housing
Association of Northern Cali-
fornia examining the progress
of Bay Area cities and counties
in meeting the region’s hous-
ing needs. This Housing Crisis
are meeting this mandate. The
grades reveal that 72% are not
succeeding.
Unless addressed, this lack
of planning will force more peo-
ple to move farther away from
their jobs, spurring wasteful
be done but also how to do it.
Their leadership is a model the
rest of the region should follow
to meet our housing needs,
build our economy and protect
our environment now and in
the future.
The report is a free down-
load at www.greenbelt.org or
send $10 for a print copy to
Greenbelt Alliance, 530 Bush
St. #303, San Francisco, CA
94108. ■
LOCAL GOVERNMENTS HELPED
CAUSE OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING
SHORTAGE BUT ALSO HAVE THE
MEANS TO TURN FAILURE INTO
SUCCESS. ■

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
not to approve this boundary change
in the coming months.

sprawl and Evelyn Stivers

EAST BAY FIELD REPRESENTATIVE
San Mateo Counties)
Anne Crealock
INTERIM SOUTH BAY FIELD REPRESENTATIVE
In Santa Clara County, we sup-
ported policies limiting some lot line
adjustments. These limits will not

spurring smart Eli Buchen

ASSOCIATE EAST BAY FIELD REPRESENTATIVE
We have contin-
affect most residents but will help
slow the piece-meal urbanization of

growth from Greenbelt Al-

liance, Sierra
ued our work
with dedicated
Gilroy citizens to
Santa Clara County’s rural lands
while protecting hillsides and open
space.

Antioch to Club, and other

activists partici-
fight the devel-
opment of 660
Our new Coyote Valley Project
Coordinator, Francesca Tierney, has

Vacaville pating in the

campaign have
come to the diffi-
acres of Santa
Clara County’s
Agriculture
kicked off our Coyote Valley Visioning
Process. Francesca has pulled
together a diverse group of stakehold-
Anne Crealock
cult decision not Preserve. In April ers to begin discussing how to ensure
Solano and Napa Counties to pursue a refer- the City gutted the mitigation meas- that San Jose’s development in the
Evelyn Stivers
endum on the ures listed in the Environmental Coyote Valley incorporates smart
Natalie DuMont Camino Tassajara development. Al- Impact Report (EIR) but finally growth principles.
SOLANO-NAPA FIELD REPRESENTATIVE
though the project has significant responded to public outcry and
opposition, restored most of the mitigation in Sonoma and Marin
With a 5–0 and we are June, marking a small but Counties
vote by the important victory for local
Jessica Parsley
Fairfield activists. Originally
SONOMA-MARIN FIELD REPRESENTATIVE
City Council,
the city’s Gen-
eral Plan was We would like to
amended to pro- welcome Kelly
mote investment Brown, Green-
within Fairfield belt’s new Field
Natalie DuMont
and prevent Representative
sprawl from paving over agricultural confident for Sonoma and
lands and other open space. The Gen- the voters of Marin, who
eral Plan Amendments protect Travis Contra Costa began on July
AFB from encroaching sprawl, stop County 8th. She is cur-
Jessica Parsley
development from spilling into Green would deny rently getting
Valley and Suisun Valley, protect land the pro- settled in Santa Rosa, meeting local
north of Rockville Hills Park, promote posal, we do not activists and allies, and getting up to
mixed use and transit-friendly urban have the resources or speed on the issues of the region.
design, promote multifamily housing, sufficient lead time to Among these issues, Greenbelt
and increase Fairfield’s ratio of jobs get the decision on the Alliance has been working with local
to housing. Hats off to the City Coun- ballot. In addition, the housing advocates to establish a Jobs-
cil, the Citizens Committee to Protect developer, Shapell Indus- Housing Impact Fee in Sonoma
Travis, and the Alliance to Protect tries, paid the for-hire petitioning County’s jurisdiction and identify the
Farmland and Open Space for this teams needed for a county-wide regions/cities with strategic impor-
forward thinking land use decision! referendum not to contract with us. tance for promoting the Impact Fee.
Greenbelt Alliance has just Out in Antioch, The fee, which we hope to have
released a joint report entitled: “Bal- Greenbelt Alli- adopted by Sonoma County and
anced Transportation: Achieving Con- ance is continu- each of the county’s cities, would be
gestion Relief and Meeting Trans- ing to organize charged to new business devel-
portation Needs in Solano County”. local citizens opment and would help pro-
The report emphasizes that sprawl is against FUA 1, a vide much-needed funding
the primary cause of congestion that, massive 5,000 scheduled for for affordable housing in
highway dependent solutions can per- unit sprawl devel- January, the City the County. ■
petuate the problem, and that transit opment south of Council finally voted in
investments are critical to congestion Eli Buchen the city. In the June to include the “660” in
relief. next few months, we will be building their 20-year planning boundary, ear-
up citizen opposition to the develop- marking it for campus industrial
ment through petitioning, distributing development. But this isn’t the end of
door-hangers and educational events. the story. The Santa Clara County
This issue is expected to go before the Local Agency Formation Commission
City Council in the late fall. (LAFCO) will likely decide whether or

3
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www.greenbelt.org
info@greenbelt.org
415-398-3730
San Francisco, CA 94108
San Francisco, CA
Permit No.9294
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GreenbeltAction 530 Bush Street, #303

Nonprofit organization

Urban Outing affords a Save Local Farms from page 1

look at housing in Fremont
ho builds affordable housing? “People with heart,” responds
W one of the attendees at the June 1 Urban Outing in Fremont.
Planners, activists, elected officials and citizens gathered on a Sat-
urday for an inside peek at affordable housing developments in
their community. Greenbelt
Alliance collaborated with East
Bay Housing Organizations in
creating this event, held the first
day of Affordable Housing Week,
to look at how Fremont can pro-
vide housing for people of all
income levels while preserving
open space and creating an even
more vibrant community.
Fremont, the fifth largest city in the Bay Area, benefited from
the wealth of the Silicon Valley boom, yet met only 27% of its afford-
able housing need between 1988 and 1998. The Urban Outing
included presentations by a Greenbelt boardmember and the Exec-
utive Director of California Futures Network which looked at local
and regional examples of smart growth, and a discussion of hur-
dles to infill and affordable housing. The discussion was followed
by a bus and walking tour that highlighted innovative housing
developments and speculated about opportunity sites for future
building. ■
of. Most of these farms are small, family-run oper- Supporting local farming is good for Bay Area
ations that operate on a narrow profit margin. residents: we get reliable, fresh, nutritious, inex-
Loyal CSA customers help keep these farms viable,
preventing some of the world’s most fertile farm-
pensive food, variety that’s hard to find at a super-
market, and a direct link to the land where our
land from being paved over and lost forever. food is grown. It’s also good for the environment:
by reducing the need to transport food, we cut
down on fossil fuel use. And it’s good for farm-
ing families and our communities.
To get a first-hand look at local farming, join
one of our Farms and Fun outings this summer.
To get a calendar, visit our web site at www.green
belt.org or call us at (415) 398-3730.
You can find more information about CSA’s,
and a list of CSA’s near you on the web at:
www.caff.org/farms/csa.html or www.csacenter.org,
or call the Community Alliance With Family Farm-
ers at 1-800-852-3832. ■
Recently Upgraded?
Greenbelt Alliance seeks equipment donations
for our offices. Please get in touch if you can
donate any of these items. Ideally they could be
dropped off at a GA office or picked up in San
Francisco or Oakland. Get in touch with Rebecca
at rsutton@greenbelt.org if you can help out.
■ POWER POINT PROJECTOR
■ MAC G-3 OR BETTER COMPUTER,
ESPECIALLY LAPTOPS
■ PAPER SHREDDER
■ PRINTER W/USB PORT
■ GOOD QUALITY 15” OR 17”
COMPUTER MONITOR
■ SMALL DESKTOP COPIER
■ SMALL REFRIGERATOR