Nearly 30 years ago, community leaders in Livermore, Pleasanton and Alameda County created the South Livermore Valley Area Plan. As precious farmland faced development pressures from growing urban centers, the plan was designed to protect open space and preserve agriculture on our most fertile soils.
The plan’s vision of protecting 5,000 acres under vine is progressing, with 4,500 acres permanently shielded from urban development. But of these, only 2,800 acres are vineyards. That’s because South Livermore Valley winegrowers are trying to manage productive agriculture in an area lacking essential infrastructure, severely limiting the economic sustainability of our wine country.
Due to historic groundwater contamination primarily from former chicken farms, most new septic systems are not allowed in the area. Many vintners are forced to haul wastewater associated with the winemaking process offsite at great expense, making it impossible for new medium or large winery operations to locate here. The absence of a sanitary sewer makes the long-awaited resort hotel and spa and destination restaurants promised in the area plan impossible to permit. Even smaller successful wine operations are hesitant to locate here until these issues are addressed.
A drive along Tesla Road, once resplendent with a continuous vista of green rows of fruitful vineyards, tells the story. We have lost not only the scenic beauty of some of these vineyards but their proven ability to serve as a firebreak against wildfires for the homes and businesses located inside the urban growth boundaries they surround and defend.
Fortunately, there is a straightforward solution to this challenge: Make sewer services available to homes and businesses located in the tourism core of unincorporated Livermore Valley. An expansion of the city of Livermore’s sewer line would help protect existing groundwater and prevent new contamination from current and future wine country uses.
A vibrant wine country is key to maintaining our quality of life and unique community character. The city of Livermore recognizes the importance of a vital wine country in the South Livermore Valley. The City Council has placed Measure P on the November ballot. This measure would greenlight the sewer-line extension.
The city has completed the required environmental review of the proposed route. The cost of extending the city of Livermore’s sewer services into the South Livermore Valley would be primarily paid by an Alameda County grant; the remaining costs are projected to be covered through other state and federal monies. Properties that connect to the extended sewer line will cover hook-up costs and pay ongoing fees to cover their portion of operations and maintenance of the sewer system.
Livermore voters must approve the sewer line extension because the expanded line will cross the city’s voter-approved South Livermore Urban Growth Boundary. An affirmative vote is required to secure the multi-million dollar grant from the Alameda County Board of Supervisors already earmarked for this project.
Voters can rest assured that extending the sewer line will support our long-term efforts to protect agriculture and open space. The land-use restrictions put in place more than two decades ago will continue to restrict housing density to only one homesite per 20 acres in the South Livermore Valley. And they will continue to allow only a short list of wine country commercial uses, such as tasting rooms, restaurants and lodging, even on properties connected to the expanded sewer line.
Please join the Tri-Valley Conservancy in supporting this effort to promote agricultural vitality, preserve open space and protect our region’s groundwater. Livermore voters should support the city’s plan to expand its sewer services into the South Livermore Valley. Vote Yes on Measure P.
Lori Souza is chairwoman of the Tri-Valley Conservancy Board of Directors.
Be the first to comment