Real PLANS for Smart growth

By Fran Vaughan, IV

If we are now starting a policy of "smart" growth then what would we call the growth policies of the past? "Every new project coming to Antioch must pass a litmus test including job creation, school construction, police services and traffic mitigation." - Fran Vaughan

In 1998 you approved Measure U and demanded that growth be linked to jobs, police, schools and traffic improvements. What a shame it is when you have to have a ballot resolution to tell politicians to use common sense! They should have been doing this all along.

After almost two years of workshops, the council came up with a weak Measure U ordinance that caps new homes at 500 per year and places no cap on multi-family developments! Is that what you asked for? I don't think so.

After I take office I will take the following steps to insure smart growth that pays its' own way -

• I will approve no plans for FUA1 that do not include the construction of a business park either in Antioch or in cooperation with Brentwood.

• I will add language to the Measure U ordinance that places heavy restrictions on multi-family projects.

• I will not support the placement of multi-family housing directly on major traffic arteries. Feeder streets will be required.

• New residential construction must include the concurrent construction of schools.

• Negotiate with developers for the construction of a police sub-station in southeast Antioch as part of one of their projects.

• Insure that every 1,000 new residents coming to Antioch means the addition of at least 1.5 new police positions.

• Require that new residential projects work with commercial developers to create an overall project that includes job centers. Jobs can't be promises - they must be plans!

• Require an increase to $10,000 per new home in developer traffic mitigation fees.

If we are now starting a policy of "smart" growth then what would we call the growth practices of the past? Let's get back on track - vote Vaughan November 7th!