Palos Colorados developer drops golf course

New proposal will preserve more land, greatly reduce impacts

On March 15, Richfield Investments submitted a new development application for its Palos Colorados project in Moraga - minus the 18-hole golf course that was among the lightning rods for opposition to the 123-home project. Fortunately the developer has not asked to increase the number of homes. (Richfield is a new developer, not to be confused with Richland Development Corp., the previous developer.)

This is a huge step in the right direction. Elimination of the golf course means that over 80% of the site can be preserved in its natural state. Grading volume and area will likely be cut by more than half, allowing preservation of 450 acres (out of 560) of open hills and wildlife habitat. Gone too will be the golf-course pesticides and herbicides. Under the old plan, over 150 large trees would have been cut down; now that figure is 15. Traffic from the project onto congested Moraga Road will be significantly reduced as well.

The withdrawal of the golf course is surely in response to repeated statements by state and federal agencies - the Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Regional Water Quality Control Board, state Department of Fish and Game - that the earlier proposal did not comply with regulations protecting water quality and wildlife.

In turn, the close scrutiny from these agencies is a direct result of the letters you wrote, meetings you attended, and financial support you gave to the Bay Chapter and to Preserve Lamorinda Open Space (PLOS). The Regional Water Quality Control Board and other agencies received hundreds of letters about Palos Colorados. PLOS submitted a vast amount of legal and expert evidence on the project's environmental impacts. Together we have had a huge impact!

The approval process for Palos Colorados is not over, however. The new application will be reviewed by the Moraga Planning Department and eventually put before the Moraga Planning Commission for a decision. New applications will also have to be filed with the state and federal resource agencies as well.

More needs to be done to minimize impacts from the housing. With the golf course out, there's more flexibility in the site plan. Homes can be configured to minimize impacts on the endangered California red-legged frog, birds, and other wildlife that depend on the site's three ponds. Houses can be clustered and set back far from the shorelines. The current plan needs improvement in this regard.

WhatYouCanDo

PLOS has scheduled a community meeting on Sun., May 7, at 4 pm at the Lafayette Community Center (500 St. Mary's Road) to help address remaining questions about the project. You will be able see the new site plan, hear a report on the status of the application, and give your input on where to go from here. For more information contact Suzanne Jones at (925) 878-9682 or email plos -at- robelia.com

Suzanne Jones, steering committee, Preserve Lamorinda Open Space