Davis Enterprise Letters to Editor – Empty ‘Support’

October 5, 2018

While the Sierra Club Solano Group has supported many laudable causes, for which I am grateful, we are discussing your opposition to Measure L.

To say that the Sierra Club supports the low-income housing portion of Measure L (West Davis Active Adult Community) is an empty statement without recognizing how affordable housing is made possible. The low-income affordable housing component of the WDAAC is financially feasible with the donation of the 4.25 acres of land from the developers of the remaining 68 acres. Without this generous donation of land, the affordable housing portion would not happen.

Rather than the sprawl you label this project, the proposed WDAAC is a well-planned mostly senior community conveniently situated near Sutter Davis Hospital and other medical facilities, as well as the Market Place shopping center. It would have 410 single-family, single-story detached homes of various sizes designed with senior needs in mind and the 150 units of affordable senior housing. The largest home would be 1800 square feet. The complex would include a clubhouse, walking and bike paths, an agricultural buffer and an oak forest. WDAAC sounds like a nice place to live.

We have a housing shortage in Davis, which is exacerbating housing and income inequality here. While I applaud the Sierra Club for fighting for social-justice issues, by opposing housing development when it is so desperately needed at many income and demographic levels, the Sierra Club is assuring that housing will remain scarce and unaffordable. The WDAAC (Measure L) is a quality development that deserves community support.

Elizabeth Lasensky
Davis