Annexation is a political process that allows a city to expand its boundaries by adding land. Watsonville’s Measure U, passed in November 2002, is the basis for the City’s plans for the proposed annexation and development of the Buena Vista area. Claiming to balance growth and environmental concerns, Measure U has been used by the City of Watsonville as a mandate for (1) intensifying high-density development, (2) placing parks and green areas outside the voter mandated Urban Limit Lines to sandwich more homes into the annexation acreage, and (3) potentially modifying the adjacent Watsonville airport or it’s corresponding safety zones to increase the number of planned houses in the Buena Vista area. It appears that the annexation planning process is being driven by greedy developers rather than by the intent of Measure U, causing the City to act without responsibility or accountability to it’s “stakeholders,” it’s voters, or the current residents of the Buena Vista area. 

Since the passage if Measure U, the City has unilaterally increased the planned number of homes in the Buena Vista area from an initial 1,687 in 2002 to 2,250 in 2005, all without any regard for community input. Though the City claims to have invited and solicited community input through public participation in simulation exercises and community planning workshops, FBV believes that it has blatantly disregarded the results of these efforts and has instead proceeded with its own self-serving agenda. 

What’s next?

Measure U, together with the City’s updated Watsonville VISTA 2030 General Plan, Environmental Impact Report (EIR), and to-be-completed Specific Area plans for the Buena Vista area will be used as the basis for an application for annexation that will submitted to the Santa Cruz Local Agency Formation Commission Formation Commission (LAFCO), pending the outcome of the lawsuit scheduled o be heard in June 2007. 

If the application is made by the City and approved by LAFCO, it can be protested and defeated by voters and landowners within the proposed annexation area. If at least 50% protest, annexation approval is denied. If at least 25% protest, the decision is subject to a general vote of all voters and landowners in the proposed annexation area.

What FBV Is Doing

atsonville's actions have led FBV to formally oppose the City’s planned annexation of the Buena Vista area via a lawsuit.We are confident that we can prevail in the suit.  However, legal efforts are costly and we are relying on the generosity and support of our members to fund this endeavor.  Please consider making a donation to this important cause so that we can continue our fight to stop the city from taking over Buena Vista before it’s too late. 

You can also contribute by Speaking Out to Stop Annexation. Help FBV influence decisions throughout the planning process. Join The Friends of Buena Vista.