Letter: Looking ahead

Letter to the editor

As Davis approaches the June 2 ballot, it is vital to understand the state mandates dictating our city’s autonomy. The Regional Housing Needs Allocation equires Davis to plan for its fair share of regional growth.

Having served two terms on the City Council, operated local small businesses, and actively support local non-profits, I believe Measure V is essential for Davis’s fiscal stability. I view this issue through the lens of our long-term civic health, not just as a consultant on the project.

In the current sixth RHNA cycle (2021–2029), Davis must facilitate 2,075 new housing units. While our Housing Element is certified, "paper compliance" does not equal actual construction. Davis has exhausted viable infill options within current limits; therefore, Measure V is a necessity to meet these mandates.

If Measure V fails, the repercussions will be severe. Non-compliance triggers the "Builder’s Remedy," allowing developers to bypass local zoning and design standards. If we do not choose how we grow, the state will allow developers to choose for us.

Looking forward to the seventh cycle (2029–2037), requirements will likely be even higher. Without the planned expansion Village Farms offers, Davis will remain in perpetual non-compliance, vulnerable to litigation and haphazard development.

Measure V is a proactive, locally managed solution to a state-mandated problem. It secures our housing future while preserving our ability to govern our own borders. I urge you to vote Yes on Measure V.

Rochelle Swanson

Consultant, Village Farms Davis; former Davis City Council member