Magee Ranch Development Closer To Reality

The proposed 69-home development at Magee Ranch cleared a significant hurdle in front of the Danville Town Council recently, but there's still some resistance in the community it seems.

The Town Council meeting started at 7:30 p.m., but didn't end until close to 2 a.m. Wednesday as supporters and opponents of the development went round and round with each other during a six-hour public comment session.

In the end, the Town Council unanimously voted to adopt a resolution to approve the final environmental impact report and a rezoning request for the development. The issue will come back before the Town Council at its July 2 meeting for a second reading of the EIR.

Summerhill Homes plans to develop 38 acres of the 410-acres Magee Ranch property, with 372 acres set aside for open space. The development would include 66 single-family homes set on 13,000-square foot lots on the east side of the Magee Ranch property. There would also be three larger lots near McCauley Road.

Seth Adams of the environmental group Save Mount Diablo, encouraged by the amount of open space to be set aside, spoke in favor of the project.

"We think this is an incredibly sensitive proposal with huge public benefits," Adams said, as reported in the Contra Costa Times. "It's a good project from our perspective."

Various other groups voiced their concerns about increased traffic, the dangers to bicyclists who enjoy Diablo Road, and the survival of the red-legged frog — an endangered species which makes its home in the area.