Measure J/R/D re-evaluated, decision pending

Photo by Alexandra Maduros

By Alexandra Maduros

BlueDevilHUB.com Staff–

At the Dec. 9 City Council meeting, council members discussed possible amendments to Measure J/R/D, which is a measure that requires voter approval for all redesignations of agricultural or open land to urban land.

Measure J was first passed in 2000, and has since been reapproved twice as Measure R and Measure D. Continued housing shortages and school enrollment declines in the city have prompted consideration of an amendment to the measure. 

An amendment would need to be passed by voters, but, if passed, would allow for certain land-use projects to be exempt from a vote.

Possible amendments were first discussed at a Multi Commission Joint Meeting in October. These ideas were detailed at the Dec. 9 meeting and include exemptions for projects that achieve carbon neutrality, contribute to community funds, develop affordable housing and more. 

The council members did not make a decision on which amendment to go forward with or on a timeline for getting the amendment on the ballot.

Most council members did have concerns about putting the amendment on the ballot anytime in 2026 alongside the Village Farms and Willowgrove projects, such as Vice Mayor Donna Neville had expressed the belief that it would be “better to have a clear line between the two.”

However, Mayor Bapu Vaitla voiced worry about delaying the amendment for too long, saying that he “sees no reason to forestall it any longer.”

Many community members voiced their opinions at the meeting, with a majority expressing opposition. 

Davis resident Eileen Samitz was one of these attendees. Samitz was involved in the initial effort to get Measure J passed and says that before the measure there was “out of control growth” in Davis. 

Attendees cited multiple concerns, including that an amendment would give too much power to developers, come with high costs and take voice away from voters. Many also expressed the view that poor planning of proposed housing developments is the larger issue.

“It’s not the measure’s fault that some of these (housing) projects have gone down,” Samitz said.