The City of Davis announced Monday it will recirculate portions of the Village Farms Draft Environmental Impact Report after new data revealed the city’s wastewater treatment system is nearing capacity sooner than originally expected. City staff said the findings require revision under the California Environmental Quality Act.
According to the city’s November 17 update, “new information has recently come to the attention of the City of Davis Department of Public Works Utilities and Operations related to the City’s overall Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) capacity.”
Preliminary data from an ongoing study showed the system is approaching capacity “in large part due to the City’s successful water conservation efforts.”
The update states that reduced water flow has resulted in “a higher concentration of waste.”
While the system is operating efficiently, the city reports that changes to wastewater composition and treatment assumptions mean that modifications to the WWTP could be required to ensure service reliability.
The city said the study will be completed in early 2026, at which time staff will bring the issue to the City Council and public for discussion.
The update emphasized there is “no immediate concern for current service needs of the existing population.”
The Village Farms project, located on 390.5 acres along the city border, submitted its planning application in April 2023 requesting a General Plan Amendment, rezoning, and annexation. The proposal will require voter approval under Measure J/R/D.
City staff wrote that the new wastewater information triggers CEQA requirements to revise and recirculate relevant portions of the project’s Draft EIR.
The city noted, “the Village Farms Development Project is not responsible for the capacity concern nor did the project itself trigger recirculation.”
The update states the California Environmental Quality Act provides direction “for handling information that comes to light after a DEIR is circulated for public comment but before it is certified.”
Because of the new information, the city will revise the analysis to reflect “the City’s latest, independent findings” and recirculate only the updated portions of the DEIR.
The public may submit comments through January 2, 2026.
The city plans to prepare a revised response-to-comments document and release the full Final EIR at least 10 days before City Council consideration. Comments submitted during the original circulation will remain part of the record and be included for public review prior to Planning Commission review.
City staff said they are working to ensure “the recirculation of the DEIR will not impact the overall timeline” and that the project remains on track for potential City Council referral to the June 2026 ballot.
Follow the Vanguard on Social Media – X, Instagram and Facebook. Subscribe the Vanguard News letters. To make a tax-deductible donation, please visit davisvanguard.org/donate or give directly through ActBlue. Your support will ensure that the vital work of the Vanguard continues.
“The update emphasized there is “no immediate concern for current service needs of the existing population.”
Talk about teeing the ball up…
” . . . new data revealed the city’s wastewater treatment system is nearing capacity sooner than originally expected.”
So in other words, if we vote for Village Farms, this will bring Davis residents closer the day we need to build new wastewater infrastructure, and the sewer utility rates will be proposed to skyrocket, just like our solid waste utility rates are being proposed to skyrocket over the next few years already (and the latter ‘just because’, not due to capacity-limited infrastructure.).
Well ain’t that the poop 💩 in the punch bowl. Seems the cautionary message blowing in the wind is the sound of a thousand more low flow toilets flushing. The Legacy of Village Farms will be to foist the high price of upgraded transportation and utilities infrastructure on the City.IF we are foolish enough to approve the subdivision with Measure J.
Oh boy – I just have to laugh. Let me first say that I’m neither for or against development. I just want it to be done with a racial equity, social/environmental justice lens from the get go.
But I laugh because this reminds me of the early days of my advocacy career in early 2000’s promoting inclusionary housing policies throughout CA but mostly in small cities/rural communities. It seems like many of the small cities, that are very comparable to the likes of Davis (population, economy built on ag, the power brokers, large renter/transient population, etc.) always had some sort of exclusionary policy or action that would thwart housing progress no matter what the residents voted for.
Guess what one of the biggest arguments opposition to progressive housing policies used to thward advocacy efforts? Yep, lack of wastewater capacity…then the city was no longer able to issue building permits until capacity was increased…regardless of policy is in place! So just another way around the whole mess.