DAVIS, Calif. — The Davis City Council approved an agricultural mitigation plan Tuesday that would permanently protect 374 acres of prime farmland near Davis if voters approve the proposed Willowgrove housing development in November.
The council’s Oct. 6 decision establishes how the development would satisfy the city’s agricultural preservation requirements, which mandate that two acres of farmland be permanently protected for every acre converted to urban use.
Willowgrove would convert approximately 187 acres of agricultural land into a development of 1,250 homes if voters approve Measure W on Nov. 3.
Under the approved plan, 374 acres of the 476-acre Bullseye Farms property, located less than a mile northwest of Davis, would be placed under a permanent agricultural conservation easement.
The easement would be donated to the city and the Yolo Land Trust, which would monitor and enforce the restrictions. According to the Yes on Measure W campaign, the development would cover the mitigation costs without direct expense to Davis taxpayers.
The council’s approval followed a city staff analysis concluding that the property meets the city’s agricultural preservation requirements. The city’s Open Space and Habitat Commission recommended approval Sept. 14.
Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, who represents Davis and has endorsed Measure W, praised the proposal.
“As a second generation family farmer, I want to protect our open space. But Yolo County’s future also depends on giving our young families a real chance to put down roots here,” Aguiar-Curry said in a statement released by the campaign.
“Measure W shows we don’t have to choose. By approving Willowgrove with Measure W, we can provide much-needed family housing while offsetting twice as much prime farmland. I’m proud to endorse this Measure.”
Bullseye Farms is an active agricultural operation owned by the Beeman family of Davis. The property was recognized as the Woodland Chamber of Commerce’s 2024 Agribusiness of the Year.
According to the campaign’s summary of the city staff analysis, the mitigation property received higher agricultural resource ratings than the proposed Willowgrove development site under two land evaluation systems.
Under the Yolo Local Agency Formation Commission’s Land Evaluation and Site Assessment model, Bullseye Farms scored 91.30, compared with 79.51 for Willowgrove.
Under the California LESA model, Bullseye Farms scored 88.63, compared with 81.6 for Willowgrove.
The property is also adjacent to three existing city conservation easements, allowing the proposed mitigation to expand an area of contiguous protected agricultural land.
According to the campaign, Bullseye Farms falls within three of the city’s priority open-space acquisition categories: agriculture, biological resources and scenic resources.
The council’s decision identifies the agricultural mitigation property before voters decide whether to authorize the development. The permanent conservation easement remains contingent on approval of Measure W.
The mitigation approval follows the city’s earlier approval of a subdivision map for Willowgrove.
The proposed development includes 1,250 homes, including 250 deed-restricted affordable homes and 288 attainable townhomes, according to the campaign’s fact sheet.
The project also proposes more than 44 acres of agricultural buffers with habitat enhancements, more than 70 acres of open space, parks and trails, and the planting of more than 2,500 trees.
Austin Heyworth, co-campaign manager for Yes on Measure W, said the approval adds another commitment to the project’s plans.
“Willowgrove provides voters with a track record of transparency and accountability. In addition to its approved Subdivision Map, 1,250 homes with 43% of them affordable and attainable, Willowgrove now adds permanent protection of 374 acres of high-quality, local farmland to its list. We hope voters are proud of the standard this sets,” Heyworth said.
The agricultural conservation easement would take effect if voters approve Measure W in the Nov. 3 election.
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