Photo & article by Brad Branan
The Sierra Club has filed a lawsuit against the City of Sacramento and another local agency over their handling of a proposed development in an environmentally sensitive part of Natomas.
The legal action filed in Sacramento County Superior Court challenges how the defendants are handling the proposed Airport South development, which would bring industrial projects to 475 acres of farmland in an area that is also part of the Natomas Basin Habitat Conservation Plan. The plan was created to protect the Swainson hawk, the Giant Garter Snake and other threatened species.
The developers have asked the city to annex the now unincorporated area into the city. The annexation would require approval from the city and an agency called the Sacramento Local Area Formation Commission.
The Sierra Club is suing those agencies. The Sierra Club alleges that the agencies violated the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) when they designated themselves co-lead agencies for a review of the project when CEQA requires a single lead agency.
The lawsuit sounds technical, but the issues are important. "The purpose is to ensure that LAFCo and the City obey state law in determining whether urbanization should proceed outside the City's current boundary in North Natomas," said Jim Pachl, Sierra Club Mother Lode Chapter Legal Chair. "The issue is of critical importance to the protection of Natomas Basin Conservancy wildlife preserves and farmland."
Opponents say Airport South would make it impossible for the Natomas Basin Habitat Conservation Plan to be completed as called for under a federal court agreement. It would take land that was expected to remain farmland under the agreement. Airport South is one of several major projects proposed in the Natomas basin. The others are being considered by Sacramento County.
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