February 23, 2006

 

 

 

Victor Carniglia

City of Antioch Community Development Department

3rd and H Streets

P. O. Box 5007

Antioch, CA   94509

 

RE:     Roddy Ranch Annexation   

 

Dear Mr. Carnigilia:

 

Thank you for this opportunity to comment on the Notice of Preparation of the Environmental Impact Report for the proposed annexation of the Roddy Ranch Annexation Area into the municipal boundary of the City of Antioch.  On behalf of the Board of Directors and members of the Mt. Diablo Audubon Society (MDAS), I would like to express a few of our serious concerns regarding the environmental impacts of the proposed annexation and subsequent development of this area.

 

Our organization opposed Measure K on last November’s ballot, primarily because of the impacts development will have on this resource-rich area.  Plant communities which occur within the annexation area include alkaline wetlands, grasslands, chaparral and oak woodland.  Grazing practices and other land alterations have had a detrimental effect on these communities.  However, they continue to provide habitat for a number of special-status species, including the San Joaquin kit fox, Alameda whipsnake, California tiger salamander, California red-legged frog, Golden eagle, Western burrowing owl, and a number of plant species.  Many of these species use the valley corridors which stretch from Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve to the Altamont Pass (including Horse Valley through Roddy Ranch) for seasonal movement, foraging and reproduction.

 

The type of development being contemplated for the Roddy Ranch annexation area is highly destructive to the functionality of these wildlife corridors.  Instead of clustering housing on small lots and creating generous buffers for adjoining open space, carving up the landscape to create “estate lots” will result in habitat fragmentation, and constructing the infrastructure necessary to support 700± new estate homes will create deadly barriers for wildlife.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Roddy Ranch Annexation Area

February 23, 2006

Page 2

 

 

We are also concerned that proposed residential development will bring human impacts into the surrounding open spaces/habitat.  These impacts include trespass, noise, light, traffic, domestic pets and other species often associated with urban development such as rats and exotic invasive plants.  We believe that these impacts are significant and cannot be adequately mitigated. 

 

Mt. Diablo Audubon Society is very interested in following the progress of the proposed annexation and development.  Please add MDAS to your mailing list for all future documents and notices for public meetings concerning this issue.  In order to expedite the information, please use the following address:

 

                                                  Mt. Diablo Audubon Society

                                                  Conservation Committee

                                                  1091 Walker Avenue

                                                  Walnut Creek, CA   94596

 

Thank you for your consideration in this matter.

 

 

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

 

Michael R. Williams

President

 

 

Cc:     Seth Adams

          Save Mt. Diablo

          1901 Olympic Blvd., Suite 220

          Walnut Creek, CA   94596

          Fax:  (925) 947-0642