Contra Costa Supervisors vote to hold the Urban Limit Line

The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted on Feb. 15 to support keeping the county's existing Urban Limit Line until at least 2016.

The board's vote sends a strong message to the five cities proposing that 6,300 acres be added to the urban area. Measure J stipulates that to receive transportation funding from the sales tax, jurisdictions must comply with a line approved by a supermajority of cities and supervisors.

Citing the need for traffic relief, the Board voted to support a plan put forward by a coalition of environmental and business groups to hold the line in 2006, and to allow changes in the line in 2016 and 2026 if voters agree.

The Supervisors will meet on Feb. 26 with representatives of the cities to attempt to reach an agreement on the plan. If they succeed, the proposed plan will go to voters for approval in November 2006. The meeting will be at 8:30 am at the Walnut Creek Civic Center, 1375 Civic Drive.

David Reid, East Bay field representative, Greenbelt Alliance