Delta Group:

"Working Together to Save Our Hills and Open Space"

Tuesday, January 29 (note date change), 7:15 pm , Antioch Library, 501 West 18th Street, Antioch.

Come to an informal roundtable discussion about current planning for the future of currently undeveloped lands in Pittsburg and Concord. We've invited leaders from environmental organizations such as Save Mount Diablo, Greenbelt Alliance, and Mount Diablo Audubon; from local organizations such as Pittsburg's Save Our Hills and Concord's Community Coalition for Sustainable Concord, Concord Naval Weapons Station Neighborhood Alliance, and Friends of Mount Diablo Creek; and from the East Bay Regional Park District.

When Pittsburg voters approved Measure P in the November 2005 election, the measure's proponents claimed that it would give open-space protection. Unfortunately the result has been just the opposite. The proposed Hillside Ordinance, which would allow massive unrestricted development of the hillsides, lacks hillside protection or vertical ridgeline setbacks, completely ignoring the concerns and comments of the Pittsburg community. The city's current land-use proposal for its Los Medanos Hills would devastate the major ridgeline between East and Central County, even though Concord has agreed to protect its side of the hills, as part of the Weapons Station planning process. These Pittsburg hills are an important landmark, visible from much of the county, especially Concord, Bay Point, and Walnut Creek, and these communities are being left out of the planning process.

About 200 residents of Pittsburg and Bay Point have banded together into an informal group, known as "Save Our Hills. The Pittsburg City Council will make its final vote on Feb. 4. We need to show overwhelming support for protecting our beautiful hillsides. Mark your calendar now!

In contrast, Concord has encouraged its residents to become involved in planning for sustainable re-use of more than 5,000 acres of the Weapons Station. The city has held many public workshops, focus groups, surveys, and public hearings to ensure public participation in reaching a plan that will meet the community's needs for open space, affordable housing, quality jobs, vibrant neighborhoods, and environmentally sustainable development.

Recently the Community Advisory Committee sent seven alternative concepts to the City Council, ranging from 47% - 81% open space, 17,700 - 29,000 jobs, and 6,250-13,000 residential units. The Council has recommended that all seven alternatives be studied in the Environmental Impact Review/Statement.

Join us on Jan. 29 to learn how you can help save our community's Los Medanos Hills.

Group program meetings are usually held on the third Tuesday or Wednesday in January, March, May, September, and November. A newsletter listing Delta Group programs, outings, and activities is available by $5 subscription. To receive the newsletter, write a $5 check to "Sierra Club, Delta Group" and mail to:

Tish Brown
51 Danridge Court
Antioch, CA 94509.

For information about Delta Group activities, call Janess Hanson at (925) 458-0860. For information about Delta area environmental concerns, call Tim Donahue at (925) 754-8801.

Upcoming hikes and activities

For details, see the "Events and Activities" calendar.
Sat., Jan. 12 - Walnut Creek Regional Trails, 1A hike.
Sat., Jan. 19 - bird safari, Sacramento Valley and Delta.
Sun., Feb. 10 - Martinez Regional Shoreline, 1A sunset walk.
Sun., Feb. 24 - Martinez to Port Costa, 2A hike.