Decision on Pittsburg Hills delayed once more

The Pittsburg Planning Commission has still not acted on the proposed Hillside Development ordinance. The commission had planned on approving the ordinance and sending it on to the City Council for consideration in January. Apparently the city's legal staff has been delayed in approving the Planning Department's negative declaration - the document required under the California Environmental Quality Act to certify that the changes won't have any negative environmental impact. At this point there is no word as to when the commission will get the package.

The last version of the ordinance (including Hillside Performance Standards, Hillside Design Guidelines, revisions to the Hillside Planned Development District, and General Plan amendments) provides less protection to the hills than the existing already-very-poor zoning regulations. Thus, the delay can be considered good. We do need a new ordinance - but a strengthened one to provide real protection for the hills.

The Sierra Club continues to work with Greenbelt Alliance, Friends of Pittsburg/Save Our Hills, Save Mount Diablo, and other groups to protect the Pittsburg Hills. For additional information visit the Friends of Pittsburg web site

To help work with the Sierra Club on protecting Pittsburg's hills, contact conservation organizer or call (510) 848-0800, ext. 306