Measure W: City of Davis Measure W

In plain language

Measure W would change Davis's General Plan. It would allow a new housing project on the Willowgrove property. A YES vote changes the land from Agriculture to mixed use. This includes parks, trails, and open space. It also allows stores and homes at low, medium, and high density. It sets baseline rules for the project too. A NO vote keeps the current Agriculture label. This blocks the development plan.

Impartial analysis

City of Davis City Attorney’s Impartial Analysis of Measure W Measure W was placed on the ballot by the City of Davis City Council. If adopted, Measure W would amend the City of Davis General Plan to allow for development of the Willowgrove project. The project site is approximately 232 acres, bounded by East Covell Boulevard to the south, and the Wildhorse and Palomino subdivisions to the west. If Measure W is approved, annexation of the site into the City could proceed. The Davis Municipal Code requires voter approval of General Plan amendments that change the land use designation from agricultural or open space to urban uses. Voter approval of the General Plan amendments includes approval of “baseline project features” that cannot be significantly modified later without voter approval. The project site is currently designated for agricultural uses. Measure W would change the designation to permit the Willowgrove project, and establish baseline project features. The General Plan amendments and baseline project features are set forth in detail in City Council Resolution 26-052, and include: • Zoning of the site to allow 1,250 residential units at Residential High Density, Residential Medium Density, and Residential Low Density zoning designations, including at least 250 deed-restricted affordable housing units. Of the 250 affordable units, at least 20 units will be reserved for individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. • Donation of a minimum $6.8 million from the developer to the City to facilitate development of affordable housing, including affordable ownership units, as set forth in the Development Agreement between developer and City. • Construction of a community park that will include an indoor community gym with a basketball court, three lighted playfields, and an inclusive playground. Neighborhood retail uses will be located in a central area of the community park. • At least 44 acres of urban agricultural transition area will be provided as a buffer between the project and surrounding agricultural uses in addition to providing mitigation for the loss of agricultural land at a 2:1 ratio as required by the City of Davis Municipal Code. • Construction of roadway improvements on East Covell Boulevard, Alhambra Drive and along the project frontage as required by the 2026 Willowgrove Local Transportation Analysis and the 2025 Willowgrove Transportation Impact Study. • Fair share funding for off-site traffic improvements on East Covell Boulevard and the Mace Boulevard/I-80 and West Covell Boulevard/SR-113 interchanges. • Provision of over three miles of new bicycle and pedestrian trails with connections to the existing Wildhorse Agricultural Buffer trail and Gill Orchards property trail, and the East Covell Boulevard undercrossing at the southwest corner of the project site. • Planting of at least 2,500 trees on the project site and in the buffer. • Residential units will be all-electric with no natural gas connections. All residences will be capable of supporting EV charging. Measure W requires approval by a majority of the voters in the City voting on it to become effective. A “yes” vote favors the General Plan amendments and baseline project features, and a “no” vote opposes them. /s/ Inder Khalsa Inder Khalsa Davis City Attorney

Official ballot arguments

Filed for the official voter guide by each side, printed as submitted.

The official arguments will appear here once both sides’ arguments are on file.