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• Police car torched in Lodi; fire ruled arson

• Lodi's Southwest Gateway project clears a hurdle

• Galt charter school backers facing uphill battle to open

• Local students enjoying spring break at home or away

• Sacramento railroad blaze concerns local firefighters

• Regional Roundup

November 20th, 2009

• Acampo woman killed

• Salvation Army Kettle Kickoff

• Advocacy groups sue East Bay Municipal Utility District over Pardee expansion

• Regional Roundup

• Galt plans to help residents with energy-efficient projects

• Stable southeast of Lodi approved

• One year after a heart attack, Lodi's Judy Mims thanks rescuers

• National Guard troops return home in time for the holidays

• Real estate market gets on more solid ground

November 19th, 2009

• Lodi Unified School District board votes to cancel summer school for 2010

• Water surges in Mokelumne River yield more salmon

• Lodi City Council will consider redevelopment next June

• Lodi City Council plans to cap number of taco trucks at 22

• Corrections

• Chase ends in crash

• Operation: Christmas

• Logbook

• Suspect arrested after hiding in fridge

• Galt Joint Union High School Distric hires new superintendent

• Sales tax hike yields dividends: 5 new officers join Galt Police

November 18th, 2009

• Regional Roundup

• Paranormal group conducts second investigation of building

• Congress allocates money for local water projects

• Lodi man finds wife's ashes during police display of stolen property

• Galt City Council rejects study on rent stabilization

• Sarah Palin's book hits the shelves: Locals react

November 17th, 2009

• Clarification

• Lodi Budget and Finance Committee to look into ways to save money on employee benefits

• Regional Roundup

• Decision on summer school expected at tonight's Lodi Unified School District meeting

• Clements gets free water rescue boat

• Redevelopment to be discussed by Lodi City Council again

• Court reinstates death penalty for killer of Lodi grad

• Paying tribute to a Lodian

November 16th, 2009

• Correction

• Public Meetings

• Regional Roundup

• Three members of Lodi-area family fall ill after eating poisonous mushrooms they reportedly found at Lodi Lake

• Sierra Adventure store to close after four years in Downtown Lodi

• Lodi's First Sip event showcases area wineries' latest vintages

• City Council 'triple-dog dared' to ditch cars, use Lodi buses

November 14th, 2009

• Galt school district narrows superintendent search to one

• Regional Roundup

• A first look at 2009 vintages at Lodi's First Sip wine-tasting event

• Watchful neighbor in Lodi helped bust suspected burglars

• Despite budget cuts, some Lodi Unified School District salaries continue to rise

• Despite an increase in homeless students, school districts look to bolster enrollment, raise revenue

• New Galt city manager juggles job, family

November 13th, 2009

• What to expect with new homebuyer tax credit

• Lodi Muslim: Local mosque not involved

• Regional Roundup

• Mayor Larry Hansen points out Lodi's economic progress

• First phase of Lockeford park by 2011?

• Lodi veteran recounts close calls in Vietnam

• Burglary suspects are under arrest

The following stories have received the most reader comments during the last 7 days.

• The country's mess is our fault (155)
• Obama is not a moderate (130)
• Sarah Palin's book hits the shelves: Locals react (67)
• Despite budget cuts, some Lodi Unified School District salaries continue to rise (58)
• Lodi City Council plans to cap number of taco trucks at 22 (48)
• The haves should help the have-nots (30)
• Public health care is a Christian option (26)
• Lodi Flames slim playoff chances vanish in setback to Tracy Bulldogs (25)
• Tokay in, traveling to unbeaten No. 3 Grant for football playoffs (25)
• Nightmares about America's future (23)

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Lodi's Southwest Gateway project clears a hurdle

Leaders from Lodi and throughout San Joaquin County agree: The Southwest Gateway project planned along Lower Sacramento Road at Kettleman Lane should move forward.

By a 5-0 vote, the San Joaquin County Local Area Formation Commission Friday approved Lodi's annexation of 318 acres to be used for the project, which will add up to 1,350 new homes, and sites for parks, a new fire station and school.

LAFCO, made up of city and county leaders, has the final say on whether a city or local district can expand its boundaries.

Its vote is one of the final clearances developer FCB Homes needs before construction begins, planned for spring 2008.

The Lodi City Council approved Southwest Gateway and its environmental impact report last year.

"The I's have been dotted and the T's crossed," said FCB Homes President Tom Doucette. "There's no more controversy left."

FCB's other large development — the proposed 745-home Westside project — is up for a vote by the Lodi council Wednesday night. Its environmental report will be considered for approval.

Before voting to approve the Southwest Gateway land annexation, County Supervisor Ken Vogel, who represents Lodi and is an alternate on LAFCO, questioned whether Lodi has enough water to supply the large new development.

Lodi Community Development Director Randy Hatch assured Vogel and the remaining commissioners that future Lodians won't go thirsty.

"We have a healthy gap between supply and demand," Hatch told the commission, noting the city has access to 24,500 acre feet of water per year. Its demand, counting future projects like Southwest Gateway and several others, is expected to be 19,777 acre feet per year.

One acre-foot of water equals about 326,000 gallons, roughly the amount a family of four uses each year.

Doucette said his company will spend the remainder of 2007 preparing road, water and sewer plans for the project. Those elements will be built first, followed by homes sometime next year.

"There's no precise plan yet on construction," he said.

After Friday's vote, William Chiat, executive director for the California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions presented the San Joaquin commission with a "LAFCO 101" presentation.

He noted the commissions will be ever more important as California continues its rapid growth. He noted the state's 58 LAFCOs — there's one in each county — are charged with encouraging orderly growth and conserving agriculture and open space.

Rather than approving annexations with few questions, some LAFCO commissioners have begun to scrutinize proposals, he said.

"You're starting to see more activist commissioners," Chiat added. "More and more LAFCOs are exercising their independence ... because they want to do the right thing and be proactive (about planning)."

Contact reporter Chris Nichols at chrisn@lodinews.com.