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.