Davis Council Approved Willowgrove Farmland Plan
The city approved a conservation easement to protect local farmland ahead of a November ballot measure.
Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in Organic Food
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The Davis City Council approved an agricultural mitigation plan to protect 374 acres of Yolo County farmland connected to the Willowgrove housing project. This move fulfills a city ordinance requiring developers to preserve more land than the amount slated for construction.
Why it matters
The mitigation plan is a mandatory precursor to the proposed 1,250-home development, ensuring permanent agricultural use for land owned by the Beeman family. Voters will now determine the future of the Willowgrove project in the upcoming November election.
The protected parcel currently produces sunflowers, cucumbers, tomatoes, and alfalfa. The Willowgrove development site encompasses 234 acres, with 43% of the planned 1,250 units designated as affordable housing.
The players
Davis City Council
This is the governing legislative body for the city of Davis, California, responsible for local ordinances and land use approvals.
Yolo Land Trust
This is a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection of agricultural land and open space within Yolo County.
Beeman family
The family has maintained a 150-year history of farming in Yolo County and is the owner of the protected 374-acre parcel.
Davis Open Space and Habitat Commission
This local commission serves as an advisory body to the City Council on matters regarding land preservation and environmental planning.
The details
The project requires the developer to arrange conservation easements with local landowners, which will be donated to the city and the Yolo Land Trust to ensure the land remains in agricultural use. The Beeman family, which has a 150-year farming history in Yolo County, will provide the land for the easement.
Timeline
In May 2026, the City Council voted to place Measure W on the ballot.
The Davis Open Space and Habitat Commission approved the mitigation plan in September 2026.
The City Council officially approved the mitigation plan on October 6, 2026.
Voters will decide the fate of the project in November 2026.
Roadmap
This development project follows a mandate requiring developers to preserve more local farmland than the amount built upon. It aligns with long-standing agricultural preservation efforts in Yolo County, which aim to balance housing growth with the maintenance of prime farming soil.
Residents should anticipate a potential boost in local school enrollment if the development proceeds following the November vote. The preservation of the 374-acre site ensures that significant regional farmland will remain operational for local crop production.
The takeaway
This decision reflects a broader effort to use conservation easements as a tool to maintain the agricultural character of Yolo County. Residents looking to engage with local land-use policies can participate in the upcoming election to directly influence the scale of future development.
What happens next
Voters will cast their ballots for Measure W regarding the Willowgrove development in November 2026.
Further reading
For more on local land use and food security, explore Organic Food.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Sacramento Bee.
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Do you support prioritizing new housing developments that also permanently preserve local farmland?
