Editor:
Viva Moraga!
2015 was an Extraordinary Year in our little Town of Moraga! Most of the important good things continued as hoped; our schools maintained their excellence, street repairs continued, people were safe (though there was a small uptick in property crimes), and as always, a large number of people volunteered for the betterment of the Town, everything from school fundraising to pruning orchards to throwing fiestas and festivals, to youth sports...and, and, and! Let's just say, there are a lot of great things going on in Moraga. We are blessed with wonderful geography and a great climate, and most would agree; brown lawns beat humid summers and snowy winters! I think it is fair to say, we've got it pretty good here in Moraga! Other than the grace of climate and geography, this has not happened by accident! From even before the founding of our Town, residents have worked hard, "moving mountains" to maintain the quality of our community. Freeways have been quashed, hilltops and open space have been protected, and urban crowding and other problems have been avoided. Property values have benefited. And, as a result, we continue to enjoy a high quality of living. Beautiful views, no parking meters, not much congestion...
So it is not surprising that Moraga residents rallied this year against a proposal for high density, 3-story urbanizing housing development right next to the Moraga Country Club and the Sonsara neighborhood. Despite widespread opposition, Town Staff and the Town Council approved the development, spurring a referendum campaign, highlighted by a very successful signature gathering petition to put the issue to a vote. Though 1,003 signatures were needed to qualify the petition, over 1,500 voter signatures were gathered in just three weeks. A developer lawsuit was able to suppress the referendum on technical issues, despite review and certification by the Moraga Town Clerk and the Contra Costa County Elections department.
Unfortunately, the Town, as directed by the Town Council, sided with the developers to avoid the opportunity for residents to decide the issue at the ballot box. At the moment, that is how things stand on this development; a judge has put the referendum aside. Possible next steps are being considered to maintain the semi-rural atmosphere that adds so much to the quality of our lives here in Moraga. We would like to thank the hundreds who have pitched in to our effort, from those who signed our petition, to those who gathered signatures, provided moral support, and those that provided legal help, financial assistance, and the thumbs-uppers, horn honkers, smilers, nodders and wavers...Thanks! And hold on, we'll be back...2016 is going to be quite a "Doozy"!
The Committee to Stop Moraga Town Center Homes
Scott Bowhay, Janet Dobbs, Steve Huxley and more...
Editor's Note: Over the past several weeks, Lamorinda Weekly received the following Letters to the Editor from Miramonte High School seniors participating in a government class, with a focus on understanding the impact of world issues on government and lifestyle.
Viva Moraga!
2015 was an Extraordinary Year in our little Town of Moraga! Most of the important good things continued as hoped; our schools maintained their excellence, street repairs continued, people were safe (though there was a small uptick in property crimes), and as always, a large number of people volunteered for the betterment of the Town, everything from school fundraising to pruning orchards to throwing fiestas and festivals, to youth sports...and, and, and! Let's just say, there are a lot of great things going on in Moraga. We are blessed with wonderful geography and a great climate, and most would agree; brown lawns beat humid summers and snowy winters! I think it is fair to say, we've got it pretty good here in Moraga! Other than the grace of climate and geography, this has not happened by accident! From even before the founding of our Town, residents have worked hard, "moving mountains" to maintain the quality of our community. Freeways have been quashed, hilltops and open space have been protected, and urban crowding and other problems have been avoided. Property values have benefited. And, as a result, we continue to enjoy a high quality of living. Beautiful views, no parking meters, not much congestion...
So it is not surprising that Moraga residents rallied this year against a proposal for high density, 3-story urbanizing housing development right next to the Moraga Country Club and the Sonsara neighborhood. Despite widespread opposition, Town Staff and the Town Council approved the development, spurring a referendum campaign, highlighted by a very successful signature gathering petition to put the issue to a vote. Though 1,003 signatures were needed to qualify the petition, over 1,500 voter signatures were gathered in just three weeks. A developer lawsuit was able to suppress the referendum on technical issues, despite review and certification by the Moraga Town Clerk and the Contra Costa County Elections department.
Unfortunately, the Town, as directed by the Town Council, sided with the developers to avoid the opportunity for residents to decide the issue at the ballot box. At the moment, that is how things stand on this development; a judge has put the referendum aside. Possible next steps are being considered to maintain the semi-rural atmosphere that adds so much to the quality of our lives here in Moraga. We would like to thank the hundreds who have pitched in to our effort, from those who signed our petition, to those who gathered signatures, provided moral support, and those that provided legal help, financial assistance, and the thumbs-uppers, horn honkers, smilers, nodders and wavers...Thanks! And hold on, we'll be back...2016 is going to be quite a "Doozy"!
The Committee to Stop Moraga Town Center Homes
Scott Bowhay, Janet Dobbs, Steve Huxley and more...
Editor's Note: Over the past several weeks, Lamorinda Weekly received the following Letters to the Editor from Miramonte High School seniors participating in a government class, with a focus on understanding the impact of world issues on government and lifestyle.
Reach the reporter at:
Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA