Opponents of Chico's Valley Edge development submit petitions to City Clerk

Opponents of Chico’s Valley’s Edge development say they’ve collected enough signatures to launch a referendum against the project.

Members of Smart Growth Advocates and Save Our Hometown gathered at Chico City Hall this afternoon to turn in about 8,500 signatures, well over the nearly 5,800 required by the city clerk.

Valley’s Edge is a 1,500-acre residential development project slated for Eastern Chico, between Skyway and 20th Street.

Opponents have raised a number of concerns, saying the project would only result in negative environmental impacts to the area. They also say it doesn’t properly address Chico’s affordable housing needs.

“For many people, it’s the feeling that Chico is growing too much too fast,” said David Welch, an opponent of the project.

Welch says he believes the referendum has a good shot at winning the election if the City Council chooses to bring the issue to voters.

KRCR spoke to City Clerk Deborah Presson. She says her office will turn over signatures to the county Tuesday, Feb. 14 if the campaign did, in fact, collect enough signatures. The county will have 30 days to verify the signatures before the issue is sent to the City Council.

“This is really just stall, stall, stall,” says Chico City Council Member Sean Morgan. “People have a right to it. That's why the referendum process is there. I'd be surprised if one- they got enough valid signatures and two- it goes to a special election”

Valley’s Edge provided a written statement to KRCR:

They say in part: “A decade ago the community identified Valley’s Edge as Chico’s best opportunity for long-term planning of parks, recreation and housing affordability. We have no problem with honest opposition, but the misinformation campaign that’s been happening is rampant. It’s irresponsible. It’s destructive to our community. It cheapens honor public discourse about incredibly important matters like Chico’s future.