City Moves to Acquire More than 1,400 Acres

The City Council on Monday approved two plans to acquire more than 1,400 acres.

The first decision is an agreement with the East Bay Regional Park District to move forward in purchasing 65 acres east of Laughlin Road, near the Altamont Pass, for $2.68 million.

East Bay Regional Park District will contribute $685,000 toward the purchase, according to a city staff report. The rest of the dollars will come from “open space” funds (see attached city documents). The funding is intended to purchase land for conservation or agricultural preservation.

In addition, the land acquisition will expand the park district's .

The other action council members approved is the use of $250,000 of open space dollars to help acquire 1,380 acres just east of North Livermore Avenue.

The properties once were part of Pardee Homes' ballot initiative for the Livermore Trails development that was defeated by voters in 2005, a city staff report said.

If Pardee agrees to sell the land, the $250,000 would be deposited into escrow and a feasibility period would begin, a city staff report said.

The report also said staff then would return to the City Council to provide additional details regarding purchase price and terms, proposed funding and timing.

Furthermore, the funds would return to the open space account if the council chooses not to proceed or if negotiations fail, the report said.