Leona Heights Neighborhood News

by Gordon Laverty

Leona Heights area history is always moving! Just before the U.S. Civil War, then-Lieutenant William Tecumseh Sherman rode on horseback from Monterey through our area to deliver to John Sutter at Coloma the federally approved license for his sawmill and subsequent gold find there. After the Civil War, General John C. Fremont (again on horseback) rode through the Leona area, pausing near dusk on what is now the parking lot for the Woodminster Amphitheater (near the present-day round stone monument to Fremont). Near that spot, Fremont viewed San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean to the west, and, viewing the golden glint of the setting sun, commented, "That is indeed the Golden Gate to this region."

But much history is about to be written which could have profound impact upon this area and the rest of the neighborhoods in the Metro distribution area served by Highway 580. Soon the City Planning Commission and City Council will act upon the proposals for development of the Leona Quarry as described in the DeSilva Corporation's draft environmental impact report for the proposed 500-plus-unit development. Local citizens are concerned about the inadequacy of the plan. Traffic, geology, drainage, population density, and other impacts are not adequately addressed, including only "hopes" that all will be well when the additional 10,000-plus residents occupy the new area.

A major concern to Leona Heights residents is the danger of more traffic using the Edwards Avenue westbound onramp to Highway 580, where the present traffic already poses a significant hazard to 580 vehicles crossing over to go to Highway 13. Additional traffic will create a "double crossover" hazard whose impacts will surely be devastating. Yet the report says there haven't been any fatalities yet in nearby intersections, so added traffic would have essentially insignificant impact! There are similar assumptions with respect to rainfall and flooding potentials. And AC Transit will not commit buses to the relatively remote site until proof of use occurs! Those who know the area and have common sense can see the realities and should register their views on the development proposal as the procedure moves along.

Editor's note: At the public hearing of the Planning Commission on July 17, the many organized neighborhoods around the Quarry presented a careful refutation of the DeSilva DEIR, questioning the common sense of locating a dense housing project in an old mine on an earthquake fault, with many dire consequences foreseen and unforeseen.