The proponents of the Managed Growth Initiative handed over petitions with 874 signatures to the City of Grass Valley Wednesday, putting the measure on track for the Nov. 3 ballot.

City Clerk Kristi Bashor received the 61 petition packets on Wednesday morning. After the clerk's office reviews the packets, the signatures will be sent to the county's election office, which will have up to 60 working days to verify the signatures.

Friends of Grass Valley, the organization created to support the initiative, collected the signatures in 10 days, organizers said.

"The group would like to thank the many Grass Valley residents who signed the petition. We would also thank the energetic Friends of Grass Valley volunteers who are helping to keep democracy alive," organizers said in a prepared statement.

Initiative supporters are "looking forward to a continuing, honest discussion with our community about the initiative's contents and purpose," they said.

After turning in their petitions, "we drank Asti Spumante and said, 'Gee, now we can rest a bit,'" supporter and group spokeswoman Sharon Boivin said.

The petition drive was spearheaded by Citizens Concerned About Traffic, with the support of the Rural Quality Coalition, Boivin said. The two groups joined forces to create Friends of Grass Valley.

To qualify for the ballot, proponents need verified signatures from 10 percent of the approximately 6,200 voters who were registered to vote in the last general election in Grass Valley.

After the correct number of signatures is verified, the city council can either adopt the ordinance, vote to put the measure on the ballot or request staff reports on the impact of the initiative, which must be completed within 30 days.

The initiative would require a public vote for any project that does not conform to the city's 2020 General Plan, according to a notice of intent to circulate the petition.

Exceptions would be made for projects that differ from the plan by calling for a less-intensive use of a property. An example would be a proposal to create an open space on a property the plan sets aside for housing.

The initiative has generated opposition from the business community, past city councilors and even opponents of proposed housing projects that are now under review by the city's planning department.

They contend the measure essentially bars city council members from considering certain projects by requiring a public vote on them. The consequences of the measure, they say, would encourage rural sprawl outside the city limits, promote development on county lands beyond the city's sphere of influence, raise housing costs and discourage businesses from considering a move to Grass Valley.



To contact Staff Writer Pat Butler, e-mail pbutler@theunion.com or call 477-4239.