Although it is true that developers get their permits from the city or county, it is that entity’s legal obligation to determine if the project will have a detrimental affect on the environment and require said developer to perform the proper studies to measure that affect. Whether the City of Antioch did their job on this project is questionable and being looked into.

As far as the CDFG is concerned. You are correct, it is not up to them to stop development. As stated in the post, it is their job to ” include habitat protection and maintenance in a sufficient amount and quality to ensure the survival of all species and natural communities.”

My contention is that they are sadly failing in this regard with Western Burrowing Owls. The fact that they are encouraging the very actions which lead to the further demise of this species speaks for itself.

Rather than create a policy that encourages increasing this species habitat and capturing, banding and relocating any displaced owls to a new home, they continue with a policy bent on decreasing the possibility of a positive outcome.

I don’t expect developers to stop building homes but I do expect them to be environmentally conscious for all of our sakes. If they are not, I expect the proper authorities like the city handing out the permits and the CDFG to force that developer to do what’s right for the environment.

So, to sum up, I live in a house that was built on property with no wildlife evicted. As a matter of fact, there is more wildlife on our property since we developed it than there was before we bought it in 1980. To say that, because I live in a house, I allowed this development to occur in Antioch is ludicrous and not worthy of comment.

Also, I do vote. As a matter of fact, I don’t believe I have missed more than a handful of state, and very few national elections, since I turned 18 (and that was quite a few years ago).

I’m not sure what your priorities are Nancy. Realizing that you are the “Land Use” chair for a local neighborhood association, I would think that you would know about land development and environmental issues.

I am an environmental advocate. I believe in clean air, clean water and keeping the remaining species on the planet alive. I’m not asking for developers to stop building homes. I just want to make sure they do it in a way that the Earth and her species are protected.