By Tom Philp | August 11, 2025 | The Sacramento Bee
Within days, Sacramento County will consider approving a controversial 25,000-person housing development. north of Interstate 80 that currently lacks an amenity that no home or person can do without: A water source. The county officially plans to rely on the city of Sacramento to provide water to this land next to the Garden Highway and near the Sacramento River. But this proposed development is not within city limits, the city is under no obligation to provide the water and the city has publicly warned the county that there is no agreement to provide the water.
By Tom Philp | August 8, 2025 | The Sacramento Bee
A massive and ill-advised development proposal by Sacramento County to create a 25,000-person community that is surrounded on three sides by the city is threatening to create a bigger and broader rift between county supervisors and city council members.
The Board of Supervisors will meet Wednesday, August 20 at 2 pm, 700 H St, Sacramento to vote on whether to approve or deny the Upper Westside Project. This is despite the City Council resolution opposing the project. Plan to attend.
Take Action
Contact your supervisor directly – make a personal call or email directly to your supervisor to urge a NO vote on Upper Westside. To identify who your supervisor is and their contact information go here.
On August 12, 2025, the Sacramento City Council met and voted to pass a resolution (eight to one) opposing the County’s proposed development – the Upper Westside Project. This is a unique stand for the City to oppose a County project. However, City staff enumerated a compelling list of reasons ranging from water supply to services and roads, to congestion and flood preparedness.
The City also reviewed the Natomas Basin Habitat Conservation Plan and other agreements in place between the City and County such as the Natomas Joint Vision. These agreements will be part of the review process of any development proposed in the County, including the two proposed Grandpark projects. The City has brought the importance of these agreements into sharp focus.
Next,Mayor McCarty will transmit the City Resolution to Board of Supervisors Chair Phil Serna. The City will seek consultation on the issues.
Learn more about the Upper Westside Project and Share on Social Media
Videos – Natomas residents and homeowners will be negatively impacted by this project. In this video local residents speak out about their opposition to the project.
See and share this wonderful video “Grassland Birds of Natomas” created by Natomas high school student and board member of the Sacramento Audubon Society.
Articles in the Bee – Sacramento Bee editor, Tom Philp, has been writing about UWSP and City and County agreements. Read his Opinion pieces here.
Write a Letter to the Editor and reference one of Tom Philp’s articles. Submit it here. You are only allowed 150 words and letters are only published on Sundays.
Put the Bee articles on social media.
It is very important for us to keep up pressure on the members of the Board of Supervisors. Email and call them, and, attend the meeting on the 20th.
…sticking up for the Natomas students, parents and teachers does not appear to be the priority of the area supervisor, Phil Serna. Despite a lack of iron-clad financial commitments to protect the school district, Serna’s staff says he has scheduled a vote August 20 on this project, known as the Upper Westside Specific Plan. It is east of Garden Highway and bordered by Interstate 80 to the south, and it bisects El Centro Road.
“We’re looking at major developments that fly in the face of every plan that’s been approved in the county of Sacramento for the last 25 years,” said former Sacramento mayor Heather Fargo, a Natomas resident and now an activist against Serna’s emerging growth agenda. “Phil has taken the lead on this and encouraged this kind of development.”
By Tom Philp | August 1, 2025 | The Sacramento Bee
Perspective and background information on the Upper Westside Project. Learn about the County’s complete about face on 20 years of agreements with the City.
