Tag Archives: Sacramento County

Airport South Industrial – LAFCO Vote, March 4

On March 4, 2026, the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) will vote on whether or not to permit annexation of 475 acres of farmland into the City of Sacramento for the Airport South Industrial Project (ASIP).

A little history – in April of 2025, LAFCO voted to approve the City’s Sphere of Influence application and Environmental Impact Report for ASIP – IE they have already voted yes on this project. On December 2, 2025, the City Council voted to approve the project and annexation.

We believe a “yes” vote would be a mistake, especially considering that one of LAFCO’s primary responsibilities is to protect farmland. We believe it is enough of a mistake that ECOS, Friends of the Swainson’s Hawk and Sierra Club have filed lawsuits against both the City of Sacramento and LAFCO to void these decisions.

What You Can Do

  • Voice your opposition – Send an email comment to BoardClerk[at]saccounty[dot]gov . Include meeting date (March 4, 2026) and agenda item number if published (otherwise state “Airport South Industrial”). Contact information is optional. Or, you can mail a letter to LAFCo at 1112 I Street, Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 95814
  • Donate to support the opposition – we are shoe-string non-profits and this litigation is costing us in excess of $80,000. Your donations are critical. Donate here. Thank you.

Meeting Information

The Public Notice has been published, the Agenda will be available here. The meeting is at 5:30 pm, 700 H St, Board Chambers, Sacramento. Anyone can attend the meeting or submit comments.

Project Perspective

We at ECOS are deeply disappointed at the City and LAFCO support for the project. The EIR clearly shows that impacts on air quality and agriculture are regional in scope and cannot be mitigated. The City requested and the developer agreed to some small changes to the ASIP plan, which may make the project marginally better for human neighbors, including an increased setback. For plants and wildlife, the project is destructive in a fragile protected remnant of important habitat. Because the EIR was not a valid assessment of the habitat impacts, we can only point to specific obvious examples: the elimination of wetlands without mitigation, the loss of two adjacent Swainson’s Hawk nesting sites, the loss of habitat values in adjacent parcels to the south and to the adjacent canals, home to the endangered Giant Garter Snake.

Update on Other Threats

Protecting open space in the Natomas Basin will be challenge going forward. In addition to ASIP, another 7000+ acres are under threat of development. These range from rice fields north of Elkhorn Blvd (Grandpark Southwest and Grandpark Trails) to the “Boot” area along Garden Hwy (Upper Westside Project). Stopping ASIP can help slow down this threat.

The Upper Westside developer is working to complete the Environmental Impact Report and has recently made modifications to it. Several organizations submitted outstanding letters of opposition to the changes. The Natomas Basin Conservancy wrote a powerful letter challenging the proposed water source for the project.

To learn more about these projects and our opposition, visit ECOS’s Natomas Campaign webpage to Protect Our Open Space.

Thank you for your support and participation.

ECOS in the News and Good News

January 9, 2026

Early this month, ECOS received a lot of well-deserved media coverage for standing up to developers in Sacramento County on three separate projects.

PROJECT UPDATES

Coyote Creek

In a nice start to the new year, SMUD backed away from the Coyote Creek agrivoltaic project in eastern Sacramento County. The developers could still build if they can find a buyer for the power, but ECOS and the California Native Plant Society are maintaining their lawsuit to void the special use permit approved by the County. The decision received considerable media attention and links are provided below. There are two other lawsuits as well, filed by the Wilton Rancheria, and the California 4 Wheel Drive Association (Cal4Wheel), American Sand Association, and BlueRibbon Coalition (OHV groups).

ECOS and its partners, Sierra Club, 350 Sacramento, California Native Plant Society, Sacramento Audubon Society, Defenders of Wildlife, Center for Biological Diversity, California Wildlife Foundation, Central Valley Bird Club, Third Act, and Sierra Access Coalition are grateful for the depth of opposition you brought to the Board of Supervisors.

Upper Westside Project

In December, the County sent out the Partially Recirculated Draft EIR. Public comment is due Jan 27, 2026. The document highlights two changes made to the Draft EIR. The Natomas Central Mutual Water District (NCMED) is introduced as a potential domestic water supply source. Its primary customers are agricultural. Change to the traffic circulation network is also proposed, including traffic calming on San Juan Rd to discourage through traffic on Garden Highway and El Centro Rd.

In opposing this project, ECOS is partnering with nearby neighbors and residents, including the Garden Highway Community Association. Links are provided below to a recent Bee article and to the Revised Draft EIR.

Airport South Industrial Project

The City Council voted 5 to 2 in December to approve this project. ECOS, Friends of the Swainson’s Hawk and Sierra Club filed lawsuits against the City. They had previously filed a lawsuit against LAFCO (Local Agency Formation Commission). The lawsuits are necessary because, instead of LAFCO and the City representing differing interests, they are designated as “co-lead agencies” of the project, a clear conflict of interest. LAFCO will vote on the project again this spring.

What Can You Do?

Help pay for the lawsuits. There is no magic donor waiting in the wings. The donations you give to ECOS are paying for this good work. Your contribution of $25 or $500 is much appreciated and needed. There can be no lawsuits without your donations. Donate here.
PS. If not you, who?

LINKS

This week, ECOS and your opposition to these projects, received a remarkable amount of media coverage. Please take a look. Google topics to get the latest as suggested below – as I write, we continue to give interviews.

Coyote Creek

Sacramento Bee, Jan 5, 2026: SMUD ends power deal for Coyote Creek solar project tied to environmental suit
Capital Public Radio, Jan 7, 2026: SMUD cancels agreement to purchase power from Coyote Creek solar project

Click here for more news on Coyote Creek.

If you google “Coyote Creek News” you will see reporting by ABC 10, Fox 40, The Business Journal, Abridged and CBS Sacramento, among others.

Upper Westside

Sacramento Bee, Dec 17, 2025: Sacramento County still lacks reliable water as Serna loves a bad project

The Revised Draft EIR (600 plus pages) is available here.

• Comments are due January 27, 2026
• Send them to Julie Newton, Environmental Coordinator Department of Community Development, Division of Planning and Environmental Review 7th Street, Room 225, Sacramento, 95814.
• Or via Email: CEQA[at]saccounty[dot]gov

Airport South Industrial

Both the Sacramento Business Journal and the Sacramento Bee wrote articles about the lawsuits against the City, LAFCO and Northpoint on January 6, 2026. ECOS posted them here but you may need to google “Airport South Industrial News” to avoid paywalls. CBS News, Hoodline and Fox 40 have also provided coverage.

Thank you for being part of ECOS and supporting us. If you are more comfortable paying for an ECOS membership, than donating to our legal funds, please, join ECOS here. Your membership helps pay our staff and other costs.