Dublin’s Efforts to Move its Urban Limit Line East Still in Court 

The legality of Measure II, the 2024 ballot measure that opened up unincorporated land east of Dublin for commercial development by breaking the city’s urban limit line (ULL), remains in question following an Alameda County Superior Court hearing last week of a lawsuit opposing the measure approved last fall by Dublin voters. Attorneys representing Save Mount Diablo and Friends of Livermore are asking the Court to undo the changes brought by the measure. The measure sought to amend the City’s general plan to allow commercial development east of the City’s boundary and urban limit line on 80 acres known as the Crosby Properties. Prior to the election, Save Mount Diablo and Friends of Livermore filed requests for two temporary restraining orders with the Alameda County Superior Court to remove the measure from the ballot. They claimed that under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), an environmental review was required before allowing commercial development, and that voters deserved to understand the environmental impacts of the measure before deciding. 

The City of Dublin plans commercial development within the Crosby acreage as a way to help fund the Dublin Boulevard Extension project, which would build 1.5 miles of a four- to six-lane highway from Fallon Road in Dublin along North Canyons Parkway into Livermore. Dublin has so far identified $76 million for the project, which is estimated to cost $153.6 million. While the City of Livermore supports the extension project, it opposed breaking the ULL to allow commercial development on the Crosby land, which is now protected open space between Livermore and Dublin. Livermore representatives said the City would withdraw its share of funding, about $27.5 million, should Dublin move the ULL. 

(B. Hoppes)