Davis voters weigh Measure V housing project. Here's what to know

The Sacramento Bee editorial board has endorsed Measure V, which would allow about 1,800 new homes on 400 acres off Covell Boulevard in Davis. The vote tests whether the city can address its housing shortage after 25 years of rejecting nearly every expansion proposal.

FULL STORY: Read The Bee endorsement in a controversial Davis housing measure | Opinion

Here are key takeaways:

• Since 2000, Davis voters have required a public vote on any expansion into farmland. They have not approved a single project with new family housing in that time.
• Measure V would develop about 400 acres into roughly 1,800 residences for varying income levels. The Village Farms project would be surrounded on three sides by existing neighborhoods.
• UC Davis enrollment has grown more than 50% since 2000, contributing to long commutes, high housing prices and declining school enrollment.
• The project includes affordable housing, townhomes and small single-family residences, with half the land preserved as open space. The Davis City Council unanimously approved it before sending it to voters.
• State housing officials have been watching Davis closely. The City Council has twice avoided placing a measure before voters to exempt affordable housing from the public vote requirement, apparently fearing rejection.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by journalists.