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Residents and farm groups urge Alameda County to revisit Measure D to help young farmers and agritourism
Summary
Multiple public speakers during the Jan. 8 public-input period urged the Alameda County Board of Supervisors to amend or put a 2026 ballot measure to modernize Measure D, arguing current parcel-size and ancillary-use restrictions hurt agricultural viability; farm-bureau leaders and local residents gave examples and urged board action, while at least one resident cautioned smaller parcel sizes could produce luxury ranchettes.
During public input at the Jan. 8 planning meeting, a series of residents and agricultural stakeholders urged the Alameda County Board of Supervisors to revisit Measure D (the Save Agriculture and Open Space Initiative) arguing the measure’s restrictions on minimum parcel sizes and ancillary uses have reduced farm viability and blocked new farmers from accessing land.
Griffin, an unincorporated Alameda County resident, said Measure D’s large minimum parcel sizes make rural housing unattainable for young farmers and asked the board to advance a 2026 ballot measure to modernize Measure D by introducing smaller agricultural parcel sizes while keeping land in agricultural use: “I respectfully ask the board to advance a 2026 ballot measure to modernize measure d by introducing minimum agricultural parcel sizes while keeping land in agricultural use.”
Jerry D. Miller and other speakers described a decline in local agriculture and urged the board to adopt processes that allow timely agricultural enhancements without requiring expensive ballot initiatives. David Najarian, president of the Alameda County Farm Bureau and a local grower, described his family’s 10-acre Chetwynd Farm and argued Measure D prevents conversion of large agricultural properties into smaller parcels that would support small diverse growers. Janessa Hoffman, executive director of the Alameda County Farm Bureau, said Measure D’s restrictions are “crippling” local agriculture and urged amendments to support agritourism and farm viability.
Not all speakers agreed on the remedy. Matt Turner, an unincorporated resident and long-time rancher, warned that reducing parcel minimums (for example to five acres) could encourage conversion to luxury ranchettes and harm agriculture in other counties; he urged careful consideration of parcel-size reforms.
Board members listened to the input but did not take action on Measure D during the meeting; speakers asked the board to prioritize and initiate a process for change.
