Woodland planning commission backs ballot measure to allow limited utility extensions to nearby businesses

The Woodland Planning Commission voted 5-0 to recommend the City Council certify a supplemental environmental impact report and place a ballot measure on the November 2026 ballot to allow narrowly targeted extensions of city water, wastewater and recycled water to qualifying existing commercial facilities outside the urban limit line.

Deputy community development director Erica Baumgardner told the commission the proposed amendment to General Plan Policy 2A1 would not change Woodland’s urban limit line itself but would create a narrow exception permitting service extensions only for commercial parcels that fall wholly or partially within one mile of the limit and that were operating on or before 11/03/2026. Baumgardner said the final SEIR concluded the amendment would not create new significant environmental impacts beyond those already disclosed in the general plan EIR and identified mitigation measures and implementation programs that would apply if future utility extensions are approved. "The amendment does not adjust the urban limit line boundary in any way," Baumgardner said during the staff presentation.

Representatives of the two applicants — Mike McGowan for Clark Pacific and George Goff for Bayer Crop Science — told the commission they support municipal hookups and said companies would cover the costs of design, construction and connection to ensure there is no net cost to existing Woodland residents. "We think that's good for the environment. We think it's good for our businesses, and we think it's good for the city of Woodland," McGowan said, adding the connections would support operations and job growth.

Commissioners asked process and technical questions before voting. One commissioner asked what voter threshold would be required; staff responded the amendment would require a majority vote (50% plus one). Bailey staff also noted Yolo LAFCO had submitted a letter saying it would use the SEIR when considering its own approvals and did not object to the environmental analysis; the Yolo County Farm Bureau had submitted a letter raising concerns that the draft EIR did not fully analyze a separate Clark Pacific county expansion, which staff said is a separate county project reviewed independently but that the SEIR considered it as a reasonably foreseeable cumulative project.

Tim Bush, the city utilities engineering manager, answered technical questions about capacity and construction impacts. "From a water supply perspective, we have absolutely no problems taking on both of these companies," Bush said, noting the city’s water demand has fallen substantially from historic peaks and that wastewater capacity is likewise available.

After public testimony and technical clarifications, Commissioner Smith moved (Resolution PC 06) that the commission recommend City Council certify the SEIR, adopt CEQA findings and a mitigation monitoring program, approve the General Plan amendment to Policy 2A1, and place a ballot measure on the November 2026 ballot. The motion was seconded and passed on a 5-0 voice vote.

What’s next: the commission’s recommendation will go to the City Council, which would need to act to place the measure on the ballot and certify the record; any utility connection approvals later would be subject to separate service agreements and required mitigation/conditions. The amendment would take effect only if approved by Woodland voters.