Watson Ranch developer takes steps for road extension ballot initiative
The developer of the Watson Ranch subdivision in American Canyon wants to place an initiative on the ballot to allow his development to have direct access to Highway 29.
Terrence McGrath, owner/builder of Watson Ranch, wants to extend Marcus Road to Watson Lane east of Highway 29. That would give immediate access to all residents who live east of the railroad tracks, McGrath said.
The notice of intent for the ballot initiative was submitted Friday at City Hall, McGrath said. The initiative would seek a general plan amendment to connect Marcus Road to Watson Lane.
The city attorney had 15 days after the filing to write a title, summary and impartial analysis before signatures can be collected. It was unclear when the measure could be placed on the ballot.
The city has planned for years to extend Newell Drive as part of its circulation plan. Newell Drive would become a parallel and an alternate road to much-congested Highway 29. McGrath said, however, that project could cost $75 million because a Newell Drive extension would cross railroad tracks and a creek.
In October, McGrath said Watson Lane was the better option because it has an existing at-grade public railroad crossing and access to Highway 29. Extending Marcus Road to Watson Lane, which could take two years, does not prevent the extension of Newell Drive in the future “whenever that may be,” McGrath said.
Watson Ranch is a 250-acre development south of Watson Lane, where hundreds of houses are planned. A 186-unit apartment complex and more than 200 houses have been built as of last October, according to the city. The development also included a commercial center and a hotel, but McGrath said last fall, given the market conditions, he plans to build bungalows instead of a hotel.
McGrath told the City Council on Tuesday the initiative is now called “Your Vote, Traffic Relief, Northern Access Now.”
Longtime American Canyon Beth Marcus on Tuesday told the Current she signed the text of the initiative in order to extend Marcus Road to Watson Lane. Marcus was not sure who would pay for the extension.
Connecting Marcus Road to an improved Watson Lane, McGrath said, would “bring a huge amenity to the city” and help with home sales at Watson Ranch as well as programming at the ruins of the former basalt factory now known as Napa Valley Ruins & Gardens.
In October, McGrath filed a lawsuit against the city in Napa County Superior Court over money, road access and other issues related to the Watson Ranch project.
McGrath’s lawsuit was officially filed by American Canyon I, LLC and Napa Valley Ruins & Gardens, LLC. The defendants are the city of American Canyon and the five city council members individually, including Mayor Pierre Washington.
The complaint against Washington and the other city council members was dismissed last fall. However, the lawsuit against the city remains active.
“On a personal note, I know you were upset when I sued you individually, personally. I get it. It was not vindictive on my part. Trust me,” McGrath told the City Council on Tuesday. “It was intended to get your attention.”
After the meeting, however, Washington said he was not going to have one-on-one conversations with McGrath as long as the lawsuit against the city has not been dismissed. The city negotiated with him last year, Washington said, “and we got nowhere.”
Washington recalled the night he was served with the lawsuit. His wife saw the person serving the legal document behind a window at their house at 10 p.m.
The City Council switched attorneys from longtime attorney William Ross to Teresa Highsmith last summer. “We need somebody that represents us 100 percent,” Washington said. “He does not like that,” Washington added, referring to McGrath.
McGrath does not run the city, the mayor said. “We run the city.”
The new ballot initiative effort did not surprise Washington.
The City Council wants to benefit the residents of American Canyon, Washington said. “His goal is to benefit his pocketbook.”
McGrath’s lawsuit stated that Watson Ranch had to set aside right-of-way land for the Newell Drive extension project; however, the complaint alleged the city did not reconvey the right-of-way even though it did not have the money to pay to extend Newell Drive, according to the court filing. The complaint contends, “the lack of northern access” to Watson Ranch “detrimentally impacts” the plaintiffs’ ability to develop the property.
A case management conference in the case is set for July 14.
