SGA City Council Endorsements

SGA believes that it's crucial that Chicoans elect City Council members who provide a new direction for the growth and development for the City.  We enthusiastically support the re-election of Addison Winslow, who has provided strong leadership in smart growth. In addition, we believe we have very strong candidates for Districts 2 and 6. We urge you to support Shelby Hebert for Chico City Council  for District 2  and Megan Thomas Petty for Chico City Council District 6. Below are their statements about the growth and development of Chico. 

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Shelby Herbert

My love for Chico might be captured in the energy of the Saturday Farmer’s Market–bumping into friends and neighbors, seeing babies and kids toddling and wagoning around, and buying goods from neighbors who grew or made something I need. I see people sharing something they love and created–strumming instruments, ladling soup, and pouring tea to share with neighbors.

I want more of this.

This “powerful sense of community” that is part of SGA Chico’s vision–that’s why I am running for Chico City Council. It’s what drew me here after college, why I love this town more every year, and something I’m driven to both protect and grow.

In 2025, 12 businesses in downtown Chico closed. Last week, Chico Refill and 6th Street Center for Youth announced their closures, and downtown businesses Lili’s and Ali Baba are moving to more sustainable locations.

Change has always been part of what keeps Chico vibrant, but the change we’re seeing isn’t movement in the right direction.

Some of my friends in their 20s and 30s have one “well paying” job, and some of them piece together multiple jobs. None of them are close to being able to own a home. Not one. Nationwide, seniors are the fastest growing demographic of people experiencing homelessness. With no cap on rent investors charge in mobile home communities, it’s easy to understand how seniors on a fixed income find themselves being evicted.

We must do better by and for Chicoans–and we will.

I am running for Chico City Council to join leaders eager to make strides for Chico’s future and close the gap created by past and present Councils’ inaction and service to special interests. We have to act now, to meet this moment, and plan for 5, 15, 25 years down the road.

Chico needs a leader who will advocate for our community and shared future.

● Safe Streets

○ Neighborhoods and roads are intentionally built to support our community’s transportation needs, so whether we drive, walk, use mobility aids, bike, or take the bus, everyone safely navigates our city.

○ Sidewalks and plazas are not places people are forced to live because the City works strategically to maximize resources, programs, and partnerships, effectively supporting people moving from living outside into stable, long-term housing.

● Smart Growth

○ City leaders greenlight infill development strategies expanding housing options, optimizing City infrastructure, and preserving wild and working lands.

○ Residents and businesses pay affordable rents, won by measures like rate hike caps and vacancy taxes, and Chicoans have more disposable income to circulate into the local economy.

● Strong Towns

○ Critical infrastructure systems like sewer and roads are not just well-funded but modernized and stabilized for the future.

○ People have well-paying jobs where they live and work and are advocates for their neighborhoods, engaging local democracy.

If this is a vision we share, spread the word, and vote Shelby Hebert in District 2 on November 3. Check out shelbyforchico.com to learn more about and sign up to support the campaign.
 

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Megan Thomas Petty 
SMART COMMUNITY BUILDING
 

CLIMATE RESILIENCE IN URBAN DEVELOPMENT

              As our community copes with climate change impacts, our region may see heavier rainfall and increased flooding, more drought, more fire and increased fire intensity.

         Water

 Development affects the natural flow of stormwater in a watershed. When rain hits impervious surfaces such as roofs, streets, and parking lots, it discharges in large quantities, carrying pollutants it absorbs from those surfaces. The increased quantity and speed of this stormwater can erode stream channels and destabilize their banks, while pollutants harm plants and wildlife in waterways. Strategies can help our community develop in safer areas, integrate green infrastructure to reduce stormwater runoff when needed, use water more efficiently, protect water quality and ensure aquifer recharge.

Preserving ecologically critical open space and developing compactly is crucial. Compact development, with less impervious surface, generates less stormwater runoff per unit of development. It can also conserve drinking water because when shorter pipes serve a community, the amount of water lost to leaks is reduced. Developing in existing communities, rather than establishing new ones, can help reduce the pressure on open spaces with valuable ecological functions, such as wetlands, riparian corridors, farmland and urban forests.

Green infrastructure techniques, such as permeable soils or pavements, green roofs and rain gardens, mimic natural processes that capture stormwater, help it to decelerate, absorb some of the water into the ground and filter out pollutants before releasing the remaining runoff to waterways. Cisterns and rain barrels can conserve drinking water by storing runoff for nonpotable uses such as irrigation. These green infrastructure practices can also make streets and buildings more attractive and reduce ambient air temperatures, a welcome by-product in a warming world.

   Fire

Fire resilience and smart growth principles combined can lead to more sustainable, safer communities that are better equipped to handle the challenges presented by wildfires and climate change.

Introducing fire-resistant building materials, creating defensible spaces, increasing Firewise communities and utilizing technology for early detection and monitoring of fire risks are critical strategies.

Other tactics include preserving greenspace firebreaks, ensuring that infrastructure supports emergency response efforts and zoning laws that prohibit development in high-risk fire areas.

The Urban Forest

Chico invested in an “Urban Forest Master Plan” (UFMP) to comply with state laws mandating municipal Climate Action Plans and carbon neutrality by 2045. Tree planting and preserving our urban canopy is essential for increased days of extreme heat and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Any “smart growth” initiatives must adhere to the dictates of the UFMP.
 

HISTORIC PRESERVATION AS A FORM OF “INFILL”

Chico’s historic Victorian-style homes and California bungalows are what give many neighborhoods their unique charm and character. Our neighborhood full of “storybook homes” dating from 1927 to 1929, was just highlighted in the press.

“Historic preservation” as an infill strategy involves integrating new structures or renovations within existing historic contexts, respecting the architectural integrity of the area while enhancing sustainability. This strategy ensures that the cultural heritage and identity of a community is preserved. Preserving existing structures is more sustainable than new construction by reducing waste and conserving resources. Reusing materials and buildings can significantly lower carbon footprints, all while retaining our valuable heritage.

Modernizing historic housing stock also reduces the impact on our local infrastructure, as historic homes and their aged plumbing systems can strain municipal infrastructure, primarily through chronic private failures because of the materials of the original systems, which can corrode, crack, and invite tree root intrusion. Aged electrical systems risk local overloads since they were not engineered for modern multi-fixture daily demands and frequently exceed original amperage capacities.

CHILD-FRIENDLY URBAN DEVELOPMENT

Promoting children’s well-being and safe and healthy development in urban spaces should be crucial, yet they are an often-overlooked demographic in urban planning and design. Ensuring that neighborhoods are walkable, bicycle-friendly, with access to parks or playgrounds or places for play and communal gathering and ensuring that all have “safe routes” to the schools they serve are essential.

SENIOR-CENTRIC URBAN DEVELOPMENT

Seniors, especially, should also benefit from smart growth initiatives to enhance their living environment. Neighborhood designs that promote walking and accessibility help seniors maintain mobility and independence. “Mixed-use developments” allow seniors to access services and social activities easily. Seniors also need reliable and widespread access to public transportation. We should include community and supportive housing models (like co-housing) that focus on “aging in place” and are designed to promote accessibility, social connection and independence, ensuring older adults can thrive.

SMART GROWTH AND NATURE

We live in a resource-rich area filled with wildlife and natural wonders. Growing a community in harmony with and respecting the natural world is essential. Building in a manner that preserves wildlife habitat, minimizes wildlife-vehicle contact and allows for wildlife to follow ancestral migration routes is crucial.

CONCLUSION

Growth is inevitable but doing so in a thoughtful and creative manner that preserves and protects the assets, resources and charm and character that our community possesses is possible and the only way forward to building our “smart community.”

Megan Thomas Petty, Esq.
Candidate for Chico City Council, District 6

 

Vision and Action for the New Year

New year greetings to you all. We are looking forward to a productive year in SGA, a year to advocate for the following vision for sustainable growth that:
1) Provides affordable and quality housing to all of Chico’s citizens
2) Preserves and protects the valuable open spaces and natural environments so critical to our long-term health
3) Enhances our connections to each other, socially and economically and
4) Strengthens our town’s resilience and adaptability to the warming climate.

The rejection of the lawsuit from “Believe in Chico” to overturn the referendum against Valley’s Edge, and the more recent ruling against the Stonegate development, are further indications that we need to think innovatively about how we want to grow. Both Valley’s Edge and Stonegate are sprawl projects, but we have alternatives.

We see rich opportunities for growth within Chico’s city limits, the kind of housing development and growth that will help us to:
1) Preserve open spaces,
2) Reduce air pollution primarily caused by cars,
3) Maximize city dollars for infrastructure improvements to include our roads,
4) Enhance fire mitigation in Bidwell Park and maintain our urban forest, one of the critical components of resilience in the face of our rapidly warming planet.

Three opportunities for smart development are on the near horizon: the downtown revitalization project, the Barber Yard Development, and the Park Avenue Corridor. A focus on “missing middle” housing and mixed use residential and commercial development in all three areas, done well, can provide housing of all types – townhouses, cottage courts, apartments, duplexes, fourplexes – housing that provides Chico citizens with a variety of choices and entry points into the market. Done well, the streets in these areas can be designed with people as a priority, not automobiles, using strategies to slow traffic and providing infrastructure for walking and biking. Done well, these neighborhoods can be designed with a variety of green, open spaces for people to gather, in community, to play and enjoy each other’s company. Imagine the economic engine when these three areas are developed with community in mind, the symbiotic relationships they will generate. Walk out your door, and within walking and biking distance, you have a plethora of restaurants and shops and bars and entertainment venues. All three of these areas are located conveniently close to CSU, Chico and to Bidwell Park.

City Council elections are just around the corner. We need a City Council that reflects the values/concerns/interests of the 62% who rejected the Valley's Edge Development. All of you were THE difference in that defeat.  We want to invite you to be part of the campaign to elect people to City Council who will advance sustainable growth and oppose sprawl development.  We need to defeat current councilors Tom Van Overbeek, District 6, and Kasey Reynolds, District 2, both of whom supported Valley’s Edge. 

We will be calling on you to help support these efforts. 

All of you were THE difference in the defeat of the Valley’s Edge development, and your involvement and action in the upcoming elections will, again, make all the difference.

To sign up, email Brian Kress, SGA’s Volunteer Coordinator, at
brianscottkress@gmail.org.
 

STONEGATE DEVELOPMENT RULED "UNLAWFUL"

On Friday, July 18, a Federal judge ruled that the Stonegate development, which SGA opposes, failed to do an adequate environmental review and that the project did not take into account endangered animals and plants such as the Fairy Shrimp and Butte Meadowfoam. Here is Stephen Tchudi's letter to the editor of the ER on the decision:

 

Congratulations and thanks to AquAlliance and the Center for Biological Diversity for their successful court case blocking suburban sprawl via the Stonegate project. (ER, 7-19) The court’s decision made clear that both the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Corps of Engineers failed to calculate the effects on endangered creatures and plants in an area that is much appreciated by Chicoans and deserves to be saved.

At the same time, it is important to dispel the myth promoted by both the real estate industry and even by Governor Newsom, that somehow protecting endangered species is creating the housing shortage. Nonsense. The shortage has been generated by myriad factors, including rising costs within the building industry and an inflated housing market. Readers might want to consult the website of Smart Growth Advocates (sgachico.net), to learn more about the principles of intelligent growth and how Chico has an opportunity to supply needed housing for the people who most desperately need it.

 

Stephen Tchudi
Yankee Hill

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD: Speak out for Smart Growth

 

Subdivision and sprawl developers are making false claims, and like the defeat of Valley’s Edge, our voices must remind City Council that while we reject developments like Valley’s Edge, we promote a range of affordable and attainable housing to include cottage neighborhoods, townhouses, duplexes, fourplexes, and mixed use commercial and residential.  

 

Easily 70% of Chico citizens cannot afford a single-family house at a median price of $465,000.  We want quality alternative housing located close to services and at an affordable price. 

 

The false claims include the following in quotes:

1.  “There is not enough infill land to satisfy Chico’s projected population

growth.” 

We say not only is it possible, but it is preferable that as much of Chico’s growth as possible be spread throughout the existing city where public infrastructure already exists and the environmental impacts are insignificant. 

2. “Land is more expensive in Chico due to a constriction in the supply of land.” 

We say rather than increasing the supply of land for development and undermining the quality of the city, we should focus on accommodating more housing on less land.

3. “Lawsuits, activism and unreasonable environmental rules increase the cost of housing to consumers.”

We say the city of Chico is a better place as a result of grassroots environmental movements.

4. “The City should not require all new development to be high density.”

We say To meet our housing needs and maintain an economically viable city the local 

government should require better utilization of land than what has been provided in recent decades. 

5. “Climate change should not be the primary determinant of Chico’s

housing policy.” 

We say climate-smart planning calls for smart growth principles, which also support other core goals of Chico’s urban planning. We have an obligation to future generations to emphasize climate benefits in planning today. 

6. Smart growth people are trying to force people to live in dense developments by restricting the building of single-family homes.” 

We say smart growth promotes removing barriers to building more affordable types of housing like townhouses and apartments. This is the opposite of forcing people to live in particular housing types.

Not only will the presentation of the “Findings and Recommendations” be on the agenda, but there is also discussion about the Park Avenue opportunity corridor.  So much potential exists there as well for Smart Growth housing.  

Come to the meeting and get a speaker card and support a clean and sustainable vision for Chico!  Hope to see you there!!!

Letter to the Editor

Challenging the Ad Hoc Committee on Growth and Community
Chico Enterprise Record         13 April 2025

Smart Growth Advocates has concerns about the legitimacy of the City’s ad hoc Committee on Growth and Community Development.

The Committee was formed to explore how and where Chico should grow and to make recommendations to Chico’s General Plan.

The Committee has done productive work on zoning reform, missing middle housing, infill and redevelopment.  Chico can move forward with development close to the compact core without having to move into open space on the edges of the city.  However, recommendations related to Valley’s Edge should not go forward from this committee.  The deliberations are tainted by a conflict of interest and a claim against the City of Chico. 

In February, the city received a “Claim for Money or Damages Against the City of Chico.”  In part, the claim says, “The unlawful referendums [opposing Valley’s Edge] . . .  have resulted in damage to and/or taking of Claimant’s property….”  Witnesses to the claim are Doug Guillon and Bill Brouhard.  Mr. Guillon is a member of the Ad Hoc Committee.

SGA is concerned about the conflict of interest.  As an owner/investor of the Valley’s Edge development, Mr. Guillon has a financial interest.  We respect his right to pursue his interests, but it is not appropriate to serve on an Ad Hoc committee tasked with making recommendations to the General Plan. 

Transparency is critical to building trust between a city’s government and its citizens.  Proceeding with housing recommendations when a committee member stands to have possible gain from those recommendations, is not appropriate.

Response Smart Growth Advocates has concerns about the legitimacy of the City’s ad hoc Committee on Growth and Community Development.

The Committee was formed to explore how and where Chico should grow and to make recommendations to Chico’s General Plan.

The Committee has done productive work on zoning reform, missing middle housing, infill and redevelopment.  Chico can move forward with development close to the compact core without having to move into open space on the edges of the city.  However, recommendations related to Valley’s Edge should not go forward from this committee.  The deliberations are tainted by a conflict of interest and a claim against the City of Chico. 

In February, the city received a “Claim for Money or Damages Against the City of Chico.”  In part, the claim says, “The unlawful referendums [opposing Valley’s Edge] . . .  have resulted in damage to and/or taking of Claimant’s property….”  Witnesses to the claim are Doug Guillon and Bill Brouhard.  Mr. Guillon is a member of the Ad Hoc Committee.

SGA is concerned about the conflict of interest.  As an owner/investor of the Valley’s Edge development, Mr. Guillon has a financial interest.  We respect his right to pursue his interests, but it is not appropriate to serve on an Ad Hoc committee tasked with making recommendations to the General Plan. 

Transparency is critical to building trust between a city’s government and its citizens.  Proceeding with housing recommendations when a committee member stands to have possible gain from those recommendations, is not appropriate.

Steve Cismowski

Chico

Forum on Smart Growth

 

On Thursday, February 27, Smart Growth Advocates and Green City Chico Coalition held a Forum entitled “Chico—How Do We Grow from Here?” The timing and the content of the Forum were selected 1) to commemorate the passage of the referendum to defeat the Valley’s Edge development and 2) to consider alternatives for growth that protect Chico from sprawl.  Following are Steve Cismowski's summary of the forum and Susan Tchudi's "Editor for a Day" piece in the Enterprise Record critiquing the City's Growth and Community Development Committee.

Summary Comments

Steven Cismowski

 

As we have heard from our illustrious panel of speakers tonight, Chico’s Future Housing Growth needs to meet new, and adapting requirements to keep ahead of economic and environmental needs, while delivering safe, affordable, livable neighborhoods, and ensuring environmental responsiveness and wise resource use. This is challenging, but not impossible.

 

We need to support our leaders who scrutinize proposed developments to ensure optimal resource use and to ensure Master Planning goals are being met by each project. By challenging the status quo, removing barriers to infill development, identifying, securing and implementing funding to support development of “missing middle” housing, creative projects fulfilling all needs can begin happening. Future development must minimize negative impacts and community threats coming from pollution, traffic, excessive pavement, additional unfunded infrastructure, fire/flood risks, while preserving unique natural and agricultural resources. We must make it easier for small developers to make substantial enhancements to our livable city by supporting infill and mixed-use development on Opportunity Sites, through ideas like Form Based Codes.

 

Climate crisis and escalation of fires in the WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE require rethinking current development strategies that rely on ever-expanding greenfield developments occupying lands that provide invaluable emergency buffers protecting both our natural and built resources. When it comes to land use, another resource mantra applies – REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE!

 

Current development relying on car/vehicle access results in wasteful land use undermining our climate action goals. Compact development promoting multi-modal transportation is vital to help reduce the negative impacts to our planet and boost livability today.

 

Chico’s Housing Element clearly identifies we are not meeting our diverse housing goals and failing to live up to the goals of the general plan. While low-income housing needs prioritization, there is also the “Missing Middle” gap in housing that needs prioritization.

 

The City and local developers need to do better to secure the needed grant funding and financial incentives that make delivering the “Missing Middle” pencil out.

 

The General Plan’s vision is broadly supported by SGA, and clearly the majority of Chico voters. We demand developers and government leadership ensure stated goals included in the general plan are met.

 

Future sustainable, vibrant cities will share similar characteristics: the 10-minute city (compact urban form); diverse housing opportunities balancing all levels of affordability; thriving, independent business opportunities; people actively engaged in the public realm, streets, sidewalks, parks, open spaces, businesses.

 

Smart Growth Advocates, Green City Coalition, Butte Environmental Council, and numerous other individuals and advocacy groups are working together with Governmental leadership to ensure a sustainable future is possible. As with any group comprised of individuals, divergent ideas can present momentary challenges. What I know firsthand is that when divergent ideas are embraced and heard, the ultimate product is more creative and stronger than any one individual’s vision can produce. I have confidence in the expertise, passion and vision of the people to deliver a bright future.