Sen. Dodd’s Napa Housing and Skyline Park Bills Advance

SACRAMENTO – A pair of bills from Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa, that will improve the quality of life for Napa County residents by addressing the housing shortage and also by providing greater outdoor recreation options each cleared key legislative hurdles today.

“Napa desperately needs affordable and market-rate housing to help address our workforce needs and reduce commute traffic,” Sen. Dodd said. “This bill will allow the city and county to work together to get critically needed housing built.”

The 154-acre Napa Pipe project, which calls for 945 housing units over several phases and a retail development, is spread across two jurisdictions – the city of Napa and Napa County. Senate Bill 235, which cleared the Local Government committee, would authorize the two public entities to enter an agreement to share credit for building homes in mandated annual reports to the Department of Housing and Community Development. The County of Napa, with support from the City, had requested the change in state law.

Separately, Senate Bill 20, which would allow Napa County to negotiate with the state Department of General Services to buy the 850-acre Skyline Wilderness Park, cleared the Accountability and Administrative review committee. The bill ensures the prime land with popular hiking trails and views of the Bay Area remains a public open space forever.

“We must preserve this land for the public and place it under local control so it remains parkland in perpetuity,” Sen. Dodd said.  “This is such an important community asset, both from a recreational and environmental perspective.”

Napa County has sought the land for many years. It currently holds a lease on the property under an agreement with the state that will expire in 2030.  The property in the Napa Valley foothills includes 25 miles of trails and a beautiful pond, Lake Marie. A portion of it is adjacent to Napa State Hospital.

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Senator Bill Dodd represents California’s 3rd Senate District, which includes all or portions of Napa, Solano, Sonoma, Yolo, Sacramento, and Contra Costa counties. You can learn more about Senator Dodd at www.sen.ca.gov/dodd.