Map of area covered by the Richland Communities’ alternative initiative.

Proposed ballot measure scales back “The Ranch” project by 10%, bans hillside and ridgeline development, permanently protects additional open space areas on adjacent and surrounding properties, and offers funds for high-school athletic and performing arts facilities

A proposed initiative that would protect two-thirds of Antioch’s Sand Creek Focus Area west of Deer Valley Road from future new home development has been submitted to the City by three Antioch residents, as the first step in its qualification for the November 2018 ballot. It was proposed and is backed by Richland Communities, the developer of the project known as The Ranch. Notice of Intent to Circulate Petition rcvd 4-27-18

The measure would preserve approximately 1,244 acres of hillsides and natural open space and approve a 10% smaller master-planned project known as The Ranch compared to what has been under consideration by the City of Antioch. Instead of 1,307 homes, the project would include 1,177 homes instead. (Read the entire 143-page document, here:  Initiative Text Part 1 of 4  Initiative Text part 2 of 4  Initiative Text Part 3 of 4 Initiative Text Part 4 of 4 )

“We are listening to the citizens of Antioch and substantially revising our project so that it includes fewer homes and protects the hills, ridgelines, and valuable open space and environmentally sensitive areas around Sand Creek,” said Matt Bray, CEO of Richland Communities, the company that is proposing The Ranch project. “We see ourselves as a community partner and want to do the right thing.”

The local proponents of the initiative are Antioch residents Terry L. Ramus, a former Mello-Roos Board Member and Antioch Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee Chairman, former Antioch Mayor Pro Tem and Councilman Manny Soliz, Jr. and Matthew Malyemezian. They were each approached by Richland’s consultant, former Antioch Mayor Don Freitas and political campaign consultant, Mary Jo Rossi, to sign on to the effort.

The initiative will affect the adjacent property owners, including the land formerly known as the Higgins Ranch, owned by the long-time Antioch family that founded Higgins Funeral Home on A Street. Now known as Zeka Ranch, that project is also a planned, upscale and executive home community, scaled back from 1,100 homes in the 1990’s to about 400, on 200 of the 640 acres of land west of Empire Mine Road. It was purchased from the Higgins family by The Zeka Group in the 1990’s following the county-wide vote which adopted the original Urban Limit Line, which allows for new home development in the entire Sand Creek area. It also affects the land owned by three other property owners south of The Ranch property, as well as all the single-family home owners along Deer Valley Road. The initiative will only allow The Ranch project and the flat land on the properties south of Richland’s property to be developed.

With the scaled-down project now proposed in the initiative, voters will have the opportunity to support:

• Protection of approximately 1,244 acres at the western and southern boundaries of the Sand Creek Focus Area west of Deer Valley Road on adjacent property owners land, from future home development by designating the land for open space, agriculture and rural uses.
• Protection of approximately 250 acres within The Ranch from future development, including a development ban on hills.
• Investment of at least $1 million in high school sports and performing arts facilities from an additional $1,000 contribution from each new home in The Ranch, including a proposed initial project at Deer Valley High School to fund installation of a synthetic turf field in the football stadium.
• Establishment of an open space corridor for Sand Creek averaging 430 feet in width instead of the 300 feet, currently in the plan before the City.
• Preservation of at least 98 percent of trees in The Ranch, including oaks and eucalyptuses.
• Establishment of a 300-foot open-space buffer within The Ranch along its western boundary at Empire Mine Road.
• Restriction of development to only flatter terrain within Antioch’s voter-approved Urban Limit Line in the Sand Creek Focus Area west of Deer Valley Road and east of Empire Mine Road.
• Voter control of any amendments to the Urban Limit Line.
• Developer funding of additional public safety services, as was required on the two previously approved projects in the Sand Creek Focus Area.
• Developer construction of Sand Creek Road from Dallas Ranch Road to Deer Valley Road.
• In addition to reducing The Ranch’s development footprint, the initiative would remove about 130 previously proposed homes from the project.

“This is a total win for Antioch,” said Ramus. “With the scaled-back version of The Ranch project, we get more hillside and open space protections, and the initiative substantially limits future development around Sand Creek.  The funding of at least $1 million for long-needed capital improvements at Deer Valley High School is an additional bonus.”

The Ranch is a proposed master planned residential community that is proposed to include a mix of housing types – including Antioch’s first large-scale age-restricted community for residents 55 years of age or older – along with new commercial and retail services, a trailhead and staging area for East Bay Regional Parks District, a fire-station site, six miles of new public trails and 22 acres of park facilities.

The initiative needs 5,104 valid signatures to qualify for the November 2018 ballot, and signature gathering on the measure is expected to begin immediately.

Allen Payton contributed to this report.

By Allen Payton

A new restaurant will open at the former Humphrey’s location at the Antioch Marina, this summer. Smith’s Landing Seafood Grill will offer seafood, steaks and other menu items, at the premier location in the entire California Delta.

Owners Randy and Lynn Tei, who also own and operate Zephyr Gill in Brentwood and Livermore, have been working with building owner Sean McCauley since February to bring life and dining back to the location that’s been closed since Christmas Eve, 2012.

“We are very excited about opening our Smith’s Landing Seafood Grill at the Antioch Marina,” said Randy. “We feel Antioch has been underserved by upscale dining, for far too long. Our Executive Chef, Jesus Martinez, has been working diligently on recipes that feature wild seafood, and choice or prime cuts of beef. We believe the community will embrace what we will be able to bring to Antioch and we so look forward to being part of this community.”

“Sean McCauley, our landlord, has expanded and covered the outdoor deck and it will be a perfect spot to enjoy one of our classic cocktails or interesting wine offerings,” Lynn shared. “The interior of the restaurant is currently being refurbished and will have a very warm, new look.  We have also added a beautiful wine room at the entrance to the building.”

“Lastly, we owe a debt of gratitude to Allen Payton from the Antioch Herald for suggesting the historical name, Smith’s Landing,” the Teis stated. “This was the original name given Antioch by its founders, William and Joseph Smith in 1849. We think the name is ideal given the Smith brothers landed very near the location of our building.  We are proud to bring that name alive again and look forward to serving the entire community.”

They are hoping to open in July. The restaurant is located in the Marina Plaza, at the foot of L Street, just passed the Antioch Boat Launch, with views overlooking the San Joaquin River and the Antioch Marina in historic, downtown Rivertown. Follow Smith’s Landing Seafood Grill soon on Facebook.

By Sgt. William Dee, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau – Patrol

Officers were dispatched to the area behind the Antioch Library for a report of a possible stabbing. Passerby’s stated they heard a subject moaning on the ground in the area. When officers arrived, they found a juvenile male bleeding heavily from the face and arms. Officers immediately called medical personnel to the scene, and the victim was able to provide a brief description of the subject who attacked him. The juvenile was determined to be listed as a runaway.

An area check was conducted, and a suspect was located in the area of the crime scene. He was detained by officers and evidence of the crime was located. The suspect was arrested and booked into the Martinez Detention Facility for the felony assault.

The juvenile was taken to an area hospital where he was listed in stable, but critical condition. This incident is still under investigation, and no further information will be released at this time. Anyone with information is asked to call the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925) 778-2441. You may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

By Corporal Ted Chang #4362, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

On Monday, April 30, 2018 at 1:26 A.M., Antioch Police Officers were dispatched to a report of an armed robbery on C Street near West 18th Street. Two suspects armed with firearms approached the victim as he was walking to his parked car on C Street. The suspects demanded cash and then fled on foot.

The victim called police as he watched both suspects flee onto Railroad Avenue. Officers were on another call nearby and responded to the area within seconds. Officers located and detained a 28-year-old male who was in possession of evidence linking him to the crime.

At this time, the investigation is still ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at (925) 778-2441. You may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

One fisherman rescued from the river near the Antioch bridge by Contra Costa Sheriff’s Marine Patrol, Saturday, April 28, 2017. Screenshot from NBC Bay Area.

Sheriff’s Marine Patrol assisted by Coast Guard helicopters, state Fish and Wildlife, Contra Costa Fire

By Jimmy Lee, Director of Public Affairs, Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff

Saturday morning at approximately 8:25, Marine Patrol deputies heard a distress call on the radio. It was reported that two men had fallen off a boat near the Antioch Bridge and were struggling in the water. Marine Patrol units responded immediately and within minutes arrived on scene. A deputy located one of the victims who was pulled out of the water by a passing boater. The other boater was missing. The boaters were apparently at the time attempting to set an anchor to fish when their boat was hit by a wake causing both to fall overboard. Both of them were not wearing life jackets.

The missing boater is not being identified at this time. An extensive area search by Coast Guard helicopters, state Fish and Wildlife, and Contra Costa Fire and Sheriff’s Office patrol vessels was suspended at about 3:30 PM. He was not located.

Anyone with any information on this missing boater is asked to contact the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff at 925-646-2441.

By Sergeant Matthew Harger #3305, Antioch Police Field Services Bureau

On 4/26/18 at about 4:35 pm, APD units were dispatched to the 3500 block of Lovebird Way regarding several gunshots heard in the area. While officers were arriving on scene, a 23-year-old male walked into a local hospital suffering from multiple non-life-threatening gunshot wounds which were a result of this shooting. There is not any suspect information at this time.

This preliminary information is made available by the Field Services Bureau. This case is currently under investigation and there will be no further information released regarding this case at this time.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Antioch Police Department non-emergency line at

(925)778-2441. You may also text-a-tip to 274637 (CRIMES) using the key word ANTIOCH.

Nonprofit organizations and government agencies wishing to apply for a grant from the Keller Canyon Landfill Mitigation Fund are invited to a Bidders Conference, April 30.

The Keller Canyon grants are from $500 to $10,000 and given to services and events that will benefit residents of Bay Point, Pittsburg and parts of Antioch and Concord, said Supervisor Federal Glover, who oversees the grant program on behalf of the Contra Costa Board of Supervisors.

Interested applicants are REQUIRED to attend:

Keller Canyon Bidders’ Conference

April 30, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

California Theater, 351 Railroad Ave, Pittsburg

Generally, applications that fall into the following general categories will receive consideration:

• Youth Services – specific activities projects that benefit children/youth
• Code Enforcement – activities focusing on clean communities
• Public Safety – related to law enforcement, crime prevention, etc.
• Community Beautification
• Community Services – broad category of public benefit activities

The deadline for applications is May 18. After an initial screening, you may be requested to give a 5-minute oral presentation during the week of June 18, 2018 – June 22, 2018. Awards for the fiscal year 2018-2019 will be announced in July.

At the Bidders’ Conference, county staff will provide grant information and general technical assistance on the submission requirements.

For more information about the Bidders Conference, the Keller grant or the application process, contact Brittney Jones, at (925) 608-4200.