Riverwalk project draws mixed public comment; EIR cited as key water-supply analysis

Two members of the public used the council meeting Tuesday to present opposing perspectives on the proposed Riverwalk development, focusing on farmland preservation and water supply analysis in the draft environmental impact report (EIR).

Milt Treweiler urged the council to ‘‘vote no’’ on the Riverwalk project and asked the city to preserve about 2.4 square miles of prime farmland, which he described as irreplaceable because of soil quality, water availability and climate. Treweiler argued future generations depend on protecting local agricultural land rather than converting it to development.

Rob Christiansen, a Riverbank resident who said he attended the February 27 community forum, responded to concerns about water demand by citing the draft EIR and supporting documents. Christiansen told the council the EIR estimates an annual surplus of ‘‘over 9,300 acre-feet’’ between the city’s current reliable supply capacity and projected demand in 2045, and said the project would provide some groundwater recharge through stormwater infiltration. He pointed council members to EIR sections 3.14.0.2 and table 3.14-11 for further detail.

Staff and council did not take formal action on Riverwalk tonight; the strategic-plan progress report noted earlier in the meeting that the Riverwalk specific plan and draft EIR have been posted online and that the public-comment period closes May 6.

Speakers on both sides asked the council to weigh long-term water supply, farmland preservation and infill opportunities when reviewing the project; staff pointed to the EIR as the central technical document for those considerations.