Article in Cloverdale Connect

May 1, 2026 · Devon Zuegel

Originally published in the May 2026 issue of Cloverdale Connect

Hi there! I'm Devon, founder of the Esmeralda project, a new neighborhood that we're proposing for the southeast end of town.

Over the last 3+ years as I've met hundreds of locals and attended dozens of community events, I've grown to love Cloverdale. I am honored to have a chance to contribute to its next chapter.

In the spirit of transparency, there have been many misconceptions about the project flying around social media recently, and I want a chance to correct the record:

Environmental Impact Report (EIR)

Some folks have demanded that the City prepare a “new EIR”, assuming the existing EIR is out-of-date or “stale”. This is inaccurate.

The City's CEQA consultant has refreshed the EIR studies within the last 9 months, including the Noise Study, Biological Resources Study, Cultural & Tribal Cultural Resources Study, Water Supply Assessment, and Transportation Impact Analysis.

While a “new” EIR might sound more rigorous than an addendum to the existing EIR, this misses a few key facts:

The content of a new EIR would be nearly identical to the draft addendum. The addendum doesn't just refresh existing studies but expands them, and it's already over 4,000 pages!
CEQA law mandates an addendum and not a new EIR when a “Modified Project” satisfies strict legal criteria, which we believe ours does. The City needs to follow the law.

As a failsafe, the EIR requires ongoing soil testing and (if necessary) further cleanup once grading begins. Notably, California is one of the most strictly regulated states for environmental cleanup.

The Water Board — an independent state agency staffed with professionals committed to public health and environmental safety — has monitored the site for decades to ensure it's safe for redevelopment. We would never invest hundreds of millions of dollars here if we had any reason to think it was unsafe.

Benefits to Cloverdale

This new neighborhood will also be a huge boost to Cloverdale by:

Growing annual City revenues by about 35%: Cloverdale has run a structural deficit for years. If this continues, the City will need to cut services or raise taxes — like the recent Measure DD sales tax. Esmeralda is projected to generate a $3–4M annual net fiscal surplus (i.e. after accounting for added public expenses!).
Boosting local businesses & adding hundreds of jobs: The new neighborhood and hotel will expand the customer base for existing businesses, and will also create employment opportunities for young people to stay in Cloverdale.
Improving water infrastructure & drought resiliency: We are required to build and pay for a 1-million-gallon water tank system and dedicate it to the City. This new storage will help pressurize the water system, add fire protection, and strengthen the City's water resiliency.
Adding vast new public trails, playgrounds & habitat: The previously-approved project included a private golf course. Instead, Esmeralda will open 100+ acres to the public as a riverfront park — and we'll pay for ongoing maintenance, not the City.

New Housing: Community Input vs. State Override

Growth is coming; the question is whether Cloverdale has a seat at the table.

State housing law requires cities to hit production goals, and cities that fall behind face escalating consequences: projects they can't stop, civil penalties, and loss of state funding. Cloverdale already missed its goals in the last 7-year cycle, and it is not on track to achieve its goals for the next cycle. Esmeralda will help the City meet its obligations in a responsible, land-efficient way.

Esmeralda has done far more outreach than most developers, getting to know Cloverdale and incorporating feedback over 3+ years. None of this was required; it's simply the right thing to do, and it reflects our commitment to the community, which is the whole point of this project.

If Cloverdale falls short of state requirements, less conscientious developers will have the right to build what they want, with no local input. By contrast, we genuinely want to be partners and have put tremendous effort into doing so.

If you have questions, I invite you to read esmeralda.org/faq — and I'm always excited to spend time with Cloverdalians in person!