Environmental Workshop: Video Recording
May 21, 2026 · Devon & the Esmeralda team
On Thursday we hosted a workshop about our environmental vision for Esmeralda, the land's industrial history, & its past cleanup.
As stewards of this land, the way we are planning the neighborhood goes far beyond what's required for environmental safety & sustainability.
Cloverdale approved a gated golf course community on this site in 2009, 2016, & 2018. That plan has limited public access, even to the river.
We propose updating that plan to use less water, support habitat restoration, add more housing, & be open to the public. Learn more →
We just posted the recording to YouTube. Please don't hesitate to share it!
A few highlights from the workshop:
The site’s cleanup cases are closed
Portions of the site did have some industrial & agricultural uses that needed to be cleaned up. The primary agency overseeing the cleanup was the State Water Board, which has closed all cleanup cases (after 50 years of monitoring!) and said:
“The site has been fully assessed & remediated to the extent practicable & current site conditions pose little risk to human health or the environment.”
It made this determination completely separate from us or from the City.
The Water Board is an independent state agency. Its entire mandate is to protect & restore water quality. California's clean up standards are among the strictest in the nation.
A development plan is already approved
The site is already approved for a development (with homes, a hotel, retail, etc). We are updating that existing, pre-approved plan.
If our proposed update doesn't go through, we or another developer can just proceed with the plan that's already approved.
Further oversight is required before construction
There is a huge amount of future oversight, too. For example, Soil Management Plans (SMPs) must be reviewed & approved by the City before any grading or construction can start.
Redeveloping former industrial sites is best practice
Redevelopment of former industrial sites is not just common but best practice. California actively encourages "brownfield" redevelopment because it:
- Reduces development pressure on open space & agricultural land.
- Results in greater cleanup & long-term controls than when land is left fallow.
We have no plans to draw groundwater
We have no plans to draw groundwater from the site. Many folks online have been claiming we will, for some reason!
Our purchase depends on plan approval
We wouldn’t buy the land if we thought it was unsafe. It's not in our financial self-interest!
We don't actually own the property yet, and we only plan to close on the purchase if our proposed plan is approved.
— Devon & the Esmeralda team