** Please join the Stop Vista Ranch Facebook page for up-to-date information - https://www.facebook.com/groups/870916675898425/  ----SafeGrowthClovis@Gmail.com

** Please sign the petition and leave a comment about why you oppose the Vista Ranch Development.

THE PROBLEM: A massive development is proposed northeast of Shepherd and Fowler Avenues, directly north of the existing Clovis city limits. The overall Vista Ranch project area encompasses approximately 952 acres, including a 507-acre Vista Ranch Master Plan that could ultimately allow up to 3,286 residential units, along with commercial/mixed-use development and other urban uses. At an average of three residents per household, that could mean nearly 10,000 new residents in an area that is currently largely rural. Even more concerning, the project's traffic analysis estimates approximately 43,801 daily vehicle trips at full buildout—traffic that would pour onto Fowler, Perrin, Behymer, Shepherd, Sunnyside and other nearby roads that were never designed to safely handle this level of urban traffic. Many of these roads still lack continuous sidewalks, protected bike lanes, adequate shoulders, lighting and safe crossings. Two young men were killed at Fowler and Perrin in separate crashes just eight days apart in 2024, yet the EIR's collision analysis largely relies on data ending in 2023. Vista Ranch would also place additional demands on water supplies. That means 237 to 360 million gallons of water consumption per year and storm water diverted endangering ground water supply for current residents that depend on their wells. Before thousands of homes and tens of thousands of additional daily vehicle trips are approved, the roads, water supply, public safety and infrastructure necessary to support this enormous development must be fully addressed—and the people who already live here deserve a meaningful voice in what happens to their community. This development comes with a high cost to our community, far beyond the price of construction, that will change this area forever.

CALL TO ACTION:

1. Respectfully voice your opinion at ALL public meetings in person. This is essential! If residents don't speak up and unite, this project will proceed unchecked by the community. See website for details www.CityofClovis.com/vistaranch 
2. Respectfully contact the City of Clovis Planning Department, (the project manager is Mckencie Perez (559) 324-2310  mckenciep@cityofclovis.com),  ​Clovis City Council members , and the Fresno County Board of Supervisors via email and phone (Nathan Magsig represents the area (559) 600-5000 and email at  District5@fresnocountyca.gov. )
3. Contact Wilson Homes and voice your opposition to this project by reaching out to Loren Smith (559) 325-7676 or Jeff Harris    (559)224-7550    jharris@wilsonhomes.com
4. Have your entire family sign the petition, share your comments and share your email so we can keep you up to date (we may have yard signs in the future). 
5. Share this petition with your neighbors and family (You do not need to donate any money to this cause, just spread the word.)

Learn more about the proposed project by checking out the Stop Vista Ranch Facebook page: Vista Ranch

Let your voice be heard!!!

 

MAJOR PROBLEMS AND CONCERNS

TRAFFIC CONGESTION & PUBLIC SAFETY: Vista Ranch could generate approximately 43,801 vehicle trips every day at full buildout, adding enormous traffic volumes to Shepherd, Fowler, Perrin, Behymer, Sunnyside and surrounding roads. Many of these are rural County roads that already lack adequate shoulders, sidewalks, protected bicycle facilities, lighting and other safety improvements. Two young men lost their lives in separate crashes at Fowler and Perrin just eight days apart in 2024. Yet much of the project's collision analysis relies on data that predates those tragedies. The project should not be allowed to place tens of thousands of additional daily vehicle trips onto these roads without clearly identifying, funding and completing the necessary safety improvements before the traffic arrives.

WHO WILL FIX PERRIN, FOWLER & OTHER COUNTY ROADS? Portions of the roads that will carry Vista Ranch traffic remain under Fresno County jurisdiction. The project documents contemplate improvements to Perrin between the project area and Fowler, but the ultimate design and responsibility for improvements are not sufficiently clear to residents. Who will widen and improve these roads, who will pay for them, and when will the improvements actually be completed? Existing residents and Fresno County taxpayers should not be left paying to repair or upgrade roads overwhelmed by traffic generated by a City of Clovis development.

WATER & GROUNDWATER RECHARGE: Existing rural residents depend heavily on private groundwater wells. Development would dramatically alter the site's existing drainage, runoff and groundwater-recharge patterns while introducing thousands of homes and substantial new water demand. Residents deserve clear assurances that Vista Ranch will not reduce groundwater recharge relied upon by surrounding wells. Adequate upgradient groundwater recharge and long-term protection of neighboring wells should be required before development occurs.

AIR POLLUTION, GREENHOUSE-GAS EMISSIONS & NOISE: Thousands of new homes, tens of thousands of daily vehicle trips and years of construction would increase traffic-related emissions, construction dust, greenhouse gases and noise. These impacts are especially concerning in the San Joaquin Valley, where air quality is already a serious regional issue. The project should not simply shift these environmental costs onto existing residents.

LOSS OF RURAL CHARACTER & SCENIC BEAUTY: Vista Ranch would permanently transform hundreds of acres along Clovis's rural northern edge. Open land and views toward the Sierra Nevada foothills would be replaced by urban development, roads and potentially high-density and two-story housing. Once this rural landscape is developed, it cannot be restored.

WILDLIFE & HABITAT DESTRUCTION: Development would eliminate and fragment significant existing habitat. The California tiger salamander has been documented on the project site and in adjacent areas, and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife has identified potential concerns involving other sensitive species, including Swainson's hawk, tricolored blackbird, burrowing owl, western spadefoot and others. Development also affects habitat used by the hawks, owls, coyotes, foxes and other wildlife residents regularly see in this rural area.

INCOMPATIBLE DENSITY NEXT TO EXISTING RURAL HOMES: Some existing rural homeowners could have numerous new homes constructed immediately adjacent to properties that currently border open land. Dense subdivisions and two-story homes next to established rural residential properties would dramatically affect privacy, views and enjoyment of those properties. If Vista Ranch moves forward, a meaningful low-density transition should be required—such as one-acre, single-story estate lots adjoining existing rural residences, with density gradually increasing farther into the project.

PROPERTY VALUES & EXISTING HOMEOWNERS: Residents have legitimate concerns about how increased traffic, loss of privacy and views, construction impacts, road congestion and dense development immediately adjoining rural properties could affect the desirability and value of their homes. The financial consequences to existing property owners deserve serious consideration rather than being dismissed simply because they are difficult to quantify through CEQA.

STRAIN ON SCHOOLS & PUBLIC SERVICES: Thousands of additional residents would create additional demand for schools, police, fire protection, emergency response, roads, parks, utilities and other public services. Residents deserve to know who will pay for the additional infrastructure and services, whether new schools will be required, and whether existing school attendance boundaries could be affected.

YEARS OF CONSTRUCTION: A development of this magnitude will not be built overnight. Existing residents could experience years of heavy construction equipment, truck traffic, dust, noise, temporary road impacts and construction-related traffic. Strong protections and enforceable construction requirements should be established for the people already living here.

ANNEXATION & LOSS OF RURAL LIFESTYLE: The project includes annexation and expansion of the City of Clovis into an area that is currently largely rural and within unincorporated Fresno County. Residents need clear answers regarding which properties could ultimately be annexed, how annexation could affect wells, septic systems, utilities, taxes and City requirements, and whether neighboring County residents could eventually face pressure to connect to City services.

Growth should not come at the expense of public safety, groundwater, existing homeowners or the rural character that makes this area special. If Vista Ranch moves forward, Clovis should be required to address these impacts—and build the infrastructure necessary to support the development—BEFORE thousands of homes and tens of thousands of additional daily vehicle trips arrive.