As a large crowd packed the Riverbank Community Center on the evening of Aug. 4, members of the city’s Planning Commission along with representatives working on the Environmental Impact Report for the proposed River Walk Project met to share their findings with residents. The River Walk Project is a master planned development that would annex unincorporated farmland near the Stanislaus River to build more than 2,000 homes. With a community built around a series of parks and pathways that run alongside the river, including multiple homes built for adults that are 55 and older, with single family homes, townhomes and ADUs, the development would extend from the intersection of Patterson and Coffee Roads in Riverbank to the North where McHenry Avenue and River Road meet.

Multiple residents raised concerns with the project ranging from issues related to wastewater treatment, well water capacity, traffic congestion and loss of farmland. The Higby family, including Roger Higby, a farmer and former Riverbank Chief of Police, along with his wife, Cindy Higby and daughter, Danielle Higby-LeBeouf, all took turns at the podium, sharing their fears and concerns with the plan.

Danielle Higby-LeBeouf expressed her frustration regarding the project, “This project would take my family’s farm which is a place that represents decades of hard work, history and commitment to this community.”

Higby-LeBeouf went on to share that although some of the advocates for this project had previously stated that the farmland in question is no longer usable and therefore ideal for development, she and her family continue to work their land every day.

Her father, Roger Higby continued on, “We have grown peaches, walnuts and almonds for almost 50 years and we continue to grow almonds for Blue Diamond almonds. If this project moves forward, each acre that is paved over is an acre that can never be reclaimed.”

Though there were many residents that spoke out against the River Walk Project, there were some individuals that spoke in favor of the project including former Riverbank Mayor Richard O’ Brien and former State Assemblyman William (Bill) Berryhill. Both O’Brien and Berryhill highlighted some of the positive outcomes that would come with this project including additional housing for aging residents that would provide an inclusive community with Berryhill sharing that the walking pathways along the river would be one of the main attractions and would provide outlets for exercise and a continued connection to the beauty of the Stanislaus River and its natural habitat.

For almost four hours, folks expressed their concerns to the Planning Commission, with many residents asking the commission to weigh the pros and cons, including infrastructure, access to emergency services, water accessibility, wastewater containment, higher water and sewer rates and loss of farmland.

At the end of the lengthy meeting, the Riverbank Planning Commission voted against moving forward with the project by a 4-1 decision. That recommendation to deny the project moves on to the full Riverbank City Council for consideration. Voting against the project were commissioners Natasha Basso, John Dinan, Joan Stewart and Taide Zamora, with commission chair Michael Halterman voting to recommend approval of the River Walk annexation to the council.

Planners reminded the community members attending the meeting that ultimately the Riverbank City Council has the final word regarding whether or not the project will move forward.

The next city council meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 25 at 6707 Third St., in Riverbank.

For more information about the River Walk Project, stop by the office at 6707 Third or visit: riverbank.org