Clover Valley's building battle has a twist: Indians are now siding with the developer

Posted by Catherine Stifter

October 9, 2007

We've been following the Clover Valley development story since Marilyn Jasper, Director of Save Clover Valley, sat down with us to record comments for our Storybooth two summers ago. I was fascinated to read this take on the issue from a downstream newspaper. Interesting how once again, the focus is on conflict. Makes for a sexier story than hearing about how many organizations have partnered together to find a solution to out-of-control growth in the foothills. And how easily groups can be pitted against one another in these kinds of negotiations.

I'm sure there is more to the story that is reported here. I hope this sort of reporting doesn't serve as a wedge between parties.

From the SF Chronicle: "The fight is a classic, pitting 7,000-year-old Indian history and forested land against suburban sprawl. A developer wants to build hundreds of million-dollar custom homes.Community activists say the developer will bulldoze sacred Indian burial sites for his houses. Environmentalists say the new neighborhood will pave over a pristine valley of oak forests, deer and cattails. Then there are the Indians, focused on their own interests."

Read the entire story at SFGate.com.