Open Space, Growth, And Parks On Six Bay Area County Ballots

"One of the highest profile initiatives is Santa Clara County's Measure A, which would limit development on ranches and hillsides covering roughly 400,000 acres -- nearly half the county.

If approved, the measure would change zoning on ranch land to allow for 1 home per 160 acres instead of the 8 allowed now. It would also cut the number of houses allowed on hillsides from 8 per 160 acres to no more than 4. The measure does not affect flat agricultural land."

Measures in both Contra Costa and Solano counties would extend the lifespan of existing urban-limit lines, with only the latter encountering opposition.

Napa County's measure would create a park and open space district to be run by a five-member elected board. While farmland is already greatly protected from development, the county has little accessible public open space.

San Mateo County's measure would raise the sales tax by 1/8 percent to improve and maintain county parks.

Sonoma County's measure would extend an existing quarter-cent sales tax from 2011 to 2031 to fund the Sonoma County Open Space Authority.

Pacifica and Fremont voters will decide whether to allow major developments in their cities to go forward.