North Livermore Valley

• PHOTO GALLERY
• HISTORY
• ISSUES & ESSAYS
• MAP

"To permit and encourage cultivated agriculture and to preclude urbanization in the North Livermore area without unduly imparing the open and natural qualities of the area." -- Stated goal of East County Area Plan, Policies Pertaining to North Livermore.

Merely a stone’s throw north of the Livermore city line lies a remarkable region of open land informally known as North Livermore Valley. It does nearly nothing except to be, and exhibits its greatest merits by doing only that. Home to grazing cattle, rows of mowed hay, hawks and stately oaks, the valley has miraculously remained in an unspoiled state of haunting lovliness despite aggressive attempts by builders to convert its verdant rolling hills and scenic rangelands into a wasteland of houses and asphalt.

Folks in these parts, including FRIENDS OF LIVERMORE, view the potential incursion of urban sprawl into North Livermore Valley as contrary to the vision of a community with balance between urban areas and open spaces. Livermore citizens place high value on the enhanced quality of life currently afforded by moderate population, manageable traffic, not-yet-overstrained city services, and the close proximity of agricultural regions and scenic open spaces like North Livermore Valley.