California Forever — New City of 400,000 in Solano County

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Flannery Associates LLC — a Delaware-registered company with no public officers or investors — begins quietly purchasing farmland parcels in Solano County. The secretive acquisition strategy is designed to prevent landowners from coordinating to raise prices. Over the following six years, Flannery acquires over 52,000 acres, spending more than $800 million. (Date approximate)

The New York Times reports on the mysterious Solano County land acquisitions, revealing the investor group: Marc Andreessen, Reid Hoffman, Laurene Powell Jobs, Patrick and John Collison, Michael Moritz, and Andreessen Horowitz. California Forever launches its public website simultaneously. Governor Newsom says he was told "about five minutes before" his staff.

Jan Sramek holds the first public town hall for Solano County residents. Attendees shout him down as a "shill" and "smooth talker," alleging a secretive land grab. The contentious meeting signals the community trust deficit the project will spend the next two years trying to repair. (Date approximate)

California Forever files paperwork to qualify a ballot initiative for the November 2024 Solano County election. The initiative would amend the county's General Plan to allow development on California Forever's land, establishing a new Community Services District. Extensive community concerns about water supply, Travis AFB proximity, and agricultural land loss dominate early coverage. (Date approximate)

U.S. District Judge Troy Nunley in Sacramento denies an attempt by remaining Solano County landowners to dismiss Flannery's price-fixing lawsuit. The judge cites messages between property owners as evidence of coordination to resist land purchases. Some owners have already settled with Flannery; the lawsuit continues against those who have not.

California Forever withdraws its November 2024 ballot measure after concluding it lacks sufficient voter support. CEO Jan Sramek and the Solano County Board of Supervisors chair issue a joint statement promising an environmental review process. Sramek vows to bring the measure back for voter consideration in 2026. The withdrawal signals the original county-wide democratic path is closed.

Suisun City officials reach out to California Forever with a proposal to annex a portion of its 52,000+ acre holdings into the city. The annexation route would incorporate California Forever's land into Suisun City, bypassing the county General Plan prohibition and the need for countywide voter approval. California Forever simultaneously expands its project vision to include the Solano Foundry manufacturing park and a shipyard. (Date approximate)

The Suisun City Council votes 3-1 to approve California Forever's annexation application. The development application covers approximately 22,900 acres and would take shape over 40 years, ultimately aiming for a population of 400,000. An Environmental Impact Report will follow. The application now enters a years-long regulatory process.

California Forever announces it has signed what it calls the largest construction labor agreement in history with the Napa/Solano Building Trades Council and the Northern California Carpenters Union, securing organized labor's support for the project. A Bay Area Council Economic Institute report published the same day outlines the project's projected economic impact.

A draft Environmental Impact Report is being prepared by Suisun City, with public comment expected in spring or summer 2026. The Solano County LAFCO — controlled by county supervisor appointees who oppose the project — asks Suisun City to pause its annexation process so the county can catch up. Best case for formal LAFCO petition submission: end of 2026. Best case for LAFCO approval: mid-2028. Best case for groundbreaking: end of 2027 or later. (Date approximate)

Spent $800 million+ on land acquisition. Revealed August 2023. Withdrew ballot measure July 2024 when defeat was certain. Pivoted to Suisun City annexation strategy March 2025. Signed largest construction labor agreement in history January 2026. Suisun City annexation application approved October 2025. EIR in preparation as of spring 2026.

The only local government to embrace the project. Reached out to California Forever in March 2025 with the annexation proposal. Voted 3-1 to enter reimbursement agreement. Approved annexation application October 14, 2025. Now preparing EIR. Sees the project as the county's best chance to address failing businesses and unemployment.

The Solano County General Plan prohibits all new development outside existing city limits — the fundamental barrier to the project. The Board controls LAFCO appointees who must approve any annexation. Asked Suisun City to pause its annexation process in spring 2026.

"This is a pipe dream." Furious about secretive land purchases near Travis Air Force Base. "Makes no sense in the middle of areas surrounded by wind farms, gas fields, endangered species, no water, no sanitation system and no road system let alone a highway system."

Must approve the Suisun City annexation petition. Controlled by Solano County supervisor appointees who oppose the project. Asked Suisun City to pause the annexation process in spring 2026. LAFCO review takes six to 18 months once a petition is submitted.

The Solano County General Plan explicitly specifies that all new housing and industrial development must occur within the boundaries of existing municipalities. This is the foundational barrier to California Forever: the entire 52,000-acre project site is unincorporated county land, and the county's own planning document prohibits exactly the kind of development proposed. Unlike most cases in this database where discretionary review or CEQA is weaponized against a specific project, here the obstruction is built into the county's foundational planning document. California Forever's entire regulatory strategy — first the ballot measure, now the Suisun City annexation — is an attempt to route around this one provision.

California Forever's original strategy was to amend the Solano County General Plan via a November 2024 ballot measure. The measure was withdrawn in July 2024 when the company concluded it lacked sufficient voter support. The withdrawal is significant: unlike most ballot measure cases in this database where opponents collect signatures to defeat an approved project, here the developer itself pulled the measure before voters could reject it. The anticipated democratic defeat closed the most direct path to development and forced the multi-year annexation detour through Suisun City.

Official company website. Contains project vision, land purchase history, investor list, labor agreement announcement, and current status of entitlements and environmental process.

Best single source for the full regulatory timeline and current status. Confirms LAFCO pause request, EIR timeline, best-case groundbreaking scenarios, and the county vs. city political dynamic. Primary source for annexation process details.

Most recent comprehensive overview as of June 2026. Confirms Suisun City annexation approval (October 14, 2025), EIR timeline, LAFCO dynamics, and community division. Best single source for current project status.

Best source for the January 2026 labor agreement announcement and the overall project momentum post-ballot-withdrawal. Confirms the Solano Foundry and shipyard additions to the project vision.

Best source for the October 14, 2025 Suisun City Council 3-1 vote approving the annexation application. Contains Jan Sramek statement and confirms the annexation bypasses voter approval — a point of contention for opponents.

Best source for the ballot measure withdrawal announcement (July 23, 2024). Contains Sramek statement, joint announcement with county supervisor chair, and promise to bring back for 2026 vote.

Best source for the March 2024 court ruling denying landowners' motion to dismiss the price-fixing case. Confirms Judge Nunley's order and investor list.

Best CalMatters analysis of the ballot initiative period. Confirms investor list, acreage, proposed scale, water concerns, and community skepticism. Primary source for Travis AFB concerns and Garamendi opposition.