Imagine a brand new city the size of Oakland rising out of the rolling grasslands between Suisun City and Rio Vista. That’s the vision behind California Forever, a controversial development project that’s been dividing Solano County residents for the past three years.

Flannery Associates, a group of wealthy investors led by former Goldman Sachs trader Jan Sramek, wants to build a 100-square-mile development that could eventually house 400,000 people. On paper, it sounds like the kind of large-scale, walkable community that California desperately needs. The state is short roughly 2.5 million housing units through 2031, and California Forever’s backers argue that infill development alone can’t fill that gap.

For people like John Harter, owner of Waterfront Comics in Suisun City, the project represents hope. Solano County has been hemorrhaging jobs for years, with massive layoffs at the Budweiser plant, Jelly Belly factory, and refineries. Harter, whose family has owned his building since 1942, sees California Forever as a potential lifeline, one that could bring construction jobs, manufacturing opportunities, and a much-needed economic boost to a struggling region.

But not everyone’s convinced. Biology professor Jim DeKloe, who teaches at Solano Community College, sees the development as nothing more than real estate speculation dressed up in philanthropic language. He points out that the property currently contains rare ecosystems, native grasslands, and vernal pools teeming with wildlife. DeKloe also questions the project’s vague planning around critical issues: where’s the water coming from? How will Highway 12 handle a 15-fold increase in traffic? What about the constant noise from Travis Air Force Base’s military jets?

Then there’s the trust factor. Flannery’s approach hasn’t exactly won hearts and minds. The company secretly bought up farmland for years, sparking wild conspiracy theories about Chinese operatives. They also filed a $510 million antitrust suit against ranchers who didn’t want to sell, describing their friendly conversations as a criminal conspiracy. When a ballot initiative to exempt the project from county agricultural protection laws looked like it would fail, Flannery switched tactics and went after Suisun City annexation instead.

Environmentalists point out that despite California Forever’s “walkable community” promises, the development would still rely heavily on cars. They’re also concerned about air quality impacts from manufacturing, wildfire risks in designated high-hazard zones, and the flooding threat to 20 percent of the land.

Right now, the project is moving forward, slowly. A draft environmental impact report should drop this spring for public comment. If Suisun City’s council approves the annexation and the Solano Local Agency Formation Commission gives it the green light, the project could proceed, assuming opponents don’t tie it up in lawsuits.

For Solano County, it really comes down to whether you believe Flannery’s promises or share DeKloe’s skepticism. Either way, the stakes couldn’t be higher.