The Responsible Growth Initiative is getting a great deal of attention in local political and land use circles, but there’s another land-use measure coming soon — it is not clear how soon — to a ballot box near you.

Traditional environmental and agricultural land use advocates are circulating petitions to extend the powers of Measure J far into the future. The law, which forces any proposed zoning change in the county’s Agricultural Preserve to the ballot and which itself was passed by voter initiative in 1990, is scheduled to sunset in 2020. The new proposal would extend it for several more decades.

With signature-gathering still ongoing, it appears that the earliest a Measure J renewal would appear on the ballot is November of 2008.

Meanwhile, the Responsible Growth Initiative, which gives voters the sole authority to make exceptions to the county’s 1 percent cap on residential growth every year, is headed for the June 3 ballot.

Where do such groups as the Farm Bureau stand on the Responsible Growth Initiative? They are still studying.

Representatives of the Napa Chapter of the Sierra Club, the Napa County Farm Bureau and the Napa Valley Vintners have committed to scheduling time for both proponents and opponents of the Responsible Growth Initiative to come and talk to them.

Proponents say it will save Napa County from unregulated growth. Opponents say it will take a meat-cleaver approach to public planning that will ultimately hurt the county.

The initiative would decimate the existing proposal for 3,200 townhomes, some in seven-story buildings, at the former Napa Pipe property just south of the city of Napa.

The Sierra Club has already heard from Napa attorney James Marshall, one of the prime backers of the initiative. The group intends to hear a presentation from opponents Keep Napa Napa soon.

“We haven't decided yet, but we are taking a presentation from all sides,” Elisabeth Frater, chairwoman of the Napa County Sierra Club.

Rex Stults, industry relations director for Napa Valley Vintners, said his group plans to hear both sides as well, but didn’t know if the group would take a formal position.

Sandy Elles, executive director of the Napa County Farm Bureau, wrote in an e-mail the group plans on getting presentations.

“Citizens in Napa County are voicing strong concerns about growth and the recent large development plans in Angwin, Napa Pipe and the Ghisletta annexation,” she wrote.

“With the update of the county’s General Plan, there’s a historic opportunity to manage and minimize our growth for the next 30 years. ... If the Board of Supervisors and cities can work cooperatively and proactively to minimize growth, frustrated citizens will not have to resort to the initiative process. NCFB will meet with the Responsible Growth Initiative proponents and opponents next month, but we do not currently have a position on the initiative.”