News Release
October 16, 2008
Contacts
Leslye Asera, Community Relations Manager, (925) 671-3272
lasera@ci.concord.ca.us
Advisory group makes recommendation to City Council on weapons station plan
CONCORD – (Oct. 16, 2008) The 19-member Community Advisory Committee, appointed by the City Council to recommend a land use plan for the former Concord Naval Weapons Station, voted at its meeting on Oct. 14 to send two land use alternatives to the City Council for further deliberation, with a preference for one of the two alternatives.
At the meeting, the CAC first reviewed changes to the Concentration and Conservation alternative and the Clustered Villages alternative that reflected the suggestions they made at their Sept. 30 meeting. The plans also include input from public workshops held Aug. 2 and Sept. 13, and from study sessions with the City Council on Sept. 22 and the Planning Commission and the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Commission on Oct. 1.
The CAC recommendation is that the City Council consider both plans but give preference to the Clustered Villages alternative as the preferred alternative.
The City Council will discuss the recommendation at meetings on Nov. 17 and Dec. 1, and is expected to complete its deliberations at the Jan. 12 meeting.
The two final alternatives evolved from seven concepts developed over the last two years with input from the CAC and the public.
Both alternatives feature preservation of Mt. Diablo Creek and other sensitive species and habitats, walkable and transit-oriented residential, retail and commercial development near the North Concord BART station, and leave hillsides and ridgelines on the property undeveloped.
The plans preserve a range of 65 to 73 percent of the site as parks, open space/habitat. Also included are many of the amenities suggested by the public including: a tournament-level sports facility: university/education complex; a variety of types of parks, including 28 miles of walking and biking trails; and, between 165 and 205 acres of land and financial contribution toward establishment of K-12 schools, library, and a performing arts/community center.
The plans' significant differences are in where development occurs, what transit options are offered, the number of acres of developed parks, and the extent of the site that is dedicated to relatively undeveloped open space.
Following City Council selection of a plan in January, additional environmental analysis will be conducted on the preferred alternative in order to complete the final environmental impact report, expected in May/June 2009.
For more information, visit www.concordreuseproject.org or contact Reuse Project Director Michael Wright, (925) 671-3001.
