Greenbelt Alliance: February 2009 Concord Base Reuse Plan Departs from Suburbia

Greenbelt Alliance: February 2009 Concord Base Reuse Plan Departs from Suburbia
(Bay Area) California Planning & Redevelopment Report
January 2009
“After more than two years, on January 12, 2009 the Concord City Council picked the final preferred alternative for the 5,100-acre former naval base—the largest developable area in the region. The Council chose a Clustered Villages model, 65% of which is designated as open space. To win important community benefits, Greenbelt Alliance and allies lobbied City Council and Community Advisory Committee members, turned out hundreds of residents at meetings, and garnered media attention.

In the end we got first stage approval for:
3,200 acres of parkland and open space, which is three times the size of SF’s Golden Gate Park (1,013 acres). We eliminated the sprawl-inducing road, high-end development proposed in the most pristine area of the base, and the development east of the creek. This now strategically positions the East Bay Regional Park District to acquire the 2,400 acres we fought to be protected as open space. Protection of a 300' wide, 5 mile long Mt. Diablo creek corridor. Designation for a dense, mixed use, walkable, bikeable transit-oriented development near North Concord BART, with transit villages throughout the rest of the site.

$38 million for the homeless housing component—the most difficult part—of the integrated affordable housing model. Including acreage for a new food bank and a Habitat for Humanity project.

Strong verbal support for prevailing wage, living wage, and apprenticeships as well as reevaluating their inclusionary housing ordinance to see if it meets current needs.
A widened urban linear park along the neighborhoods from the original 50 to 100' proposed, from the recent proposal of 180' to 350' or 450' (the width varies), to create a park with sports fields to connect the existing neighborhoods with the new development.

A 150-acre Cal State campus, 75-acre tournament level sports complex, an 80-acre fire/police training facility, and significant acreages for other community facilities such as schools, and community centers.
www.greenbelt.org/regions/eastbay/camp_concord.html


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