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The City of Concord is planning for the future of the 5,100-acre Concord Naval Weapons Station. The former base is currently owned by the Department of Defense, but the land could be transferred to a private entity in less than three years. After the land transfers, the City of Concord, the local reuse authority, will be able to begin overseeing on-site development.

What's at Stake

The Concord Naval Weapons Station—located on the border of northeast Concord and Pittsburg, directly adjacent to the threatened Pittsburg hills—is one of the largest remaining developable areas in the entire region, on a par with Coyote Valley in the South Bay.

The land is already within the City of Concord's limits and within the Urban Limit Line. Much of the base is still relatively pristine open space, with rolling hills visible from Highways 4 and 242. In addition, Mount Diablo Creek, a creek with tremendous potential for restoration, flows right through the heart of the military base, and has the potential to become home to native trout, among other species. Concord's plans for the base will determine, in part, how these resources are protected.

Part of the base is also a good location for transit-oriented development near the BART station. Developing this part of the base while protecting the rest could create a model smart growth community adjacent to protected open space.

Greenbelt Alliance has developed a joint platform with local partners and other environmental organizations. This platform addresses the location and amount of open space, the type and number of new houses, the transportation system, and many other factors. Read page one and page two of the Community Coalition platform here (jpg files).

To read a history of the base, see maps and visuals or to learn more about the reuse process in general, visit the Concord Community Reuse Project website.

What You Can Do

To make the smart growth vision a reality, Greenbelt Alliance needs support from Bay Area residents.

Although Greenbelt Alliance and allies had an initial victory of getting first stage approval for open space protections and mixed-use walkable communities near the north Concord BART, the fight is not over.  The next steps are for the Navy to start its environmental review and for the City Council to amend the city’s General Plan to include the plan for the base as well as conduct additional environmental review of the plan. These are all points in the process where key community benefits could become derailed.

Greenbelt Alliance will work to ensure that the City and the Navy fully analyze the environmental impacts of the development. We will also make sure the City Council’s General Plan amendment lays the groundwork for permanently protected open space, mixed-use development with affordable homes, trails for people to walk and bike, local well-paying jobs, and good green building standards.

• Attend the workshop: Community Vision for Jobs and Housing: the Future of the Concord Naval Weapons Station

  When: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, May 16
  Where: Concord Senior Center, 2727 Parkside Cir., Concord
  RSVP: Community Coalition for a Sustainable Concord at ccsc@ebho.org or (925) 246-5838. Lunch will be provided but an RSVP is requested.

• Visit the Concord Community Reuse Project website for more information, and sign up to receive email updates about the base.
• Sign up to receive Greenbelt Alliance email updates regarding the Concord Naval Weapons Station by sending an email to this address.
• Email Christina Wong with any questions or comments, or to be added to our growing contact list. Let us know if you would like to send a letter or email to the Councilmembers, attend a meeting, sign a postcard, staff an informational table, or write a letter to the editor.
  
  

Campaign Update

2/2/09 Concord Base Reuse Plan Departs from Suburbia
(Bay Area) California Planning & Redevelopment Report

January 2009
After more than two years, on January 12, 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, bikable 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. 

November 2008
After the final public workshop on the reuse of the Weapons Station on September 13th, the City of Concord reduced the seven original alternatives to two. One alternative is called the Concentration Conservation Alternative and it has 73% open space. The other alternative is the Clustered Villages Alternative that has 65% open space. On October 14, a divided Community Advisory Committee voted 10 to 7 to forward both alternatives to the City Council but to state that it preferred the Clustered Villages alternative.

October 2008
Greenbelt Alliance and allies identified numerous errors and omissions in the Draft Environmental Impact Report and submitted significant comments. At the last workshops of the Community Advisory Committee, including the last workshop on September 13th, almost all the residents were aligned with the Community Coalition for a Sustainable Concord platform. This support prompted the city’s consultants to modify the proposals to be much closer to the alternatives proposed by the Community Coalition.

The Advisory Committee members, however, made a final recommendation in early October, so Greenbelt Alliance and partners are now urging the City Council to approve a strong plan that will support homes at BART and significant open space.

June 2008       
The deadline to finalize a re-use plan for the Concord Naval Weapons Station has been extended to January 2009. This summer, Greenbelt Alliance is commenting on the Draft Environmental Impact Report and participating in workshops and the Community Advisory Committee meetings. We’re advocating for a plan that protects the majority of the base as open space and creates a walkable neighborhood around the North Concord BART station.  

May 2008
The City of Concord has applied to the Navy for an extension so the fight over development of the Concord Naval Weapons Station will continue throughout the summer. The city is hosting community workshops, and Greenbelt Alliance needs a strong turnout of people advocating for smart growth and open space protection! Please plan to attend the next important workshops and meetings listed above under "what you can do."

March 2008
Success! Greenbelt Alliance organized a fabulous Concord Naval Weapons Station Visioning Tour on March 29. More than 110 people came, including Concord and Pittsburg elected and appointed officials, to hear from experts on parks and open space, native plants, wildlife, and smart growth and to learn ways to shape the base’s future. The event concluded with a stop at an overlook to see areas at risk at the former base.

10/14/07 Weapons station no walk in the park Contra Costa Times

10/9/07 Proposals released for undeveloped land in Concord ABC Channel 7 News

October 2007
More good news from Concord! At the City Council meeting on October 9, three out of four councilmembers voted to submit all seven alternatives for environmental review. To view the City’s proposed alternatives, click here (pdf). This review will take approximately one year, at which time Environmental Impact Reports (EIRs) will be completed and the alternatives will once again be subjected to the public review process and to Council approval. Greenbelt Alliance and the Community Coalition will continue to work together to create public awareness for Concord and to maintain a working relationship with the City as they move forward with the Reuse Plan.

October 2007
Success! On October 2, City Planners presented two additional development scenarios to the Community Advisory Committee, for a grand total of seven alternatives. Greenbelt Alliance and the Community Coalition are extremely pleased with these results. The new set of alternatives more accurately reflects a balanced assortment of land use possibilities ranging from 47% to 81% open space. Greenbelt Alliance will attend the City Council meeting on October 9 with the hope that the Council will agree to submit all seven alternatives for environmental review.

September 2007
September was a highly anticipated and eventful month for Concord. At the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) meeting on September 18, five development alternatives were finally revealed to the public. Greenbelt Alliance and the Community Coalition were thoroughly disappointed by the biased range of scenarios, most of which favored high levels of development. We are hoping to see additional alternatives presented at the Oct. 2nd CAC meeting that will present a more balanced range of land uses.

In other news, Greenbelt Alliance helped to successfully orchestrate the merging of the Environmental Coalition and Neighborhood Alliance onto the Community Coalition platform. By having such a large and varied array of organizations working together, we are sure to have a strong voice in the future of the reuse process.

And finally, former Concord Planning Commissioner Guy S. Bjerke was appointed to the Concord City Council earlier this month to fill the seat left vacant by the sad and untimely death of Councilman Michael Chavez. Councilman Bjerke will be included in the upcoming Council meeting on October 9 to review the five proposed alternatives for the Weapons Station and to vote on which design concepts will be sent forward for environmental review.

August 2007
Due to tragic death of Councilmember Michael Chavez, the presentation of reuse plans to the City Council has been delayed until October 9. A new councilmember will be appointed to replace Chavez. Our hearts go out to the friends and family of Michael Chavez. His contributions to the environment and to the environmental community will not be forgotten.

July 2007
On September 4, the City Council will approve three to five alternative reuse plans for the Concord Naval Weapons Station. After the local reuse authority (City of Concord) completes an approximate yearlong review of these chosen alternatives, the favored two will be sent to the Federal Government, where the National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) will compile an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) on each. The City held a public workshop, “Balancing the Land Use Mix”, on June 16, where the public was able to design their own vision for the future of the Weapons Station. On August 4, the City will host their last public workshop, “Conceptual Alternatives Development”, which City Councilmembers will attend. The City also met with several entities interested in public benefit land use, such as the Veterans Collaborative, East Bay Regional Parks District, the Contra Costa Sheriff Department, and Contra Costa Fire Department. The results from the June 16 scoping session will be publicly available after Friday, July 20.

June 2007
The City of Concord held two workshops on March 17 and April 21 to get the public involved in developing alternatives for reuse of the Concord Naval Weapons Station. Two more public workshops are scheduled for June 16 and August 4 for citizens to give more input on the type of development and open space protection they would like to see. The Concord City Council is expected to choose a “preferred alternative” by September 2007. This will then be evaluated along with other alternatives in the Environmental Impact Report (EIR). Additionally, the Citizens Advisory Committee is also meeting every third Tuesday of the month to get updates on the process and make comments. The City of Concord is having a public scoping meeting for the EIR on June 16.

March 2007
On February 6, the Concord City Council had a meeting to decide whether or not to ask the Navy to “surplus” the base so the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process can officially start. About 24 Concord residents, Greenbelt Alliance, East Bay Housing Organization, and a Citizens’ Advisory Committee member spoke out against the Shaw proposal – a developer proposal to circumvent the public planning process for the base by transferring the land directly to the Shaw group. Greenbelt Alliance also gathered and presented at the Council meeting 60 electronic postcards from members asking the City Council to oppose the Shaw proposal and support the BRAC process. On a 3-2, vote the City Council voted to deny the Shaw proposal and recommit to the BRAC process. The Navy is expected to “surplus” the land within the next three weeks, which will allow Concord leaders to begin the next phase of planning. The next phase will be the start of CEQA and analyzing opportunities and constraints.

January 2007
On November 13, 2006 the Navy announced it was considering trading the base to the Louisiana-based Shaw Group in exchange for about $1 billion in military construction projects elsewhere. All members of the City Council and the entire California Congressional delegation were opposed to the deal, saying a sale at this point in the base closure process would circumvent Concord's federally mandated planning role. Greenbelt Alliance is actively letter writing, commenting at City Council meetings, meeting with elected officials, and asking Greenbelt Alliance members to contact their representative to urge the Navy, Congressional delegation, and Concord City Council to deny the Shaw proposal and support the BRAC process.

November 2006
On November 14, the City of Concord selected the members of the citizen advisory committee, which will advise the City Council on the direction for the Concord Naval Weapons Station. On November 9, the U.S. Navy officially declared a portion of the base as "surplus" federal property, which officially started the process to create a reuse plan for the area and began the transfer of two parcels to the U.S. Army and the U.S. Coast Guard. In a surprise move, the Navy also announced that it is considering transferring the land to a private firm, potentially bypassing the public planning process.

October 2006
The City of Concord is wrapping up the visioning part of the redevelopment process, after a series of focus group interviews, a community survey of voters, and a series of public meetings. The City Council is now interviewing 40 community members in order to select 21 members of the Community Advisory Committee, which will guide the remainder of the process. The issue has also become flashpoint in the city council race, where 8 candidates, including 2 incumbents, are running for 3 seats.

September 2006
The City of Concord is in the process of selecting the members of the citizen advisory committee that will advise the City Council on the direction for the Concord Naval Weapons Station. The Concord Naval Weapons Station Neighborhood Alliance continues to grow in influence and capacity, and is lobbying for 20% of the base to be developed, while the remainder would be left as open space. The city's next scheduled planning meeting will be held on October 10.

August 2006
At its working session on August 1, the City of Concord established the structure for the Citizen Advisory Committee, which will guide the plan for the Concord Naval Weapons Station. The members will be selected by the City Council from all the applications received. So far, Greenbelt Alliance has collected over 500 postcards from Concord residents asking for open space and smart growth at the base. Greenbelt Alliance is also forming a team to evaluate and comments on the plan as it moves forward.

June 2006
The City of Concord bowed to pressure from local activists and removed the housing and jobs projections for the closed naval base from its General Plan. This means that the city will have a theoretically clean slate from which to plan any development. It may also require the city to identify infill sites to meet the state housing requirements, which will help revitalize the downtown and Monument Corridor areas. A consultant's report on public opinion about how to reuse the base showed a lack of clear consensus, though there is broad support for parks and open space.

May 2006
In the midst of its long-running General Plan review, the City of Concord must decide whether the Plan should attempt to address the 5,100 acres of the Concord Naval Weapons station which Congress has slated to close. The existing draft of the plan and the accompanying Environmental Impact Report (EIR) include several conceptual options. Local activists are concerned that these concepts preclude an honest public process for the base re-use plan, and are advocating that the General Plan go forward as though the base were not closed. Local activists are also considering a ballot initiative that would move closer to protecting 80% of the base as open space. Local activists also support Greenbelt Alliance's position that until further planning is concluded, the base should be designated as open space.

April 2006
Concord's General Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Report received a shower of comments at a hearing in early April, ranging from polite requests to outraged demands. Most comments shared a similar theme: protect more open space. Greenbelt Alliance is working with local neighborhood groups as well as a coalition of environmental allies to develop a strong position and plan. The City will hold a series of public meetings in May and June to gather public input, and will be assembling a Citizens Advisory Committee to develop the reuse plan. Greenbelt Alliance hopes to have the opportunity to represent both open space protection and the opportunity for smart growth.

March 2006
Concord's General Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Report have the potential to dramatically shape the future of the city, particularly in the recently closed Concord Naval Weapons Station. Greenbelt Alliance advocated for more specific policies for smart growth and open space protection while the Plan was in draft form; with the release of the Draft Environmental Impact Report, Greenbelt Alliance and its allies have another key opportunity. Greenbelt Alliance is working with local community groups and residents to take advantage of this opportunity and press for the best possible smart growth plan.

February 2006
The City of Concord is hiring a public outreach specialist to manage a 4-month process to gather input on the re-use of the 5000-acre base. Greenbelt Alliance will encourage local and regional environmental experts and concerned residents to participate in the process to push for smarter growth and natural resource protection. At the same time, Greenbelt Alliance is lobbying to ensure that advocates of smart growth have a voice on the re-use committee.

January 2006
Although the reuse planning process is just starting for the recently mothballed Concord Naval Weapons Station, Greenbelt Alliance is already working to ensure that a large portion of the 5100-acre base is preserved as open space. The City of Concord is the lead reuse agency, and Greenbelt Alliance is working to help the city ensure its general vision for open space and smart growth.

01/08/2006 Concord sees land of plenty at Navy base, Contra Costa Times

November 2005
The Concord General Plan is a step in the right direction, though many feel it is not a big enough step. The city weighed the possibility of focusing on infill before expanding to the Naval Weapons Station, but decided instead on a more expansive approach. Nevertheless, there is much to recommend the plan, and the Naval Weapons Station represents a unique opportunity to create a model smart-growth development in the East Bay. Greenbelt Alliance volunteers will analyze the Draft EIR to provide more effective mitigations for traffic, loss of open space, and air pollution.

June 2005
With the inclusion of the Concord Naval Weapons Station on the Pentagon's list of bases proposed for closure, Concord's General Plan update gained significant import. While some smart growth development is likely appropriate on the base, there are also very important natural resource issues that must be addressed. Due to the uncertainty still surrounding the base, Greenbelt Alliance believes Concord should strive to accommodate as much housing and job growth within the existing city as possible. The draft Environmental Impact report is due in August. Greenbelt Alliance will provide comments on the draft, and encourage concerned agencies, organizations, and individuals to do likewise.

May 2005
Concord's General Plan Draft was released at the end of April and presented in pieces to the Planning Commission. Greenbelt Alliance submitted comments requesting that the plan include open space zoning to protect critical habitat, that the downtown plan specify minimum acceptable densities and floor area ratios, that the North Concord transit village go ahead regardless of the disposition of the Concord Naval Weapons station, and that the proposed business park include mixed uses.

05/15/2005 City leaders 'dream of possibilities', Contra Costa Times

05/14/2005 One City Wants to See Its Base Close, ABC News

05/14/2005 Concord officials laud base closure, Oakland Tribune

05/12/2005 In California, city says 'Yes!' to prospect of base closing, San Jose Mercury News, Guardian Unlimited, AZ Central.com

April 2005
Concord is the largest city in Contra Costa County, and with 8,000 largely undeveloped acres at the Concord Naval Weapons Station, the city has entertained the possibility of adding 20,000 housing units over the next 20 years. The potential impact of this growth depends entirely on its location and design. With a BART station surrounded by largely vacant land, and with potential for at least 8,000 units within the existing urban footprint, the city has tremendous potential for smart growth. The ongoing General Plan revision provides a key opportunity for the city to move in that direction.

April 15, 2005
This city wants naval base closed, USA Today

March 2005
Concord's General Plan update is of renewed significance considering the possibility of planning for the entirety of the Naval Weapons Station. The General Plan concepts discuss "smart growth" but leave out the details. The Plan also weighs two concepts, one of which emphasizes infill and redevelopment while the other focuses more on greenfield development in the Naval Weapons Station. The importance of the plan is magnified by the possibility that it will include the tidal portion of the weapons station, although there is no indication that the plan update will include sufficient detail to guide the city toward smart growth in these areas.

February 2005
Concord's General Plan update is of renewed significance considering the possibility of planning for the entirety of the Naval Weapons Station. The General Plan concepts discuss "smart growth" but leave out the details. The Plan also weighs two concepts, one of which emphasizes infill and redevelopment while the other focuses more on Greenfield development in the Naval Weapons Station.

January 2005
Concord has had a general plan update underway for many months, and expects to complete the update in late spring of next year. The plan includes conceptual planning for the 8,000-acre inland portion of the Concord Naval Weapons Station. The plan will now include the 12,000-acre tidal portion of the Weapons Station as well. The City of Concord passed two resolutions in early January—one to support moving the Urban Limit Line to include the tidal portion of the base, and one to request that the Department of Defense relinquish the base.