Concord California. Concord Naval Weapons Stations Land

Large Turnout for First Community Workshop on Specific Plan

Over 300 people attended the March 18, 2017 Community Workshop on the Specific Plan for the Concord Community Reuse Project at the former Concord Naval Weapons Station. Links to the presentations and the video of the workshop are posted below. Thanks to all who participated and gave us their thoughts!.

Concord Community Reuse Project Community Workshop

The Kick-off Community Workshop for the Reuse Project Specific Plan has been set for 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon on Saturday, March 18 at the Senior Center, 2727 Parkside Drive.

This first workshop will reintroduce attendees to the adopted Area Plan for the project. It will also seek community input about issues important to residents and neighbors as Lennar/FivePoint begins to design the Specific Plan and Infrastructure Master Plan.

A postcard to all postal customers in Concord will be mailed on March 2 and staff will be sending an email blast to those subscribed to project announcements and using social media to reach out to interested community members.


Members selected for Reuse Project Community Advisory Committee

November 30, 2016

The Concord City Council has selected the 11 members and three alternates to serve on Concord Naval Weapons Station Reuse Project Community Advisory Committee (CAC). The CAC will be an advisory body formed to provide input and encourage public participation during the development of a Specific Plan for the first phase of development of the former weapons station.

The newly appointed CAC members are Jeff Allen, Niko Anagnostopoulos, Philip Arnold, Russell Case, Susan Guest, Claudia Hein, Jerome Hudson, Ajit Kaushal, Rosanne Nieto, Paul Sinz and Darrin Walters. Randall Horton, Charles Hoffman and Stuart Posselt were selected as the first, second and third alternates, respectively. Terms will expire on December 31, 2018.

The Council also appointed Councilmember Dan Helix to serve in an Emeritus position with voting rights on the CAC. Helix, who did not run for re-election in the November and will be stepping down from the City Council, co-chaired the first Community Advisory Committee, active from 2007 to 2008. That body was appointed to evaluate and comment on potential reuse alternatives for the property.

The CAC will meet monthly on the third Tuesday of the month in the City Council Chambers at 6:30 p.m. beginning in January 2017. The public is encouraged to attend the meetings and follow the process as the plans for the Reuse Project move forward.

CAC members will work with City staff and developer Lennar to apply the Reuse Project Goals and Guiding Principles, adopted Reuse Area Plan policies and accepted Term Sheet provisions in evaluating and commenting on potential Specific Plan alternatives or issues. The CAC will also serve as a communication link between the Reuse Project and the community-at-large by assisting in targeting outreach to neighborhoods and interest groups, and promoting participation at workshops and public meetings.

November 30, 2016 - CAC Applicant Interview Selections in Priority Order
October 25, 2016 - Applicants to Be Interviewed on November 19th
October 7, 2016 – Qualified Applications
List of applicants

 

About the Concord Community Reuse Project

New uses for the Concord Naval Weapons Station will provide many positive, long-lasting benefits for the people of Concord. After the base was closed in 2005, residents, stakeholders and the City came together over several years to decide how the property should be developed. After seven years of meetings and public workshops, and with the oversight of a 21-member advisory committee, the Concord Community Reuse Project Area Plan was adopted in 2012.

The overarching project goals agreed upon by the community are:

  • Identity as a World Class Project
  • A Balanced Approach to Conservation and Development
  • Economically Viable and Sustainable Development
  • High Quality of Life for all Residents of Concord

The plan calls for over 65% of the area to be reserved for parks, trails and open space and for Mt. Diablo Creek to be restored. There’s room for a tournament sports facility and a campus district. Housing, office and retail are to be clustered around the BART station and along Highway 4, with single family homes, townhouses, schools, community centers, green buffers and parks bordering the existing neighborhoods on the south side of the project.

Project Update - August 2016

This spring, after a competitive selection process, the City selected Lennar Concord, LLC (Lennar) as the Master Developer for Phase One, representing 500 out of the total 2,300 acres to be developed. The remainder of the CNWS site will be developed in subsequent phases.

The City has been working with the Navy to prepare for the transfer of ownership of the CNWS land to the City. Lennar and the City will work together to negotiate the terms of this transfer. The City will soon begin working with Lennar to prepare a Specific Plan for Phase One implementing the Area Plan and its standards. The Specific Plan will be reviewed by the Community Advisory Committee, the community at large, and the Planning Commission and City Council prior to Council adoption.

Residents sought to serve on weapons station advisory committee

July 27, 2016
The Concord City Council is seeking residents to serve on the 11-member Concord Naval Weapons Station Reuse Project Community Advisory Committee. The CAC will be an advisory body formed to provide input and encourage public participation during the development of a Specific Plan for the first phase of development of the former weapons station.

The deadline for applications is Sept. 23, extended beyond the Aug. 26 deadline initially announced. The City Council is scheduled to review applications and conduct interviews in October and make the CAC appointments in November. Three alternates will also be selected.

Appointments will be made using the following criteria: diversity and breadth of interest, broad representation of the community, geographic balance, familiarity with the adopted Reuse Area Plan, understanding of the CAC function and role, and commitment to Reuse Project goals and guiding principles. Terms will expire on December 31, 2018. The CAC will meet monthly.

CAC members will work with City staff and developer Lennar to apply the Reuse Project Goals and Guiding Principles, adopted Reuse Area Plan policies and accepted Term Sheet provisions in evaluating and commenting on potential Specific Plan alternatives or issues. The CAC shall also serve as a communication link between the Reuse Project and the community-at-large by assisting in targeting outreach to neighborhoods and interest groups, and promoting participation at workshops and public meetings.

Applications are available from the City's website at www.cityofconcord.org/BCApplications. For more information about the Concord Naval Weapons Station Reuse Project, visit www.concordreuseproject.org

Council to Consider Restated Negotiating Agreement and Formation of Citizens Advisory Committee

July 8, 2016
On Tuesday, July 12, the Concord City Council, sitting as the Local Reuse Authority (LRA), will consider a Restated Agreement to Negotiate with Lennar Concord, LLC to further guide the negotiation of a Disposition and Development Agreement (DDA) and the formation of a Citizens Advisory Committee to provide input into the consideration of the Specific Plan and related documents for Development Phase One Property. The meeting will be held in the City Council Chambers at Civic Center, 1950 Parkside Drive at 7:00 p.m.

The agenda with links to the staff reports for each item can be found here.

The meeting will be broadcast live on Concord Cable TV channel 28 (Comcast), 29 (Astound) and 99 (AT&T U-verse) and streamed from the City's website at www.cityofconcord.org.

Council selects Lennar as Phase 1 Master Developer

May 11, 2016
The Concord City Council, sitting as the Local Reuse Authority (LRA), accepted the Revised Lennar Term Sheet and selected Lennar as the Master Developer for the Development Phase 1 property at their meeting this evening. The Development Phase 1 property is approximately 500 of the 2,300 acres expected to be developed in the 5,000 acre project area.

The LRA will now use the Term Sheet to further negotiate a Disposition and Development Agreement with Lennar (final contract) over the next six to nine months. The LRA and Lennar are also expected, later this year, to initiate a Specific Plan process laying out how the 500 acres will develop, including streets, utilities, parks and other community benefits.

The first of regular project updates will be provided to the City Council at their June 7, 2016 meeting.

Date set for Concord Council master developer discussion

May 4, 2016
On Wednesday May 11, the Concord City Council will discuss the selection of a Master Developer for the Concord Naval Weapons Station. The meeting will be held in the City Council Chambers at Civic Center, 1950 Parkside Drive at 6:30 p.m.

Councilmembers, sitting as the Local Reuse Authority, will review proposed Term Sheet revisions and an analysis of alternatives before deciding whether to select Lennar as the Phase 1 Master Developer of the Concord Naval Weapons Station Reuse Area Plan.

The meeting will be broadcast live on Concord Cable TV channel 28 (Comcast), 29 (Astound) and 99 (AT&T U-verse) and streamed from the City's website at www.cityofconcord.org.

Concord postpones selection of Master Developer

May 3, 2016
The Tuesday, May 3 Concord City Council meeting, during which councilmembers were to discuss the selection of the Master Developer for the Concord Naval Weapons Station, has been postponed due to an unexpected lack of a quorum.

Councilmembers, sitting as the Local Reuse Authority (LRA), were scheduled to review proposed Term Sheet revisions and an analysis of alternatives before deciding whether to select Lennar as the Phase 1 Master Developer of the Concord Naval Weapons Station Reuse Area Plan. A new date for the meeting will be announced soon.

May 3 Staff Report

Council to review Lennar's improved Term Sheet and Alternatives on May 3

April 26, 2016
The Concord City Council, sitting as the Local Reuse Authority (LRA), will review proposed Term Sheet revisions and an analysis of alternatives before deciding whether to select Lennar as the Phase 1 Master Developer of the Concord Naval Weapons Station Reuse Area Plan at their meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 3 at the Civic Center Council Chambers, 1950 Parkside Drive.

The staff report and staff recommendation will be available on Friday, Apri1 29 from the Council's agenda webpage.

Council seeks improved Term Sheet from Lennar and Potential Alternatives

April 14, 2016
At last night's special meeting continued from April 5, the Concord City Council deferred selecting Lennar Urban as Phase I Master Developer and directed staff to re-open negotiations with Lennar Urban on specific areas of concerns with their proposed Term Sheet. Council also directed staff to analyze several alternatives to selecting a Master Developer including the City/LRA acting as the Master Developer or the formation of a Joint Powers Authority to oversee the project. The further negotiations and analysis is expected to take several weeks and the results will be returned to Council for their consideration in May.

Master Developer Selection Meeting Continued to April 13

April 6, 2016
The Concord City Council continued its meeting to consider whether to select Lennar Urban as the Master Developer for Phase 1 of the Concord Naval Weapon Station Reuse Area Plan to 6:30 pm on Wednesday, April 13 at the Council Chambers at Civic Center, 1950 Parkside Drive.

Last night, April 5, the Council, sitting as the Local Reuse Authority, heard a presentation from Lennar Urban about their proposal and Term Sheet and listened to public comments from over 60 individuals before deciding at 11 pm to continue the meeting. Approximately 37 additional requests to comment were still pending when the meeting was continued. Those individuals and possibly others will now be heard on April 13. After the close of public comment, the Council may ask additional questions of Lennar before deliberating on their options in the selection of the master developer.

Council to consider selecting Lennar as Master Developer on April 5

March 30, 2016
The Concord City Council will hold its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, April 5 at the Concord Senior Center beginning at 6:30 p.m. to consider whether to select Lennar Urban as the master developer for Phase 1 of the Concord Naval Weapons Station Reuse Area Plan. City Council meetings are usually held in the Council Chamber at Civic Center, 1950 Parkside Dr. The change of venue has been made to accommodate the large number of residents expected to attend. The Senior Center is located at 2727 Parkside Circle.

Catellus Development Corporation has withdrawn its proposal and term sheet from the selection process and the City Council, at a special meeting on March 28, agreed to refund the company's good faith deposit of $250,000.

At the April 5 meeting, staff will make a report followed by a presentation by Lennar Urban. Councilmembers will hear the report and presentation, ask questions of Lennar and take public comment before deliberating on their options in the selection of the master developer. In the event a decision cannot be reached at the April 5 meeting, the Mayor may continue the meeting to another date.

4/5/2016 City Council Staff Report

Concord officials set meeting to select master developer

March 1, 2016
The Concord City Council will hold its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, April 5 at the Concord Senior Center beginning at 6:30 p.m. to select the master developer for Phase 1 of the Concord Naval Weapons Station Reuse Plan. City Council meetings are usually held in the Council Chamber at Civic Center, 1950 Parkside Dr. The change of venue has been made to accommodate the large number of residents expected to attend. The Senior Center is located at 2727 Parkside Circle.

At the meeting, staff will make a report followed by presentations by the two developer finalists, Catellus Development Company and Lennar Concord LLC. Councilmembers will hear the presentations, ask questions of the finalists and take public comment before deliberating on the selection of the master developer. In the event a decision cannot be reached at the April 5 meeting, the Mayor will continue the meeting to Wednesday, April 13 at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chamber.

City Council moves forward with selection of Master Developer

February 24, 2016
The City Council discussed the recommendations in the Jenkins Report and took public comment on the matter at the City Council meeting on Tuesday, February 23. Councilmember voted to move forward and consider development proposals from both Lennar and Catellus. To view a video of the meeting, click here.


City Council to consider response to Special Investigator's report

February 19, 2016
The City Council will discuss and consider recommendations regarding the Jenkins Report findings at the City Council meeting on Tuesday, February 23, 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chamber, Civic Center, 1950 Parkside Dr.



Special Investigator's report now available

Special investigator Michael Jenkins, of the law firm Jenkins & Hogin, has completed his report to the City Council into allegations of improper lobbying and Brown Act violations in the selection process for the Master Developer for the Concord Naval Weapons Station.

The City Council has elected to waive attorney-client confidentiality and release the report and all of its attachments to the public.

Concord appoints special investigator

Concord Interim City Attorney Brian Libow announced today the selection of Michael Jenkins, of the law firm of Jenkins & Hogin, to act as special investigator into allegations of improper lobbying and Brown Act violations in the selection process for the Master Developer for the Concord Naval Weapons Station.

"I wanted someone with absolutely no connection with Catellus, no connection with Lennar, and no connection with the City of Concord or any potential witnesses," said Libow. "Mr. Jenkins brings an unquestioned integrity to the investigative process. He is perhaps the preeminent Brown Act expert in the State of California."

Jenkins serves as city attorney and special counsel for numerous municipalities around the State. He has served as President and Director of the City Attorneys Department of the League of California Cities, and is chair of the League's Brown Act Committee. For the past 29 years, he has taught local government law at the University of Southern California Law Center and is a frequent lecturer on municipal law subjects and author of training programs and exercises for municipal lawyers and elected officials. Jenkins has conducted special investigations for a number of cities in both northern and southern California involving Brown Act violations, conflict of interest, and other alleged improprieties by elected officials and high-level city executives.

For more information about the Reuse Project for the Concord Naval Weapons Station, visit www.concordreuseproject.org.

Other documents related to the Master Developer selection process

Master Developer Proposals:

Master Developer Selection Process Continues

May 2015
On April 14, 2015, the Concord City Council selected two Master Developer candidates to participate in the initial negotiation stage. The two firms are Catellus Development Corporation and Lennar Urban.

The City has begun initial negotiations with the two firms, working toward preparation of separate term sheets. The individual term sheets will be part of the materials presented to the City Council as part of the foundation for selection of the final Master Developer. Council action is projected for late September. The term sheets will provide the outline of the respective firms' approach to completing the first phase of development. The term sheets will provide a foundation for negotiating a Developer Disposition Agreement (DDA) with the final selected Master Developer. The term sheets include topics such as schedule, plans for the first phase of development, approach to phasing, infrastructure investment/financing, risk management, affordable housing mix, Navy compensation, labor policy, and other key terms.

As part of due diligence for the selection of a Master Developer, the City Council has completed four site visits to projects underway by the respective candidate Master Developers:

  • Mueller (formerly the Austin municipal airport), under development in Austin, Texas by Catellus Development Corporation. View: Minutes from this site visit | Catellus Agenda). In addition, the City received the following Videos of the Mueller site from the Catellus Development Corporation.
  • El Toro (formerly the Marine Corps Air Station El Toro), under development in Irvine, California by a partner corporation to Lennar Urban. Minutes from this site visit are available here; the public notice for this site visit is available here: Lennar Agenda.
  • Alameda Landing, under development in Alameda, California by Catellus. Minutes from this site visit are available here; the public notice for this site visit is available here: Catellus Agenda.
  • The Shipyard at Hunter's Point, under development in San Francisco, California by Lennar Urban. Notes from this site visit are available here; the public notice for this site visit is available here: Lennar Agenda.

About the project

The redevelopment of the 5,046 acre CNWS site represents one of the largest mixed-use, transit-oriented community development opportunities in Northern California. The City started planning for the reuse of the site with the community in 2006. After an initial community visioning session and numerous workshops, the LRA appointed a 20-member Community Advisory Committee, which met for two years. During that time, the committee worked with staff to develop two alternative plans for the base, which were sent forward to the LRA.

In 2009, the LRA adopted the Clustered Villages alternative, which calls for residential, commercial and office use around the North Concord BART station with greenways and parks separating neighborhood villages. Approximately 69 percent of the property is open space and recreational facilities. The eastern section of the property is proposed to be transferred to the East Bay Regional Park District.

Over the next two years, extensive work was done to refine the selected alternative and bring the plan into compliance with the requirements of numerous state and federal agencies. In 2012, the City Council officially adopted the Concord Reuse Project Area Plan, based on the Clustered Villages alternative.

The property is still owned by the Navy with the first parcels of land expected to transfer in spring of 2016. After the Phase 1 parcels are transferred, it will take another year or more for the necessary specific planning/design work to be completed and infrastructure to be built, including water, power and main roadways.

After the site is improved, the master developer will seek various specialty developers for the housing, retail, office, commercial and sports venues planned for the property. The process of building out the project will take several decades.

For more information, contact the Concord Reuse Project office, (925) 671-3001 or email Pamela Laperchia at pamela.laperchia@cityofconcord.org.


 
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