Saying there’s no real work to be done on planning for the transformation of the Concord Naval Weapons Station property until a new master developer is selected, the Concord City Council has disbanded the city’s Concord Naval Weapons Station Reuse Project Community Advisory Committee.
The committee was formed in 2016 to provide community input into plans to remake the former Concord Naval Weapons Station in northeastern Concord into a new 2,300-acre community with 13,000 housing units, a regional
park and millions of square feet of commercial space.
But when the original reuse project master developer Lennar Concord LLC’s exclusive negotiating agreement expired in March, shortly after the City Council voted not to give Lennar more time to negotiate with the
area’s labor unions, forward progress on the whole project was paused.
The city must now find a new master developer, and start some reuse planning processes from scratch. The delays in the overall project could amount to years.
The committee has not met since July 2018, and had been waiting for a draft reuse Specific Plan for public review when Lennar departed.
The community participation process, meanwhile, isn’t expected to resume until after a new reuse project master developer is selected.
Councilman Edi Birsan voted against disbanding the committee, saying he wanted to get as many of them together again at least one more time for what he called an “exit interview” so members could provide information for how the next such committee should work in the future.
But Guy Bjerke, director of the Concord Community Reuse Project, said none of the committee members responded to messages about Tuesday’s vote. And Councilwoman Laura Hoffmeister said the city could contact those committee members if they want to debrief them on committee operations if need be.
The council then voted 4-to-1 to disband the committee.
Good, best thing that could have happened.
Nothing will be built there i they try to force the union labor requirement. If Lennar couldn’t make money with the land being given to them, no one can. I hope they also reduce the open space to allow more business development to get good paying local jobs. There is more than enough open space there. We need affordable housing and local jobs NOT more open space. yes, some parks, but that development doesn’t need more than 10-15% open space for parks and open areas in my opinion.
Fed Up – Concord will never have new high paying jobs as the highway/freeway access is really bad. Also the talent pool in Concord isn’t what they want & Concord has zero nightlife, high 3nd non-chain restaurants & cultural events that the young rising stars desire.
Now bring back the elk.
They want to kill the ones out near the coast in Sonoma County cuz they’re eating grass the farmers want to graze their beef and dairy cattle. Relocate them to Concord Naval Station. Win win for everybody.
Sounds fine to me, at least at this juncture. Better to leave it wild for a few more years than allow Hoffmonster and her pals to get their hooks into it.
Awesome! Leave our open spaces and wildlife alone! Y’all complain when wildlife is checking out your Halloween decorations or eating your cats. And most of all stop building anyways. We are always on fire, overcrowded and always in a drought!
Ash – you do know the County Board of Supervisors is elected. Perhaps you need to research the structure of the county so you din appear to be completely ignorant.
I believe Ash is meaning he would like them removed.
Can they be impeached? “On what grounds?” You ask. On trying to start a race war.
It amazes me how angry they seem. Great positions with money to blow and they just whine and complain all the time. We’d all love to have retirements like them.
Health care is free for all. If you walk into an emergency room you will not be turned away.
There are rules to follow in life and no one wants to follow them. Our freeway drive in habits are a good reflection of todays society.
We’re all very lucky if we get to enjoy and appreciate 60 good years (age 15 to 75) on this earth. It’s time to realize that’s all you get. Don’t get suckered in to power trips and money. Life will just pass you by.
Jimmy – no they can not be impeached as the are not federal. There could be a recall but a special election would cost $1m – $2m. Also people would have to pound the pavement to get enough signature signatures on petitions in each district. None of its a simple process
Disband them. So they aren’t involved in the selection of a new developer.
Last thing Concord wants is them demanding transparency or expecting to be involved in the choice.
Bring em back when all the decisions have already been made.
Joe
This is a sad waste of resources and time. Not surprised such a stellar Contra Costa County city such as Concord could not collaborate and get something done. So surprised!
However, I do agree it should be cleaned of any remaining filth left behind by the ridiculously wasteful military and then just left to the animals.
Well, as long as Guy (and all the “insiders” that cling to BeJerky’s coattails) get to keep their paychecks. If the council had kept Guy’s sticky fingers out of it…we may have had a better outcome.
But Council insisted on selecting Lennar despite multiple warning signs and an acceptable alternative from a more reputable developer. Of course they don’t need input either from a commissioner or from voters.