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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 09121989 - T.7 .P. T. 7 r TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FROM: Harvey E. Bragdon Director of Community Development Contra DATE: September 1, 1989 Costa SUBJECT: Concord Naval Weapons Station GPA & Road Vacation County SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATIONS(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Express the Board' s intent to amend the County General Plan to delete portions of Waterfront Road, Port Chicago Highway, and all of Main Street within Concord Naval Weapons Station and for other changes discussed in the staff proposed amendment. 2. Express the Board's intent to vacate the aforementioned roads. 3 . Direct staff to prepare CEQA and other findings consistent with this action. 4 . Final action should consist of approval of the General Plan amendment and vacating these roadways.. The vacation process shall include acknowledging the previous MOU prepared by staff and the Navy, the process for transferal of $5 million to the County, a short term lease agreement on keeping the road open, and a long term agreement allowing for limited emergency, and agency access across the base (after the roads are closed) . 5. Schedule October 3 , 1989 for final action on these projects, the lease, and the long term access agreement. FISCAL IMPACT The closure of these road would reduce the County' s maintenance costs (after approximately 5 years) for portions of Port Chicago Highway, Waterfront, and all of Main Street within the Concord Naval Weapons Station. County operational costs could increase due to the need for more circuitious travel for some trip destinations. The County shall be reimbursed for the loss of these roadways with a $5 million payment from the Navy as agreed to in the MOU. BACKGROUND/REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS The Navy has been pursuing closure of these roads for over 2 decades. After completion of the EIR on this proposal, the County Planning Commission on July 25, 1989 voted to recommend DENIAL on this General Plan amendment and the proposed vacations. Their reasons for recommending DENIAL were that the transportation corridor is important to -the long range transportation needs of the County and it can't easily be replaced. The Commission wasn't convinced that the safety issues outweighed the needs to keep the road open. Since the general process was initiated by the Board of Supervisors action, this matter comes to the Board for final determination. The staff report outlines the reasons that staff is recommending approval of these projects. T. 7 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FROM: Harvey E. Bragdon Director of Community Development c�Contra DATE: September 1, 1989 County SUBJECT: Concord Naval Weapons Station GPA & Road Vacation W SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATIONS(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Express the Board' s intent to amend the County General Plan to delete portions of Waterfront Road, Port Chicago Highway, and all of Main Street within Concord Naval Weapons Station and for other changes discussed in the staff proposed amendment. 2. Express the Board' s intent to vacate the aforementioned roads. 3 . Direct staff to prepare CEQA and other findings consistent with this action. 4. Final action should consist of approval of the General Plan amendment and vacating these roadways. The vacation process shall include acknowledging the previous MOU prepared by staff . and the Navy, the process for transferal of $5 million to the County, a short term lease agreement on keeping the road open, and a long term agreement allowing for limited emergency and agency access across the base (after the roads are closed) . 5. 1 Schedule October 3, 1989 for final action on these projects, the lease, and the long term access agreement. FISCAL IMPACT The closure of these road would reduce the County' s maintenance costs (after approximately 5 years) for portions of Port Chicago Highway, Waterfront, and all of Main Street within the Concord Naval Weapons Station. County operational costs could increase due to the need for more circuitious travel for some trip destinations. The County shall be reimbursed for the loss of these roadways with a $5 million payment from the Navy as agreed to in the MOU. BACKGROUND/REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS The Navy has been pursuing closure of these roads for over 2 decades. After completion of the EIR on this proposal, the County Planning Commission on July 25, 1989 voted to recommend DENIAL on this General Plan amendment and the proposed vacations. Their reasons for recommending DENIAL were that the transportation corridor is important to -the long range transportation needs of the County and it can't easily be replaced. The Commission wasn't convinced that the safety issues outweighed the needs to keep the road open. Since the general process was initiated by the Board of Supervisors action, this matter comes to the Board for final / determination. The staff report outlines the reasons that staff is S recommending approval of these projects. Should the Board wish to pursue these vacations, it should express that intent so that staff can produce the appropriate finding and complete negotiations on the few outstanding issues needing to be resolved. Finalization of these efforts will take approximately 3 weeks, so these items would be scheduled for final action on October 3, 1989. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE• T RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RE OF?T COMMITTE1 APPROVE OTHER i `SIGNATURE(S) : ACTION OF BOARD ON September 12, 1989 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER _.X_ This is the time heretofore noticed by the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors for hearing on the recommendation of the Contra Costa County Planning Commission on a General Plan Amendment (County File #5-87-CO) to delete portions of the following roads from the County Circulation Element and to vacate the County interests in the roads: Port Chicago Highway from north of the town of Clyde at the southern boundary of the Tidal Area of the Concord Naval Weapons Station for 3. 1 miles to just west of the entrance of the chemical plant at Nichols Avenue; the entire 0. 5 mile length of Main Street; and a 1.75 mile portion of Waterfront Road to the western boundaries of the station, 200 feet west of where Hastings Slough crosses underneath Waterfront Road in the Port Chicago/Concord area. The plan amendment also covers the Land Use and Recreation Elements of the County General Plan for the Concord Naval Weapons Station (Tidal Area) and its environs. James Cutler, Community Development Department, presented the staff report on the proposed amendment to the circulation element of the County General Plan and the vacation of roads in the coastal Portion of the Port Chicago Highway Naval Weapons Station requested by the United States Navy. He commented on the Environmental Impact Review prepared for this project and its certification by the Planning Commission. He also commented on the reason for the denial of the request by the Planning Commission and commented on the background of the request before the Board. He advised the Board of the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding between the County, the Navy and the Community Development Department. He also commented on issues including the location of a collector street, boundaries of service districts, a point of closure for Port Chicago Highway, and trail alignment. He commented on the staff recommendation to hold the hearing today, close the hearing, express intent to change the General Plan in all these various ways, express intent to vacate the road, and request staff to return on October 3, 1989 with the necessary documentation for Board consideration. Supervisor Fanden requested clarification from staff on the number of cars using the road now. Mr. Cutler and Mr. Bill Grey of Smith-Grey and Company responded to Supervisor Fanden' s concern. Supervisor Fanden commented that she would not support the closure of the Port Chicago Highway, and absented herself from the chambers. Supervisor Schroder commented that after the public hearing he intended to make a motion to approve the closure. The public hearing was opened and the following people appeared to speak: Captain Lonnie F. Cagle, Commanding Officer, United States Navy, Concord Naval Weapons Station, Concord, commented on the safety issues involved, safety arcs, the five million dollars in the Federal Budget for this project, covering transportation needs, road closure, and the importance of obtaining the closure of the Port Chicago Highway.now. Supervisor Torlakson requested clarification of the availability of the highway for emergency access. Captain Cagle responded that there was agreement concerning this in the lease. ' Supervisor Torlakson raised concerns relative to the location of a non-motorized vehicle trail. Captain Cagle responded on alternative trails. William Cambra, 2885 Concord Boulevard, Concord, Director of Leisure Services for the City of Concord, expressed concern relative to the alternate collector street paralleling Diablo Creek Golf Course. James Cutler commented on a staff recommendation relative to a change to exhibit A on the proposed circulation element accommodating the City' s concern. John Templeton, 1950 Parkside Drive, Concord, City of Concord Transportation Division, presented a letter from the City of Concord requesting that the road alignment be moved north of where it is now. Alan Forkosh, 33 Moss Avenue #33, Oakland, representing the East Bay Bicycle Coalition, commented on the issues of trail alignment and level access. Supervisor Torlakson requested additional language relative to consideration of a non-motorized vehicle access alternative that considers grade elevation. Dennis W. Pisila, 1331 Concord Avenue, Concord, Contra Costa Water District, spoke on issues including access by the District to the canal and pipeline facilities under the roads in the area for maintenance of those facilities and replacement of the Port Chicago Highway. The public hearing was closed. Supervisor Schroder moved approval of the staff recommendations before the Board. Supervisor McPeak seconded the motion. Supervisor Torlakson presented a draft of additional language relative to the bicycle path alternative to be included in the final documents before the Board on October 3, 1989. The maker and seconder of the motion agreed to the inclusion of the language. Mr. Cutler clarified with the maker and the seconder that the change in the circulation element which he had previously indicated on moving the alignment on Map A would be included and that the committee between the County staff, the Navy and Clyde residents to discuss whether the road closure point should be modified in that area after additional hearings be included also. The maker and seconder of the motions also agreed to these inclusions. Therefore, IT IS BY THE BOARD ORDERED that Recommendations 1 as amended by the Board of Supervisors, 2, 3, 4 and 5 are APPROVED. VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT 1, 11 ) TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN AYES: NOES: ACTION TAKEN AND r.N TjM ON THE ABSENT: ABSTAIN: MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE -SHOWN. cc: Community Development ATTESTED September 12, 1989 CAO PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK OF County Counsel THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Public Works Dept. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR U.S. Navy BY DEPUTY JWC:cg cjc3/nvlydvac.bo