Alameda Point

Alameda City Council Votes to begin Environmental Study of Alameda Point Revitalization Plan

October 26th, 2009

SunCal Companies to Pay for the $2 million Environmental Impact Report

 

Alameda, Calif. – The Alameda City Council voted unanimously at its Tuesday meeting to start the important environmental study of the plan to revitalize and re-use Alameda Point, the former Navy base on the western edge of the city.

 

Although not required by California law for an initiative to be placed on the ballot, SunCal has agreed to fund an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) in order to assure that the environmental impacts of the whole of the project will be addressed prior to construction. 

 

This EIR will be an exhaustive study of all aspects of the project, will provide an in-depth analysis of the potential environmental impacts and will identify mitigation measures that the City can require the developer undertake to reduce or eliminate those impacts.

 

“By funding this study, we are once again declaring our long-term commitment to the City of Alameda, to building the best possible project at Alameda Point and to addressing the environmental impacts of the project,” said Pat Keliher, SunCal Companies’ Regional President. “The mixed-use, transit-oriented infill development plan for Alameda Point is designed to be environmentally sustainable. The EIR will demonstrate that blighted areas like Alameda Point can be redeveloped in a manner that enhances the community, achieves sustainability, manages traffic impacts and creates long term positive economic growth and opportunity for the City.”

 

The EIR is an independent analysis conducted by consultants selected by and reporting to the City of Alameda. SunCal Companies is paying for the $2 million EIR, but it is the City’s role to manage the process.

 

The EIR will study the Revitalization Initiative’s impacts on wildlife, air and water quality, traffic, climate change, geotechnical issues and the health of wildlife in the area, among other things.

 

In July of 2007, the City selected SunCal Companies to lead the effort to craft a plan that will benefit all of Alameda. The process to bring this plan forward began when the City and its team initiated a series of public workshops to collect input from citizens about what they think will work best for all Alameda. The result – after more than 20 workshops and public presentations – is a plan for a sustainable mixed-use community that won’t require funding from existing Alameda residents.

 

In March, SunCal initiated a signature-gathering drive to collect enough signatures from registered voters in order to place the Alameda Point Revitalization Initiative on the ballot. By June 19, more than enough signatures were collected – a total of 8,083 valid voter signatures.

 

Soon, the City Council will select an election date for the Revitalization Initiative and then voters will be able to decide for themselves whether it should be implemented at Alameda Pont. 

 

For more information about the plan and the team, visit www.AlamedaPointCommunity.com