In February 2021, after hearing from hundreds of Pittsburg residents and environmental organizations that the city should preserve the beautiful hills that overlook the future park at the former Concord Naval Weapons Station, Pittsburg’s City Council approved the Seeno Faria project. The homes would be zoned for single-family residential with a 4,000-square-foot minimum lot size. Save Mount Diablo (SMD) sued to stop the project.
On February 14th, 2023 the Pittsburg Planning Commission voted 4-1 to recommend that the City Council reject the project. Two weeks later, the courts agreed with SMD that the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) was inadequate. The lack of a compliant EIR and short amount of period to review the revised environmental reports were cited by the planning commissioners in opposition to the project moving forward.
Pittsburg needs more housing and is in the process of updating its Housing Element right now. But this type of housing will increase greenhouse gas emissions and put future and current residents at risk of climate impacts like wildfires.
What happens now? The Planning Commission’s action is a recommendation, so the ball is in the City Council’s court. The item will be scheduled over the next few weeks for the Council to consider the development. Greenbelt Alliance continues to oppose this project and will keep you informed on how you can help protect the ridge from sprawl development and higher greenhouse gasses.
