Collaboration paid off in Concord — and now that Contra Costa city has a world-class future in the works.
On January 24, the Concord City Council approved a visionary plan for the closed Concord Naval Weapons Station. The adopted blueprint emphasizes walkable neighborhoods with homes that people can afford near transit and services, with decent paying jobs and open spaces protected from sprawl. Moreover it does so while designating nearly 70 percent of the area — 3,500 acres or three Golden Gate Parks — as protected open space.
As members of the Community Coalition for a Sustainable Concord, Greenbelt Alliance has been working toward this vision for nearly six years. The coalition stepped in when it was clear initial plans for the site were heading in the wrong direction – toward business-as-usual sprawl.
Working together, we built broad support that will remake a corner of Concord and send positive ripple effects throughout the Bay Area.
By approving the area plan and incorporating it into Concord’s 30-year general plan, the council laid a blueprint for a wide swath of land that will add more than 12,000 homes, 28,000 people and 3,500 acres of open space to the city.
“The plan for the Concord Naval Weapons Station is great. It preserves open space and envisions a great new park space. And it will lead to more homes for people within walking distance of an under-used BART station,” said Jeremy Madsen, Greenbelt Alliance Executive Director. “It’s also remarkable because so many people – from environmentalists, to union workers, to local residents – worked together to create a community blueprint that will strengthen the local economy and improve quality of life.”
Photo: Scott Hein ©
