Development at weapons station could move forward

CONCORD >> A major undertaking to redevelop the former Concord Naval Weapons Station is finding new wings as the city begins its search for another master developer to succeed the one that left the job over a labor dispute.

If the City Council approves a proposed application process at its meeting Tuesday, prospective developers can begin putting their names forward for a chance to transform the 2,300-acre site into full-fledged community with 12,000 housing units.

The $6 billion project has been on pause since previous master developer Lennar walked away more than a year ago after the city insisted it hire local union labor for construction work.

In trying to find a replacement,

the city has created a 134page document that outlines the project’s scope and needs. The document contains several essay questions intended to gauge the applicants’ qualifications.

“We’re trying to move quickly but cover all the bases,” Concord Economic Development Director Guy Bjerke said. “The last effort fell apart on perceived ambiguity; Lennar read it one way, we read it another. So this is an exhaustive document, and we’ve attempted to make it as clear as possible to ensure the process is successful.”

The city hopes to secure a new master developer by August.

Lennar had been on the project for almost four years before its labor dispute with the Contra Costa Building and Constructions Trades Council prompted the city to release it from the agreement.

Then, late last year, the City Council formed a committee to initiate the search for a new developer.

The draft application asks respondents how they would ensure that 25% of the housing units are affordable and requires them to affirm their commitment to local labor pacts.

In addition to housing and office buildings, the city’s early plans for the development include a tournament sports complex, community centers, public schools, parks, fire stations and a “transit-rich community,” the latest document states.

After selecting a new developer in the summer, the city plans to square away a specific plan for the project and then an environmental impact report.

The U.S. Navy, meanwhile, will be responsible for cleaning up toxic chemicals that may have built up at the site over its years as a weapons station. The Environmental Protection Agency is currently assessing the site’s soil for PFAS, a highly toxic fluorinated chemical.

After cleanup, the Navy will transfer the land to the city of Concord.

About 15 interested developers spoke with Concord staff last year about taking on the project, a sign that the city is not perceived as “radioactive” after parting ways with Lennar, Bjerke said.

“In other words, we were worried that no one would touch it,” he said. “If Lennar, the largest home developer in the country, can’t make this work, who could possibly make this work? What we found was that there were a couple of skeptics, but by and large, everyone looked at it and said, ‘This could work.’”

In those unofficial discussions, city officials have indicated an openness to bringing on developers in teams, rather than hiring just one firm to complete the project.