Alameda Point EIR Goes Public Next Week

The draft environmental impact report (EIR) for Alameda Point will be released publicly Tuesday, Sept. 3, and Alamedans will have 45 days to comment on the document, Alameda City Manager John Russo said yesterday.


"It's going to be everywhere," Russo told Alameda Patch. "We really want public comment."

There will be at least two public meetings on the EIR before it goes to the Alameda Planning Board and Alameda City Council for final approval, Russo said. He expects final approval by February of 2014.

Once approved, "That's the blueprint for the base," Russo said.

Details of the EIR and the meetings will be posted on the City of Alameda website.

The EIR for the former Alameda Naval Air Station land is unusual because it's being paid for by the city, Russo noted. Typically, a private developer pays for the preparation of an EIR on a proposed project.

He estimated the cost of preparing the EIR — in consultant fees, staff time and other costs — at around $2 million. Revenue from commercial leases at Alameda Point is covering the EIR costs, he said.

Preparation of the EIR was approved by the city council about 18 months ago.

By having the city in charge, "Alameda controls its own destiny," Russo said. 

"The development community will know what we want [at Alameda Point] and what we don't want," he said.

Russo said another benefit for potential developers who buy or lease Alameda Point land is that proposals meeting the EIR guidelines won't have to go through the usual lengthy process of preparing a full environmental impact report themselves.

Editor's note: The photo accompanying this article is by Richard Bangert, who blogs frequently about environmental issues at Alameda Point You may see more of his photos and read some of his reports at http://alameda.patch.com/blogs/richard-bangerts-blog 

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