Harbor Bay Plan: 80 New Homes, New Sports Club

Harbor Bay Isle Associates plans to built a new sports and fitness club on North Loop Road and — once that project is completed — 80 new homes on the current Harbor Bay Club site, representatives of the development company told the Alameda City Council Tuesday night.

The new homes "will represent the last homes ever to be built in Harbor Bay," said a press release emailed by the developer to media outlets during the council meeting.

It's the latest round in a longstanding conflict between Harbor Bay Isle developer Ron Cowan and the city over adding more homes to the Bay Farm Island development.

The year 2011 saw the ultimate defeat of a proposal from Harbor Bay Isle Associates to swap 12 acres in Harbor Bay Business Park for the city-owned Mif Albright nine-hole golf course, also 12 acres in size. In exchange for permission to build 130 houses on the golf course site, Cowan offered to construct playing fields on the business park land.

Many Alameda residents rallied against the proposed land swap, and local residents later approved a ballot measure that requires voter approval for similar swaps of city-owned land.

The develoment company's press release said the new club would be located between the Chinese Christian School and KinderCare Learning Center. It would take about two years to complete.

The new facility would incorporate "multiple swimming pools, more exercise studios, larger and improved locker room facilities, more parking, and enhanced children’s services complimentary to those offered by the three nearby schools," the release said.

The new proposals would require city approval for permits and design review, at least.

You may read more about the proposal on The Alamedan website.