Alameda Point – Page 5 – Alameda Point Environmental Report

Tidelands designation frustrates development of Alameda Point

Assemblymember Mia Bonta may again need to be called upon to fix a problem land use designation in Alameda.

There is a major strip of land, dubbed the Central Corridor, through the center of Alameda Point that is designated state “tidelands,” even though the open water tidelands were filled in by the Navy 80 years ago. According to the California State Lands Commission, tidelands are to be held in trust for the people of the entire state, allowing only maritime, resource protection, or visitor serving uses. “Uses that do not accommodate, promote, foster or enhance the statewide public’s need for essential commercial services or their enjoyment of tidelands are not appropriate uses for public trust lands,” states this Overview of Public Trust Doctrine.

Currently, City Hall West, two blocks of lawn, a fire station, a hangar, some buildings of limited value, a parking lot, and an empty block of tarmac occupy the “tidelands” corridor and serve no Tidelands purposes.

Alameda Point economic development is stuck in the past

It is no secret that the only way for the city to build the necessary new infrastructure at Alameda Point is by selling its property. Nevertheless, city leaders drag their feet, unable to let go of the broken strategy of leasing buildings to startup companies. It does not matter how promising or green a business is. Leasing will never pay for infrastructure.

Yet Building 11, a valuable hangar that sits at a key intersection for surrounding infrastructure upgrades, has been listed for lease rather than for sale. It is indicative of the city’s lackadaisical approach for redeveloping Alameda Point.

Alameda Point Sideshow Goes on Undeterred

Some call sideshow activity an abuse of machinery, a public safety risk, or bad for the environment. Others find enjoyment.

On Sunday, January 28, hundreds of cars assembled at Alameda Point at the intersection of West Tower Avenue and Monarch Street (aka Spirits Alley) for a “car show.” The atmosphere was similar to a tailgate party in anticipation of a sporting event, with vendors and people mingling about, talking to friends, and loud music playing.

Harbor seal molting and mating behavior up close

Shedding and replacing fur coats

Every summer, and even into the fall, harbor seals go through a biological process known as molting, in which they shed their fur and grow a new layer to keep their fur healthy. You can tell when they are molting by the patchy appearance of their fur.

Maximum tidal wetland design approved for De-Pave Park

Environmental groups are celebrating an historic decision on what is now destined to become a model for shoreline ecological adaptation around San Francisco Bay.

At issue was whether to keep Building 25, a 55-foot-tall hangar, as a source of lease revenue, or remove it to maximize natural habitat.

On November 7th, ten years after the De-Pave Park concept was first introduced, the City Council approved moving forward with a plan to remove the building to make way for a park that will welcome sea level rise. The term “de-pave” refers to the removal of paving. The paving will be recycled on site to provide the elevated observation overlook and the elevated entrance. The decision was the latest step in the process of developing a Master Plan that will provide the foundation for receiving a multitude of regulatory permits and construction grant funds.

Pesticide drone manufacturing OK’d on State Tidelands

On September 5^th, by a vote of four to one, the City Council approved an eight-year lease of an Alameda Point hangar to an autonomous electric aircraft manufacturing company called Pyka In c. Their planes are designed for spraying pesticides on agricultural land. While the company hopes to one day be selling autonomous planes for cargo delivery, the bulk of the discussion at the meeting centered on environmental concerns raised by residents about industrial-scale aerial spraying of petroleum-based pesticides.

Pesticide drone company is a bad fit for Alameda Point

At its September 5 meeti ng, the City Council will consider whether to lease a hangar at 950 West Tower Avenue at Alameda Point to a company that makes autonomous aircraft for spraying pesticides on agricultural crops. The lease proposal can be rejected on the grounds that the use of synthetic pesticides is completely at odds with principles of environmental sustainability.