Seeno sues park district over new Concord park -

Park district moves ahead with Concord Hills — *The view over the Diablo Valley from Concord Hills, the temporary name for the 2500-acre park planned for the Concord Naval Weapons Station. (Photo: Stephen Joseph)*

CONCORD, CA—A lawsuit filed on behalf of Concord-based developer Albert Seeno III could delay the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) plan for a new park in Concord (Related story: Park district moves ahead with Concord Hills, July 2019).

Seeno says the park would cause undisclosed impacts on the environment and would affect the Faria residential development he plans on a 606-acre parcel adjacent to the ridgeline in Bay Point.

EBRPD general manager Robert Doyle disagrees with the lawsuit’s assertions and timing. He cites the extensive ability for all stakeholders to participate in the planning process.

“The public overwhelmingly supports the creation of this regional park,” Doyle said. “Seeno Co. never expressed any specific concerns or opposition to the new park during the two decades-long planning process … until now, after the land use plan has been approved.”

On July 7, the park district board unanimously approved the Concord Hills Regional Park land use plan and associated environmental impact report. This paved the way for the park district to begin work on park and trail development of the 2,540-plus-acre regional park at the former Concord Naval Weapons Station.

Two decades of community advocacy

The project involved two decades of community advocacy and partnership amongst the park district, the Navy, the National Park Service and the city of Concord. The plan includes public access for recreation, permanent preservation of the land as natural habitat and a joint visitor center with the National Park Service. The visitor center will also honor the Black sailors who died in the massive Port Chicago explosion.

Doyle said the public and community leaders should be outraged by the lawsuit.

“Mr. Seeno’s last-minute, baseless lawsuit will force the park district to spend valuable taxpayer funds on protecting a publicly supported and legally approved park plan instead of allowing us to prepare this new regional park for millions of eager local park users,” he said.

According to EBRPD, the plan provides for public access, preserves 95 percent of the area’s natural habitat, and honors the unique natural and human history of the land.

“Turning the former military base into a world-class park has taken, and will continue for many more, years and millions of dollars to restore and open,” said Doyle. “Concord Hills Regional Park is a remarkable example of cooperative land re-use that benefits the entire region. The Seenos will not block the will of the public on this land project.”