Update: Park District Votes 6-0 to Purchase 1,885 Acre Roddy Ranch Property

Tonight, in a 6-0 vote, the East Bay Regional Park District Board is being recommended by staff to purchase 1,885.2 acres of Real Property from Roddy Group, LLC in partnership with the East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservancy: Deer Valley Regional Park. The purchase is an estimated $14,245,000 which does not include the Roddy Ranch Golf Course.

The significance of this purchase is that 700 homes were scheduled to be built on this land due to Measure K. Also, in 2003, the Sand Creek focus area has a specific plan developed for for development of a variety of uses including 115 acres of commercial development and nearly 5,000 new housing units. To date, no development has occurred within the area with the exception of the Kaiser Hospital project on Deer Valley Road that was previously approved.

Tonight’s Meeting:
6:00 pm at Big Break Visitor Center at the Delta

Big Break Regional Shoreline
69 Big Break Road
Oakley, CA

Here is a look at the staff report which I’ve pulled from the 145 page document.

Site Description:

The Roddy Ranch property consists of 13 parcels totaling 1,885.2 acres located in Eastern Contra Costa County south of the City of Antioch west of the City of Brentwood. The property includes the majority of Deer Valley and Horse Valley and comprises the bulk of undeveloped open space between the existing protected lands of Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve and the Marsh Creek State Park (formerly known as Cowell Ranch) to the south of the City of Brentwood.

The property has been the subject of debate over urban development for decades. When originally adopted by voters in 1990, the Contra Costa County Urban Limit Line included the Roddy Ranch property in the developable area of the City of Antioch. The Urban Limit Line was adjusted by the Board of Supervisors of Contra Costa County in 2000 to exclude the Roddy Ranch area. In 2005, voters in Antioch approved Measure K that created Antioch’s own Urban Limit Line and included the portion of the Roddy Ranch site now within the incorporated jurisdiction of the City of Antioch. The language of Measure K included the parameters of future development of the site that included up to 700 estate homes. A development agreement between the property owner and the City of Antioch was recorded in April, 2006, and an Environmental Impact Report analyzing the potential effects of the development was most recently circulated in August 2012.

Approximately 656.22 acres of the Roddy Ranch property are located within the incorporated jurisdiction of the City of Antioch. An additional 1,228.94 acres lie directly south of the jurisdictional boundaries of the City of Antioch, outside of the Urban Limit Line and within the unincorporated area of Contra Costa County. Approximately 890.6 acres, largely within the unincorporated area, is encumbered with a Grant Deed of Development Rights that limits land use on this portion to recreation and grazing activities. This deed restriction was recorded in 1999 as a condition of approval of the Roddy Ranch Golf Course development.

The Roddy Ranch Golf Course, not included in this acquisition, was approved in 1999 and is surrounded by the Roddy Ranch open space on a 230-acre parcel. The golf course includes 18 holes and parking with a number of temporary buildings serving the courses maintenance and visitor service needs. Future plans include the development of a club house on the property and permanent maintenance facilities. The approval of the golf course included a condition that a floating trail easement be granted to Contra Costa County for the purposes of establishing a public recreational trail that would connect Empire Mine Road to Black Diamond Mines Regional Park through the property and connect to Briones Valley Road. This easement was recorded in 1999 and various trail alignments have been explored, but it has yet to be developed. Other in-holdings include two 20-acre parcels owned by Jack and Donna Roddy and two other privately owned parcels totaling 240 acres.

The Roddy Ranch open space property is accessed by way of Deer Valley Road, a public road that connects Marsh Creek Road into the City of Antioch. Chadbourne Road, off of Deer Valley Road, provides the primary access to the residential compound and the in-holding properties. Chadbourne Road is a two-lane public road maintained by the County to the 240- acre in-holding parcels, where it becomes a private road and provides access to the westerly portion of the open space.

Empire Mine Road borders the property to the north. This is a paved, two-lane public roadway within the City of Antioch. The road was closed by the City of Antioch in 2005 due to ongoing problems with vandalism, trash dumping, and other illegal activities along the rural stretch between Mesa Ridge Drive and Deer Valley Road. Gates at either end of the property restrict public access beyond use by bicyclists and pedestrians. The City of Antioch most recently extended the closure in March of 2013 and will review the closure every 18 months.

The Sand Creek Focus Area lies to the north between the property and the existing developed boundary of the City of Antioch. The Sand Creek Focus Area encompasses 2,700 acres within the City of Antioch. A specific plan was developed for the area in 2003 that called for development of a variety of uses including 115 acres of commercial development and nearly 5,000 new housing units. To date, no development has occurred within the area with the exception of the Kaiser Hospital project on Deer Valley Road that was previously approved.

The vast majority of the Roddy Ranch property includes undeveloped open space served by a network of ranch roads, with the exception of an approximately 5-acre residential compound located in the center of the property at the end of the public portion of Chadbourne Road. Four residences in fair to poor condition are located in this area including a 1,775 sq.ft. residence with three bedrooms, a 750 sq.ft. residence with two bedrooms, a 580 sq.ft. residential studio unit with one bedroom, and a 1,440 sq.ft. manufactured home with two bedrooms. A number of barns and storage sheds typical of agricultural properties in the region are also located within the developed area of the property. It is anticipated that the residences will continue to be occupied by the current tenants until land use planning can be completed and permanent operations are determined. These residences, along with the private in-holdings, provide a security presence in this portion of the property. Further inspection of the property and allocation of necessary safety and security funds, will be conducted prior to executing the option.

Recent acquisitions by the District in the area include the 220-acre Fox Ridge Manor property acquired in 2009 and the adjacent 21-acre Fan property acquired in 2011. These properties are located to the south of the Roddy Ranch property along Briones Valley Road. Contra Costa County Water District has acquired adjacent properties that connect these recent District purchases to the Roddy Ranch property as part of their habitat mitigation efforts related to the expansion of the Los Vaqueros Reservoir. Additional properties across Deer Valley Road, adjacent to the Marsh Creek State Park property, have also been acquired by Contra Costa County Water District.

The Roddy Ranch property was included within the East Contra Costa County Habitat Conservation Plan area and is identified as a high priority conservation area. The unincorporated portion of the property, within the jurisdiction of Contra Costa County, has a General Plan designation of AL- Agricultural Land and a zoning designation of A-2, General Agricultural District. Approximately 1,228.94 acres of the property is located outside of the Urban Limit Line. The remaining 656.22 acres are within the Urban Limit Line, in the City of Antioch. This area has a General Plan designation of “Roddy Ranch Focus Area” and zoning designation of “Roddy Ranch Master Plan District”.

Natural and Cultural Resources:

The Roddy Ranch property encompasses an important open space corridor for wildlife movement connecting protected lands to the northwest at Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve to the protected lands in southeast Contra Costa County such as the Marsh Creek State Park, Round Valley Regional Preserve, and Los Vaqueros Watershed lands.

As part of past development proposals, a substantial amount of natural and cultural resource surveys have been conducted on the property. Special status species observed on the property include California tiger salamander, California red-legged frog, San Joaquin pocket mouse, American badger, burrowing owl, and California fairy shrimp. The property also provides habitat for a number of other special status species that have known occurrences in the surrounding area including San Joaquin kit fox, Alameda whipsnake, Swainson’s hawk, golden eagles, northern harrier, and a number of species of bats.

Vegetation on the property includes large expanses of annual grassland, blue oak woodlands, and areas of Diablan sage scrub and chamise chaparral. The northern faces of the ridges on the property are primarily composed of blue oak woodland with patches of sage scrub and chamise chaparral. Southern slopes and the valley floors are comprised primarily of grasslands with scattered oaks.

A number of stock ponds are located throughout the property that provides water for cattle as well as various wildlife species. Seasonal wetlands exist along the eastern edges of the property. Deer Creek, an intermittent stream, flows through the center of the site and drains into Marsh Creek.

There are a number of structures within the residential compound area of the property, two of which were constructed in the early 1900’s. Cultural resource studies done on the property as part of the review of past development proposals have not identified any of the structures to be eligible for the California Register of Historic Resources. Howeva4

Three sites related to historic ranching and farming complexes on the property have been found to be potentially eligible for the California Register of Historic Resources. These sites primarily consist of remains of former home sites and foundations. No significant prehistoric archaeological resources, areas of Native American concern, or Hispanic-era resources are known to be present on the property.

Planning Issues:

Master Plan: This acquisition will comprise a substantial addition to the potential “Deer Valley Regional Park” as identified on the Regional Parkland and Trail Map, amended in November 2007, and includes a portion of the “Black Diamond Mines to Round Valley” Regional Trail.

Land Use Planning: The area surrounding this property was identified on the Master Plan as amended in November 2007 as “Potential EBRPD Parkland.” A Land Use Plan will need to be prepared for this property, and adjacent properties that have been recently acquired, prior to allowing public access.

CEQA Compliance: This acquisition is exempt from CEQA requirements under both Sections 15316, and 15325 of the State CEQA Guidelines, the transfer of ownership of the land to preserve open space; and Section 15304, minor alterations of land with respect to grazing activities.

Public Safety:

Police: This property will result in a significant acquisition that will cumulatively increase demands on EBRPD police services. Acquisition of land between Deer Valley Road and the existing lands of Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve will facilitate boundary patrols. Currently the western boundaries of Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve are relatively inaccessible. The Roddy Ranch acquisition is bordered by Briones Valley Road to the south, Deer Valley Road to the east, and Empire Mine Road (currently closed to public use) to the north.

Since the property is primarily undeveloped and has onsite security through existing residences, neighboring landowners, and the Roddy Ranch Golf Course, there are minimal requirements for additional policing at this time. Periodic checks by the beat officer, volunteer units and Air Support Unit will likely suffice.

Future policing requirements

• The establishment of open trails and staging areas will result in increased hiking, biking and equestrian activities that will likely bring an increase in medical calls for service.

•  Boundary signs should be erected so the property will be clearly identifiable for jurisdictional purposes. District gates and locks should be installed to prevent vehicular trespassing and vandalism. Ordinance 38 signage should be posted at trailhead entrances for education and enforcement purposes.

• Future land use planning and facility development will evaluate potential public safety impactsnecessary to assess staffing impacts.

Fire:  The Roddy Ranch property is located in an area classified as State Responsibility Area (SRA) for fire protection, and is within the State’s Direct Protection Area. In actuality, mutual aid initial attack fire suppression resources would arrive first from East Contra Costa Fire Protection District stations in Brentwood or from Contra Costa County Fire Protection District stations in Antioch. The stations can be on scene within 15 minutes. CAL FIRE engines, crews, dozers and air resources would also be dispatched under normal summer fire weather conditions. Unless already committed to another incident, the earliest CAL FIRE resources would arrive from their Sunshine Station within five to seven minutes. EBRPD would respond with one or two engines, a watertender and overhead personnel from the closest staffed stations, Station 1 (Tilden), Station 8 (Contra Loma), Station 3 (Ozol Property) or all of them. During the day, response time would be between 20 and 30 minutes, depending on from which station they were dispatched. During daylight hours, the EBRPD helicopter would arrive within 15 minutes from the Hayward Air Unit.

The parcel is located within the State’s “Moderate” Fire Hazard Severity Zone. A wildland fire would be of high intensity and cause substantial damage to infrastructure improvements, such as fences to be installed on the property. Depending on the wind direction, private homes and other structures would be threatened to the north, south and east. In a recent three-year period, EBRPD responded to four and five fire incidents each within nearby Black Diamond and Round Valley Regional Parks. We can expect a similar pattern of one or two fires per year in the Deer Valley area, particularly once the new park is opened to full public use.

Hazardous materials responses will be the responsibility of EBRPD. However, District records indicate there were no HazMat responses to nearby parks during a recent representative three-year period. This is a low rate of occurrence, compared with other District parks. One could expect a similar low occurrence level in this new addition.

During a recent three year period examined, EBRPD fire department personnel responded to 18 medical incidents in Black Diamond Regional Park and five at Round Valley. The Round Valley medical response rate is more likely to characterize medical response activity in the Deer Valley area. This is a low rate of medical response frequency when compared with other parks in the Region.

This is a significant acquisition that, when coupled with other recent acquisitions in the Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve and Deer Valley region, will cumulatively increase demands on EBRPD fire services. The following recommendations are important to improve fire protection and resource protection in the Deer Valley area.

Recommendations:

•  Continue to strengthen mutual aid relationships with Contra Costa County and its fire protection district, as well as with the State of California’s CAL FIRE to ensure adequate emergency response times.
• Continue grazing of the property to reduce fuel loads as necessary.
• Cooperate with county and state fire agencies to ensure neighbors and the visiting public is ware of the risks, hazards, responsibilities and defensible space requirements to minimize fire losses in the wildland-urban interface.
• At public access points, such as trailheads and staging areas, provide public education about the risks, hazards, responsibilities and actions to minimize wildland fire occurrence and losses.
• Work cooperatively with adjacent property owners and authorities to maintain roads that provide emergency vehicle ingress and egress, as well as evacuation routes for park users.
• Ensure an adequate level of fire and visitor safety protection capability is provided, commensurate with the increasing landbase and wildland-urban interface requiring protection.

Acquisition Criteria:

This property:

• Presents an acquisition opportunity necessary to implement the District Master Plan.
• Provides opportunity to expand the regional trail network connecting existing regional parks, State Parks, and other publically protected land.
• Protects a significant wildlife corridor that connects existing preserves managed by the District, State, and other public entities.
• Possesses significant natural and cultural resources that have special status protection and have been identified as high priority for conservation.
• Helps maintain an equitable parkland distribution of facilities and programs throughout the District.
• Requires a minimum of development and maintenance.
• Requires immediate acquisition in order to avoid likely significant additional difficulties or costs or in the total loss of the site to other uses.
• Facilitates coordination with the joint plans of other public agencies.
• Qualifies for state and federal grants and funds from other sources.
• Requires a minimum of development and maintenance.

Recommendation for Land Bank Status: Yes X No ____

•  The property is not located within an area covered by an approved Land Use Plan. The property can be removed from Land Bank Status at such a time that a Land Use Plan for the future Deer Valley Regional Park is approved.

Site Cost Estimate:

Acquisition Estimate: $ 14,245,000

• Safety and Security Estimate1: $ 23,000 1
• Gates, Signage, and Fencing Repair: $ 23,000

Maintenance and Operational Estimate (annual): $ 158,4321

Total Five-Year Projection: $ 792,161

Source: 
http://www.ebparks.org/meetings