Agenda packet — Concord City Council, January 7, 2025 (part 2 of 3)

On Oct 8, 2024, at 9:55 AM, Nakamura, Laura
<[email protected]> wrote:

Good morning to all of you who shared your contact information with me at The Kreamery.

I hope that I was able to input all the names correctly and that none of the email addresses bounce. Please share my email with those who you know are interested in the City’s rezoning of commercial property for the purposes of meeting our Housing Element obligations for Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH).

What I want you to hear first: Your feedback has registered, and I have heard you. While I may not have been fully prepared for a “packed house” at The Kreamery, I was happy to be doing my job as your councilmember - listening so that I could relay feedback to staff to inform our process.

What you will find in this email are the City’s plans for next steps, much of which I, personally, have had the opportunity to weigh in on. I will also provide links to content on the City’s website for how to learn more about AFFH and frequently asked questions (FAQs). I will also answer some of the questions that came up on October 2nd at The Kreamery and those that were written down (see attached photo).

Next steps: The City will be holding engagement sessions at the end of the month - Likely dates: October 28th and 30th.

To be added to the interested parties list to be reached by email:

https://www.cityofconcord.org/1237/Interested-Parties-List

Information Links:

Please note that this is a state law (AB 686) and was
supported by our Assemblymember, Tim Grayson.
https://www.nhlp.org/wp-content/uploads/AB-686-Fact-
Sheet-Feb.-2019.pdf
For the City website information, please visit:
www.cityofconcord.org/AFFH.

FAQs:
https://www.cityofconcord.org/DocumentCenter/View/11736/FAQs? bidId=
For information from HCD, please visit: HCD - Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing
Provide feedback to the city using this survey:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FX9FC3K
(survey closes
Friday, October 11th).

In Brief: Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH)

Since 1969, California has required that local governments plan to meet the housing needs of all residents, on an 8-year cycle. This "Housing Element" is a part of cities' "General Plan."
To foster a "Fair Housing" approach to meeting these needs, in 2018 an addition was mandated to this planning
responsibility. This addition promotes fairer access to "good outcomes" with some zoning changes. This means that
AFFH is an equity measure in state law related to local governments' legal responsibility to actively plan for how the housing needs of ALL are met.

It promotes higher density zoning with a mix of housing affordability in areas which have "high resources" and
therefore better outcomes in health, education, and
employment. It is based on the premise that there should be greater affordable access to high resource neighborhoods in our cities. AFFH is state mandated but is a local action by city councils and counties. It is a purely local issue, and a relatively technical process at that.

Your Questions:

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What can we do to stop it? This is a state law, and the better course of action is to provide constructive input so that the AFFH program decisions are resident-informed and done by us here at the local level.

What will this housing element offer as a benefit to the Crossings Community? I think this question is better answered when we think about the City as a whole and the ramifications of what happens if we don’t comply with the state law. The following information come from City staff:

We cannot predict with certainty what will happen if we fail to complete the programs in our Housing Element, as the process often involves multiple rounds of communication with HCD and is not always straightforward. However, here are some potential outcomes:

• Decertification and Builder's Remedy: If our Housing Element is decertified for non-compliance, developers
may be able to bypass our regulations and fast-track
housing projects under the "builder's remedy" provision. • Legal and Financial Risks: We could face serious legal and financial consequences, including the loss of access to essential state funding for affordable housing,
transportation, and infrastructure. In 2019, HCD sued
Huntington Beach for failing to comply with Housing
Element law, putting millions in state funding at risk. • Recent Legal Action: This September 2024
example involves a lawsuit HCD filed against Elk
Grove for failing to approve an affordable housing
development. Attorney General Rob Bonta’s statements
provide insight into how the State may respond to non-
compliance with Housing Element requirements.

“This settlement reflects what I’ve said all along: California’s housing laws are not optional. Local governments that
violate our laws to deny affordable housing opportunities to Californians will be held accountable,” said Attorney
General Rob Bonta. “While I am pleased that this is now behind us, and that Elk Grove ultimately approved even
more homes for those most in need, the city’s refusal to do the right thing over and over again cannot be swept under the rug. These are not ordinary times. Millions of Californians are struggling to keep a roof over their heads or lack housing altogether. Every local government therefore has both a legal and moral responsibility to help us meet the moment. If other cities believe they are exempt from that task, Governor Newsom, HCD Director Velasquez, and I will continue
reminding those cities that they are in the wrong.”

One participant asked about affordable housing income limits.

Here is a link to that
information:https://www.hcd.ca.gov/sites/default/files/docs/grants- and-funding/income-limits-2024.pdf

Why were the Cowell Road sites chosen? It was rightly pointed out that the Cowell Road sites are not near to schools or groceries.

However, one of the amenities that is considered a resource when we talk in terms of “high or low resource areas” is access to open space. The Cowell Road sites are close to Lime Ridge. From the FAQ: “The California Tax Credit Allocation Committee (TCAC) identifies neighborhoods of the state that have been shown to have positive educational, economic, and health outcomes for low- income families. These neighborhoods are characterized by quality schools, safety, plentiful community amenities, and economic opportunity.”

Why weren’t Montecito and Crystyl Ranch selected as sites? There are no commercial sites near Montecito or Crystyl Ranch; this is about rezoning commercial sites for housing.

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Why not use the CSUEB site? The Cal State University East Bay site belongs to the state and due to its size, the state would need to plan it out and there are very low chances of this happening in the time frame of our Housing Element.

Who can I email or contact to get my questions answered? You can always reach out to me at
[email protected]. If I don’t know the
answer, I will certainly involve Staff to assist.

To be sure you are reaching the councilmember who
represents you: Find Your District
here.https://concordca.maps.arcgis.com/apps/InformationLookup/index.html? appid=466f6a87b22e460b92f6492ad285450c
Assistant City Manager, Justin Ezell:

[email protected]

I thank you all for your patience with my response and welcome you to reach out with any additional questions.

Best,

Laura

<image003.png> Laura Nakamura (She/her/hers)
City Councilmember, District 5

Mobile 925-338-1259
Web https://www.lauranakamura.net/
Sign up for my
newsletter: https://www.lauranakamura.net/newsletter

<20241008_060442.jpg>

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: Diane McBreen
Subject: Re: Low income housing
Date: Monday, October 28, 2024 12:10:40 PM
Hi Diane, thank you for contacting me about the AFFH program. Your email will be included in the record.

Increasing the zoning to 60 units per acre does not mean buildings will be demolished or businesses will be displaced. Any decision to develop housing is entirely up to the property owner. The City will not require development, demolition of existing buildings, or relocation of businesses. Rezoning simply changes what is allowed but does not dictate how properties are used. Existing businesses can continue to operate indefinitely unless the property owner decides to pursue redevelopment.

Additionally, traffic studies will be completed as a part of this project prior to any final decisions being made.

The above information is from the project FAQs here
.

Project website is www.cityofconcord.org/AFFH

Kind regards,
- Justin
Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]
From: Diane McBreen <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 28, 2024 11:07 AM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Low income housing

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”

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Dear Justin,
It is my understanding that the warehouses behind Trader Joe’s are being considered for a low income housing development. Although I am a firm believer of housing for all, please consider other Concord properties for this project as the businesses currently housed in these warehouses are extremely valuable to many people including me! It took me a long time to find a Zumba class that I love and now that I have, I hate the thought of that business having to relocate. Since there appear to be several other vacant properties in Concord, please don’t make these valuable warehouse businesses relocate.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,
Diane McBreen
Sent from my iPhone

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: Anne T.

Subject: Re: Meeting follow-up
Date: Tuesday, October 29, 2024 4:41:01 PM
Hi Anne,
Thank you for your thoughtful email and questions. To clarify, any site that undergoes rezoning will be zoned to allow a maximum of 60 dwelling units per acre. This program is designed to support higher-density housing in high-resource areas, as spreading out more sites at lower densities would not meet the program’s goals—those options are already in place. Each of the four sites we’re considering is currently zoned for 24 dwelling units per acre. Through this program, density will be increased to create more affordable housing opportunities.

Thank you for your suggestions; your email will be added to the project record.

Kind regards,
- Justin
Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]
From: Anne T. <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 29, 2024 4:11 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Meeting follow-up

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”
Hi Justin,
Here are my thoughts after the meeting last night. Prior to last night, I had watched the entire first Zoom meeting online and I attended the 2nd meeting in person. I had also reviewed all the maps, prior slides and FAQ’s prior to the meeting last night, so that I would have the best understanding I could have the issues. There seemed to be some confusion and frustration, for various reasons, resulting in discontent last night.

I do think it will be important to take a pause and realize that many of the stakeholders, for whatever reason, were out of the loop and that the current evaluation process should be reviewed and amended as needed.

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I question the strategy used of putting the 25 potential rezoning sites into the 5 groupings, which was done at the prior meeting. I feel like that strategy did create confusion and misunderstanding of the process. I voted for the Clayton Rd option, not knowing that it automatically included Treat & Oak Grove. I also ranked highly the smaller more spread out site option, which most people did not vote highly on. However, if people are voting to have fewer sites, then by default those fewer sites will have to have higher density housing (multi-story), which clearly most everyone was opposed to. If it was proposed that having more sites could result in lower density, smaller housing units, people might have been more in favor of that option. Again, the 5 groupings were pretty confusing to understand what you were actually voting for and the repercussions of each. Would it be better to back up completely and just do a straight vote on the 25 sites and rank each one individually based on its merit and how it would fit in with the whole plan? I feel like most people just voted somewhat blindly and that a discussion regarding the realistic pros and cons of the options would have been a valuable tool.

It seems like the community PRIORITIES should be reviewed FIRST and then based on those priorities, the sites (number and distribution) can be addressed. For instance, if it is a priority to avoid high density 4-5 story structures (as someone stated last night), then it would make the most sense to have more sites. If a priority is to preserve small businesses (as we really heard strongly last night), then it would make sense to focus on the vacant lots which do not have businesses on them.

And on and on from there. The community participants identify a list of the priority outcomes the they value and then design the plan to meet those priorities. Just chosing the sites without identifying the community priorities feels like it put the cart before the horse. Sites were randomly voted on without a clear understanding of the process and now people are upset that there will be higher rise buildings and potential displacement of business. I think we need to re-group and re- design the site identification process, which would feel more fair and satisfactory to the community.

To that end, I was quite surprised that from the 5 groupings, the FOUR top sites were already picked! In my mind, that was quite a leap from the 5 groupings to announcing 4 sites, with not much explanation in between. That was also somewhat confusing because, for instance, Palm Lake was on BOTH on the "sites to be added" AND the "sites to be removed", and both of those were at a LOW 20%. If that’s the case, then why did it make the top four sites? That doesn’t make sense to the untrained participant. I understand that you prioritized the high resource area, but the entire study area is fair game and should be treated equally.

Question: When the City does the re-zoning, CAN the City put a LIMIT on the density of the housing on that site? Is it in the purview of the City to do that or does the City just rezone and the owner can then build as dense housing as they want on that site? I think people would be more open to rezoning the sites if it was capped at low density, so that it fit in with the neighboring community.

Without a cap on the density, it seems like the landowners would build as dense as possible, without regard to the people who actually live near the site, since it would make the most profit for them to pack in the units. If the City could prevent that scenario, that would be the best.

Feedback: I thought the strategy to put a single microphone out and have people line up was way better than running around the room and having people raise their hands. However, as a resident/participant, I felt like your efforts to ONLY keep it to questions was too limiting on the participants and I got the sense people were feeling stifled. Having it be “questions only” also slowed the process down, since you then had to suss out what the “question” actually was and then take the time to answer it. If you freely let people have a question OR a comment, then people could comment and then just move along. You could also ask people to keep their comment/question to, say, 3 minutes, and have a timer counting down on the screen to give people the timing. People clearly just want to make their concerns heard, so I think a question OR a comment would be more constructive and beneficial to the process.

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And finally, I heard you say several times that when the final potential sites are chosen, THEN the environmental impact studies of those sites will take place. As one of the participants commented last night, that process doesn’t make sense. If the impact study reveals a negative impact for one of the four sites, then you would have to choose one of the alternate sites and go out and do an environmental impact study on THAT site. One step forward and two steps back. The environmental impact studies should include as many potential sites as possible. Then those sites that show too much of an environmental impact burden can be discarded and other options then rise to the top.

Thank you for listening!
Regards,
Anne Thibault

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: Gayle
Subject: Re: New housing plan
Date: Monday, October 28, 2024 4:59:42 AM
Hi Gayle, thank you for contacting me about the AFFH program. Your email will be included in the record.

You may also voice your opinion on the project website here: www.cityofconcord.org/AFFH

Kind regards,
- Justin
Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]
From: Gayle <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 27, 2024 11:31 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: New housing plan

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”
I live on the border of WC and Concord off Treat. I regularly go to the Trader Joe's shopping center for shopping, banking and I have been taking fitness classes for almost 10 years in the buildings behind Trader Joes.

Trying to drive anywhere on Treat and Oak Grove when Ygnacio Valley High school and Corondelet schools begin and end are a nightmare. Treat and Oak Grove get blocked by kids and parents dropping off and picking up! Adding more cars right at the blocked areas is crazy. The parking lot by Trader Joe's is not well designed and cars cut through the lot to get around the mess at the intersection..

Much better to put it at the KMart or other places.

Also several small businesses will be destroyed losing those buildings in the back. Many of them Fitness like mine.

Thank you for your consideration. Gayle Jackson
Sent from AOL on Android

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: Jeanine Perassokaczmarczyk
Subject: Re: New low income housing
Date: Monday, October 28, 2024 5:20:05 AM
Hi Jeanine, thank you for contacting me about the AFFH program. Your email will be included in the record.

Additionally, traffic studies will be completed as a part of this project prior to any final decisions being made.

The above information is from the project FAQs here
.

Project website is www.cityofconcord.org/AFFH

Kind regards,
- Justin
Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]
From: Jeanine Perassokaczmarczyk <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 27, 2024 5:58 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: New low income housing

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: Kent Parr
Subject: Re: Objections to Rezoning of Property Behind Trader Joes Shopping Center Date: Tuesday, October 29, 2024 7:12:23 PM
Attachments: image.png
Hi Kent,
Thank you for your detailed email and for sharing your concerns. Your input is valuable, and your email will be added to the project record.

Because your email focuses on the businesses located behind Trader Joe's, I’ve attached a snapshot of the mailing address list that was used to notify properties within the project area, including several parcels behind the shopping center. While I cannot confirm whether all businesses received or reviewed the notices, I can confirm that we sent them on multiple occasions, in addition to other communications related to this project.

Additionally, I cannot provide a detailed list of businesses that will be displaced by this project, because there guarantee that any business will be displaced. The properties being considered for rezoning already allow residential development. For example, the properties behind Trader Joe's/Peets can already support development at a density of 24 units per acre, but no such projects have taken place. Increasing the zoning to 60 units per acre does not mean buildings will be demolished or businesses will be displaced. Any decision to develop housing is entirely up to the property owner. The City will not require development, demolition of existing buildings, or relocation of businesses. Rezoning simply changes what is allowed but does not dictate how properties are used. Existing businesses can continue to operate indefinitely unless the property owner decides to pursue redevelopment.

Thank you again for taking the time to share your perspective. - Justin
Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]
From: Kent Parr <[email protected]>

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Sent: Monday, October 28, 2024 6:11 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Cc: Hoffmeister, Laura <[email protected]> Subject: Objections to Rezoning of Property Behind Trader Joes Shopping Center

Thanks.

Kent Parr
KENT C. PARR
CONCORD, CA 9
[email protected]
October 28, 2024
Mr. Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
City of Concord
Re: Objections to Proposed Rezoning of Property Behind Trader Joe’s Shopping Center in Concord.

SENT VIA EMAIL ONLY October 28, 2024 [email protected] Dear Mr. Ezell:

My name is Kent Parr. I reside at 1849 Cleveland Court in Concord and have lived in Concord since 1997. I reside in Councilmember Hoffmeister’s District 1.

I am writing to oppose the City’s consideration of a proposal to rezone to housing those current commercial properties located behind the Trader Joe’s shopping center located off of Treat Boulevard. My objections are both procedural and based on the proposal’s merits, as stated below.

PROCEDUREAL OBJECTIONS
: It has been reported to me that not all of the businesses in the affected area received notice of the City’s proposed action via US Mail. I cannot personally confirm that, but if it is true, that is a serious oversight. I would be interested in knowing which stakeholders did and did not receive notice via US Mail of this proposed action. Is there a list of businesses to whom notice was mailed and the dates of those notices? Were all of the businesses notified at the same time, or did different businesses receive notice of varying lengths and content? If so, why the differential treatment? For some of these small businesses, notice was only recently circulated, rapidly putting them on the defensive to prepare for the upcoming public meetings, which, I am told, are tonight and this coming Wednesday. Short notice indeed. Small businesses already carry a crushing burden without now having to scramble to defend their livelihood on such short notice. Given those stakes, Concord should be more careful about notifying ALL the stakeholders equally and at the same time. I urge you to adopt a procedure that permits full and fair vetting to all stakeholders following a reasonable and equal notice period. That would include equal notice to all the affected building owners, tenants and subtenants.

I also urge that your notices fully disclose the names and number of businesses that will be displaced by these proposals. The absence of such information misleads the public by hiding the full “cost” of this proposal and will lead to uninformed decisions.

OBJECTIONS ON THE MERITS:

1. Makes Concord Look Business-Unfriendly. This proposal is hostile to small businesses and will make Concord look unfriendly to business. Forcing the numerous established businesses to vacate their long-established locations will NOT be viewed favorably by outside businesses considering moving to Concord nor to Concord residents and businesses. Whatever trust that exists between the

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City and the small business community will be permanently damaged by the proposed actions at this location.

2. This Proposal Simply Swaps One Unhoused Group for Another. I understand this proposal is to install affordable housing, which I support. But this proposal simply swaps the unhoused or under-housed for businesses which will now become “unhoused,” so to speak This is a zero sum game. This proposal simply substitute one displaced person or entity for another. Crazy.

3. This Proposal Will Be a Significant Loss to the Fitness Community and to the Children and Youth of Our Community. a. Loss of Five Fitness Centers With Unique Features and Longstanding Roots. In just one of the buildings subject to this proposal, there are four independent fitness centers: Dance Connection, Jazzercize, Zumba and Delta Athletics Crossfit/ Martial Arts. There is also a Curves outlet in a nearby building that is covered by this proposal, making it the fifth fitness center affected by this proposal. This is a rare combination of offerings found in one concentrated location.

Dance Connection has been around for over 40 years. Their facility includes a state of the art springwood dance floor which provides critical cushion to the dancers’ joints and limbs. That feature is rare in this entire region and is especially attractive to the many senior patrons who take classes there through both Dance Connection and through Jazzercize (a 29 year successful Concord business.) Both the Dance Connection and the Jazzercize patrons benefit from the advantages of this special floor.

All five of these fitness-oriented businesses have dozens and dozens of patrons who not only benefit from improving their physical health but they also make important friends and provide important support to each other as they go through life’s stages. It is not just a fitness community: it is a bonding and supportive community that is placed in jeopardy by this proposal. b. Loss of Woman-Owned
Businesses. I’ve been informed that the Dance Connection, Jazzercize and the Delta Athletics Crossfit gym are woman-owned businesses. This is a moment for the City to stand up and demonstrate its commitment to woman- owned businesses instead of forcing an unwelcome move upon them. c. Loss of a Fitness Synergy. The five described businesses are an epicenter of health and fitness. They will be divided, sliced and scattered to multiple locations if forced to relocate, losing the synergy that they provide to their many customers and to each other. As already stated, this location is a rare combination of fitness offerings found in a single concentrated space. That synergy arose organically and over time. It is irreplaceable and cannot be duplicated. d. Loss of Easy Access From Treat Boulevard and Negative Economic Impact on Trader Joes Shopping Center. Many residents enjoy the convenience of easily accessing these five fitness centers (and the other affected businesses) just off of Treat Boulevard, one of Concord’s major traffic arteries. If these businesses are forced to scatter, that convenience will be lost to many.

Trader Joe’s shopping center will also lose the patronage of the dozens and dozens of fitness students who routinely find it convenient to stop before or after class for coffee at Peet’s, to shop at the shopping center, dine at the eateries or do their Wells Fargo banking. This loss of a reliable stream of shoppers will have a significant negative economic impact on that shopping center. e. Concord’s Likely Loss of The Affected Businesses. If forced to vacate, there is no way of knowing whether any of these five fitness centers (and the other businesses affected by this proposal) will attempt to remain in business or whether they will do so in Concord. Why would they stay in Concord, after being treated like this? There is a strong likelihood that Concord will permanently drive away each of these businesses and the other businesses covered by this proposal. f. Loss of Healthy Activities for Children and Youth. The Dance Connection teaches dance to many young children and youth. It is a vital and healthy outlet for our young folks. This critical segment of our community is deserving of the city’s welcome and support instead of proposals to shut it down. I urge you to support these healthy activities for the children and youth of our community by not
going forward with this proposal. I am certain their parents feel the same.

Thank you for your consideration of my concerns.

________________________________
Kent C. Parr

cc: Councilmember Laura Hofmeister VIA EMAIL ONLY [email protected]

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: Laurie Moore
Subject: Re: Please do NOT rezone warehouse area behind Trader Joe’s Date: Tuesday, October 29, 2024 6:46:22 PM
Hi Laurie, thank you for your email. It will be added to the record.

Kind regards,
- Justin
Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]
From: Laurie Moore <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 28, 2024 6:35 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Please do NOT rezone warehouse area behind Trader Joe’s

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”
City of Concord-
Pls seriously consider not including /selecting the property parcel at Oak Grove rd and Treat, the southwest corner. … the trader Joe warehouse area.

I’ve been doing jazzercise 6 days a week for 15 years in the Dance Connection space . It’s not just the exercise/physical fitness element, but it is a HUGE community !!!!! I am 72 years old and I am one of the younger ones attending ! Seniors NEED comradery , community, and connection for mental heath as well at physical health ! The space we use has a “floating” wood floor that is the BEST on senior body parts. These kind of floors are few and far between. Soooo important for knees and joints! There are also several other communities gathering centered on physical fitness in the same warehouse strip. To end and disrupt these communities of mental and physical health is terrible!!!! Especially since other locations are available that don’t break up communities of our city members gathering and collaborating!!!!
Please !
Thank you !!!
Laurie Moore
Laurie Moore

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[email protected]

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: Carmelita Belt
Subject: Re: Re.: Concord Rezoning Site
Date: Tuesday, October 29, 2024 7:21:09 PM
Hi Carmelita, thank you for your email. It will be added to the record.

Kind regards,
- Justin
Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]
From: Carmelita Belt <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 28, 2024 4:03 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Re.: Concord Rezoning Site

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”
Hello Justin,
My name is Carmelita Belt, and I am a resident of Martinez, CA. I work in and around the city of Concord. I recently found out a business I frequent on a regular basis is in danger of being shut down in order to rezone the site for high-density housing.

If this area, warehouses behind Trader Joe’s on Oak Grove and Treat, were to be rezoned for high-density housing, six women-owed small businesses (WildKat Fitness, Dance Connection, Delta Athletics, Jazzercise, Four Corners Vet, and Elsie Green) located in the warehouses would be forced into relocation or permanent closures.

I frequent WildKat Fitness several times a week. It is a studio for me to release stress, meet and converse with other local/Concord people, and a place where I find time to work on my mental health and fitness. I also work with the Instructor, Kathryn Durham-Hammer, on a professional level and help with substituting for her classes when she needs to be out of town.

The thought of WildKatFitness being gone from this site is unthinkable. The dance studio, Dance Connection, is a unique space for people ages 2- 80+. We learn to dance, create and perform at this location. This location has impacted many people for decades. For example, in September, I subbed on a Saturday for a WildKatFitness class. A larger event was to held

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following the fitness class that morning and afternoon at the Dance Connection studios. The event was coordinated by a formed student of Dance Connection. The former student now lives in Oregon. They brought an entire dance troupe, plus family and friends to the Concord area just to dance at Dance Connection. They brought the dance troupe because it was their memory of the studio, the connection and warmth of the area that they wanted to share with young children, teens and adults. If the warehouses are sold and eventually used for high- density housing, those old and new memories will be forever lost. People will not have a safe place to learn to dance, or work on their fitness, strength training, balance and overall mental wellness.

Although high-density housing is needed, I believe it would have a negative impact to this particular area. The ambience and flow of the area would change for all the surrounding residents and businesses. Oak Grove Plaza Business Park has a unique “home town” feel to it at the current time. Additional housing in this area would definitely change the feeling.

Please consider the other area options suggested in the survey for the rezoning of high-density housing. Please give the six small women-owed businesses a chance to continue to thrive.

Many people from all over the Bay Area benefit from all six of these businesses. Don’t take that away for the us.

Thank you for your time and consideration,
Carmelita Belt

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: margaret law
Subject: Re: redevelopment
Date: Monday, October 28, 2024 1:46:40 PM
Hi Margaret, thank you for contacting me about the AFFH program. Your email will be included in the record.

Additionally, traffic studies will be completed as a part of this project prior to any final decisions being made.

The above information is from the project FAQs here
.

Project website is www.cityofconcord.org/AFFH

Kind regards,
- Justin
Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]
From: margaret law <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 28, 2024 1:18 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: redevelopment

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”

Page 189 of 586 ends

Dear Mr. Ezell,
I just learned today that the dance studio (near Treat and Oak Grove) where I have been dancing since I retired 14 years ago, is slated to be rezoned and developed into housing. The building not only holds our classes 6 days a week, but also serves other dance and exercise groups, The floors were built to lessen impact on our bodies. The classes are important to our health and well-being. I look forward to it everyday. It also serves as our social outlet. I know there are other places in Concord that can be developed without affecting so many people. Please reconsider this decision which will alter my life and well as other elderly women.

Thank you for your reconsideration.

Margaret Law

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: Terry Crippen
Subject: Re: Rezone project
Date: Monday, October 28, 2024 5:17:03 AM
Hi Terry, than you for the email. It will be added to the record.

We initiated communication about this program through various channels last spring.

Twice we sent 7,000 notices directly to property owners and businesses included in the study along with properties that are within 500 feet of the sites being considered for rezoning and about 3,000 more to properties within 1,000 feet of the sites recommended for redevelopment. I verified that the businesses behind Trader Joe's received these notices.

Moreover, the Concord Pioneer published an article in late August with details about the community meetings. Local online publications such as Claycord and Contra Costa News also featured stories on our program.

You can see more questions and answers about the project by reading the FAQs here.

Project website is www.cityofconcord.org/AFFH
Kind regards,
- Justin
Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]
From: Terry Crippen <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 27, 2024 7:25 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Rezone project

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is

Page 191 of 586 ends

safe.”
Dear Mr. Ezell,
As a stakeholder at The Dance Connection at 2956 Treat Blvd suite I, I am writing to lodge my strong objection to the choice of The Warehouses behind Trader Joe’s for the rezoning.

I have been business owner there for 29 years. I have built an amazing community in this very special and unique location that can not be replicated elsewhere. Many members of the community rely on us for their health and wellbeing, physical, mental and emotional. Many members attend 3 or 4 times a week, others come daily. I mostly have a senior population who rely on the sprung wood floor ( a very rare thing in our area) in order to be able to continue to exercise without injury.

Yes, we are Jazzercise, a dance fitness program, but we are much much more than that. We are a very warm, welcoming and supportive community. We support each other through many of lives tribulations like loss of spouse and illnesses. A community like this isn’t built overnight. It takes years and years. It would devastate many lives to loose this! While I totally support the fair housing project I very strongly support you finding a location other than this one.

I know there are other locations that won’t strip so many people of their very special and much valued community . It would surely negatively affect the health and wellbeing of many residents. I implore you to take our location off of your list.

I would also like to let you know that we only learned of this just over a week ago. If this site was chosen because there seemed to be no opposition to it I would guess it’s because we didn’t know about it. I would be curious to know how the stakeholders were notified. I’ve talked to many of the other small business owners in our complex and most didn’t know about it either.

Now that we know about it we are moving at warp speed to get our opposition in.

The Dance connection has been a fixture here for over 45 years. It serves the needs of everyone from small children to seniors. It is a large community. It would be such a loss for this community.. Lastly on a personal note, if the redevelopment occurred here it would also mean the loss of my own job and the community I’ve built over the last 29 years. We are very active with our other merchants in the center. We shop and dine here regularly.

Please let me know if there is anything else I can do to get us removed from the list.

Thank you for your time,
Teri Crippen
Owner, Concord Jazzercise
Sent from my iPhone

Page 192 of 586 ends

From: Ezell, Justin
To: Mayette Reyes-Ebert
Subject: Re: Rezone Trader Joe"s Warehouses
Date: Tuesday, October 29, 2024 4:48:19 PM
Thank you for your email; it will be added to the record.

Kind regards,
- Justin
Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]
From: Mayette Reyes-Ebert <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 29, 2024 4:47 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Rezone Trader Joe's Warehouses

Jazzercise & the Dance Connection is not just for exercise class. Jazzercise is a big part of my life. It keeps me going physically, mentally & emotionally.

The Dance Connection's unique location & spring wood floor keeps us safe & allows us to move freely. All the attendees are Seniors. Rezoning will have a negative impact on US SENIORS.

Thank you for your consideration.

Regards,
Marietta Reyes
Sent from my iPhone

Page 193 of 586 ends

From: Ezell, Justin
To: John Greeley
Subject: Re: Re-zoning
Date: Tuesday, October 29, 2024 10:31:27 AM
Hi John, thank you for your email. It will be added to the record.

Regards,
- Justin
Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]
From: John Greeley <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 29, 2024 10:29 AM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Re-zoning

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”
Mr.Ezell,
This email is being sent to express my opposition to re-zoning the area at the corner of Oak Grove and Treat to convert to residential.The businesses in that area including,but not limited to Dance Connection and Concord CrossFit are thriving and have been in the community for many years and have fostered the growth and launched careers of many.To lose those businesses in the community would be detrimental to many habitants of those communities.

There are many other areas to consider that would not have the same negative impact in our community.I would have come done in person last night to express my concerns but unfortunately has to go out of town for business.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

John Greeley
Director of sales and marketing
FitnessPlus.com,Inc
866-965-4653

Page 194 of 586 ends

Sent from my iPad

Page 195 of 586 ends

From: Ezell, Justin
To: Kathryn Durham-Hammer
Subject: Re: Rezoning AFFH sites: Opposition to rezoning Warehouses behind Trader Joe"s Date: Tuesday, October 29, 2024 6:38:49 PM
Attachments: image.png
Hi Kathryn,
I'm not sure why you may not have received either notice. Attached is a screenshot of the address list used to notify properties about the program. A nearby business behind TJs also confirmed they received the notice. Additionally, as a Concord resident, you would have received the City News and Activity Guide mailed to your home twice, each edition containing an article about the AFFH program.

I'm glad that you did learn about the program and are now engaged in the process. Please feel free to contact me with any questions.

Kind regards,
- Justin
Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]
From: Kathryn Durham-Hammer <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 28, 2024 7:09 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Rezoning AFFH sites: Opposition to rezoning Warehouses behind Trader Joe's

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”
Thank you, Justin. I am a licensed business with the City of Concord and a Concord resident, but I never received the notice at either my home or business address. Over the past three days after learning about the rezoning process, I have spoken with most of the other businesses in site

7. Most of them had NO IDEA about this process, including the Four Corners Vet, which has been here for over a decade and in Concord for 60 years, and Elsie Green. Those who had heard of this
process, like Curves and Dean’s Shoe Repair, only heard in the last few days or, at most,

Page 196 of 586 ends

the past few weeks. We have NOT been heard on this and our feedback would have dramatically shifted the results of your study.

It is insulting to suggest that we just ignored the process. We did not know about it until now.

We depend on our small businesses for our livelihoods and this process matters very much to us and to our clients, who find a very special community and wellness hub in the so-called warehouses behind Trader Joe’s. This area should be called the small businesses in the Oak Grove Plaza Business Park.

We implore you to reconsider sites that will not endanger vulnerable small businesses.

Kathryn Durham-Hammer
On Oct 28, 2024, at 5:55ௗAM, Ezell, Justin <[email protected]> wrote:

Hi Kathryn,
You are welcome to contact me any time about this program. I do want to clarify how we have been communicating on this project.

We initiated communication about this program through various channels last spring. Information was mailed twice to every postal address in the City including businesses. The mailings included information about upcoming public meetings and a link to the webpage where more details can be found. In addition to mailers, we used several digital platforms to reach the community. These included NextDoor to broadcast information citywide, Facebook posts that reached thousands of viewers, and our e-newsletter, which is sent to 9,500 subscribers. The program details were also posted on City webpages.

Kind regards,
- Justin

Page 197 of 586 ends

Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]
From: Kathryn Durham-Hammer <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, October 26, 2024 12:38 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Rezoning AFFH sites: Opposition to rezoning Warehouses behind Trader Joe's

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord.

Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”
Dear Justin,
Thank you for your response. Yes, I am aware that the city is not tearing down buildings, but our concern of course is that the property owner will be motivated by the higher-density rezoning to sell to an eager developer and all of our businesses will be kaput.

I'm sad that we only just found out about this! If we had known sooner, you would have heard from us from the beginning.

Kathryn
On Sat, Oct 26, 2024 at 9:59ௗAM Ezell, Justin <[email protected] >
wrote:

Hi Kathryn, thank you for contacting me about the AFFH program. Your email will be included in the record.

The City will not require development, demolition of existing buildings, or relocation of businesses. Rezoning simply changes what is allowed but does not dictate how properties are used. Existing businesses can continue to operate indefinitely unless the property owner decides to pursue redevelopment.

The above information is from the project FAQs here.

Page 198 of 586 ends

Project website is www.cityofconcord.org/AFFH

Kind regards,
- Justin
Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]
From: Kathryn Durham-Hammer <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, October 25, 2024 10:24 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Rezoning AFFH sites: Opposition to rezoning Warehouses behind Trader Joe's

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”
Dear Mr. Ezell,
I have been a small business owner in Concord since 2012 teaching Zumba Fitness and Bollywood Fitness classes to primarily active seniors at 2956 Treat Blvd Suite G. I learned this afternoon
that the City of Concord has been working
on a plan to rezone 20 acres of property in a target area in Concord for high- density housing. I further understand that the warehouses behind Trader Joe's in the Oak Grove Plaza Business Park, where I have run my small business for the past 12+ years, are one of the final four sites being put forth for rezoning.

I am writing to strongly and unequivocally oppose rezoning these unique and special warehouses behind Trader Joe's.

My business offers irreplaceable services and community to the City of Concord.

The majority of my clients are over age 50 and many of them are seniors.

Additionally, a large percentage of my clients are of Chinese, Japanese, and Filipino ancestry. Many others have roots from around the world, particularly India, Brazil, Eastern Europe, Mexico, West Africa, and Puerto Rico. Our dance fitness community is truly multi-racial and multi-national and brings a special diversity to Concord. The dances we do also incorporate music, cultures, and styles from around the world.

What we have at the studio physically is very unusual: a sprung wood dance floor, a large, well-ventilated space that allow us to dance for decades without injury to our joints. There is no similar space in Concord or surrounding cities for my clients to dance.

Page 199 of 586 ends

They come to our dance fitness classes for the demonstrable health benefits plus the incredibly welcoming and strong community we have built over the years. We dance together every morning and after class, we head over together for coffee at Peet's, shopping at Trader Joe's, and lunch at Ozora. Many of my students live in Concord but many more live in Walnut Creek and even cities like Martinez and Berkeley. They all come to our "hidden gem" behind Peet's Coffee for the health and wellness benefits of dance fitness in a studio designed for dancers. They also come for the psychic comfort of a large group of friends and neighbors.

My business is nestled inside the larger, also woman-owned business, Dance Connection, which has been a prominent, nationally-renowned dance studio for children and teens for over 3 decades. My neighbors are other thriving woman- owned businesses, Jazzercise with Teri Crippen and Delta Athletics with Margaret Hamilton. Around the corner is the Four Corners Vet, to which I and my neighbors and clients take our pets for care. My hunch is that the City was not fully aware of the special and unique use and services provided on this site. We all would have spoken up much sooner, had we known this process was underway and that stakeholders were providing feedback.

I understand that many other sites have been taken off the list of sites for various reasons. One site in particular seems much more appropriate than the unique warehouses behind Trader Joe's. That site is the dental office location across Treat Blvd. It is much more feasible for medical offices to relocate than those of us who use a special dance studio space with a proper dance floor that is conveniently located for our active senior clients.

Effectively, the rezoning threatens to put all of the dance-related businesses in the warehouses out of business completely. This will harm us all because each of us relies on our income from our small business. Our services are essential for our clients. They will not find the fitness experience, health benefits, and community we provide at any gym or anywhere else in the City of Concord.

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https://www.zumba.com/en-US/profile/kathryn-durham-
hammer/540407 (take a pre-recorded class - free with code "2BWILD") Love WildKat Fitness classes and want to help us grow? A positive review on Yelp, Google, and Zumba.com is always greatly appreciated! To unsubscribe, reply to this email with "Unsubscribe" in the subject line. I understand!
--
Kathryn Durham-Hammer
Owner, WildKat Fitness
Licensed Instructor, Zumba Fitness, Zumba Toning
Certified Nutrition Coach, Precision Nutrition Level 2
Certified Mindset Coach, Noom
510-847-2422
http://www.wildkatfitness.com (visit website)
https://studiobookingonline.com/wildkatfitness/classes.html (book a live class) https://www.zumba.com/en-US/profile/kathryn-durham-hammer/540407 (take a pre-recorded class - free with code "2BWILD")
Love WildKat Fitness classes and want to help us grow? A positive review on Yelp, Google, and Zumba.com is always greatly appreciated! To unsubscribe, reply to this email with "Unsubscribe" in the subject line. I understand!

Page 201 of 586 ends

From: Ezell, Justin
To: Beri Kasper
Subject: Re: Rezoning issue
Date: Monday, October 28, 2024 5:25:43 AM
Hi Beri, thank you for the email. It will be added to the record.

Regards,
- Justin
Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]
From: Beri Kasper <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 27, 2024 2:21 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Rezoning issue

I’ve also attended Jazzercise since 1986.

I’m concerned with the zoning plans for the area that is behind Trader Joe’s, where my dance studio is. I’ve attended that Jazzercise since the pandemic. Its a very important center for us.

I would like the city to reconsider that any rezoning of that area would negatively impact the small businesses in that area.

Very truly,
Beri B Kasper, CPA
President
Kasper Accountancy Corp
Sent from my iPhone

Page 202 of 586 ends

From: Ezell, Justin
To: RAE KARP
Subject: Re: Rezoning of Concord
Date: Wednesday, October 30, 2024 5:31:29 AM
Hi Rae, thank you for your email. It has been added to the record.

Kind regards,
- Justin
Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]
From: RAE KARP <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 29, 2024 11:21 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Rezoning of Concord

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”
Hi Justin,
I'm Rae Karp from Jazzercize in the Trader Joe area for the rezoning of Concord. I'm so hoping that Concord will not take away the warehouses that are in that location.

All the activities that go on in those facilities will not be able to go on if those buildings are taken away. I can't tell you enough how necessary those activities are to the lives who participate. Please consider not changing that location as it is now.

Thank you,
Rae Karp

Page 203 of 586 ends

From: Ezell, Justin
To: lilian watanabe
Subject: Re: Rezoning process of 2956 Treat Blvd
Date: Monday, October 28, 2024 5:03:54 AM
Hi Lilian, thank you for contacting me about the AFFH program. Your email will be included in the record.

The above information is from the project FAQs here
.

Project website is www.cityofconcord.org/AFFH

Kind regards,
- Justin
Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]
From: lilian watanabe <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 27, 2024 8:17 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Rezoning process of 2956 Treat Blvd

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”

Page 204 of 586 ends

To Assistant City Manager,
I’m writing to express my sadness about the project transforming the warehouses at 2956 Treat Blvd where my beloved Dance Studio is ( Dance Connection), in high density housing space. While I strongly support more housing, I do not support putting the Dance Studio and other women owned small businesses, out of business.

The location, the size and dance floors are unique and very special. The physical activity and mental health are both being jeopardized for hundreds of people if the project is approved. And the location is perfect to go shopping and hanging out with friends after the workout.

The city can rather rezone the dental offices across Treat Blvd that was originally considered.

Thank you for considering this e-mail.

Lilian Watanabe

Page 205 of 586 ends

From: Ezell, Justin
To: Amy Huey
Subject: Re: Rezoning Sites for High Density Housing
Date: Monday, October 28, 2024 1:44:51 PM
Hi Amy, thank you for your email. It will be added to the record.

Kind regards,
- Justin
Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]
From: Amy Huey <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 28, 2024 1:40 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Rezoning Sites for High Density Housing

I have only recently learned this past week that the warehouses behind Trader Joe's at Treat Blvd. and Oak Grove Road are among the top 4 recommended sites for high- density housing re-zoning. While I recognize and support the critical need for more housing throughout the Bay Area, I am against considering those warehouses for re- zoning as that site currently houses many women-owned small businesses such as Dance Connection, WildKat Fitness, Delta Athletics/Martial Arts, Jazzercise, Four Corners Vet and Elsie Green. Those health and fitness-focused businesses and other small businesses situated in the warehouses provide valuable services to residents of all ages in both Concord and neighboring cities. In addition, I believe that a pre-school just opened there within the last year as well.

I have been going to WildKat Fitness for Zumba aerobic exercise classes 4 to 5 times a week for the past 12+ years. Those classes are of utmost importance to me and many others in our health maintenance regimens, not to mention that they are also fun and welcoming in building a strong sense of community. In addition, I've observed that the small businesses located in the warehouses are well-patronized with people coming and going all day long and often into the evenings. Many of the

Page 206 of 586 ends

businesses have special features/equipment installed for their specific services. If the warehouses are re-zoned for housing, it would be very difficult, if not, financially impossible for those small-business owners to re-locate and start over. The demise of those businesses would be a huge loss to the community.

I strongly feel that there are more suitable sites that should be prioritized for high- density housing re-zoning that would not threaten the shuttering of valuable small businesses. These include the long vacated K-Mart site on Clayton Road, the vacant site at Kirker Pass and Myrtle, the site at 1539 Kirker Pass, other "empty"/vacated sites in Concord and the infilling of the Park Lake Apartment Homes.

I sincerely hope that you will review the potential sites for re-zoning and omit the well-
established, mostly women-owned small businesses located in the warehouses behind Trader Joe's. Thank you in advance for your consideration in this important matter. I look forward to a pragmatic and favorable decision.

Sincerely,
Amy L. Huey

Page 207 of 586 ends

From: Ezell, Justin
To: Sonia Trujillo
Subject: Re: Rezoning
Date: Monday, October 28, 2024 12:52:43 PM
Hi Sonia, thank you for your email. It has been added to the record.

Regards,
- Justin
Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]
From: Sonia Trujillo <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 28, 2024 12:50 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Rezoning

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”
Dear Justin,
I am a member of the Jazzercise community who attends classes at the Dance Connections studio on Treat and Oak Grove. It has come to my attention that our studio space is one of the sites being considered to rezone for high-density housing. I am worried that our community will be affected in the following ways:

Our jazzercise members will no longer have access to the classes that are essential to their physical, emotional, and mental health.

Most of the members are seniors and find the location accessible to their health needs.

Beyond the physical aspect, members gather together after class for coffee at Peets to build connections and relationships. This is important to our members' emotional and mental needs.

It is more than a community, it is a family that has been created and established and will affect the members that attend and are part of this wonderful group.

I ask that the rezoning of this space at Dance Connections be reconsidered and that the city of Concord take into account the physical, emotional, and mental health of this community.

Best regards,
Sonia Trujillo

Page 208 of 586 ends

Jazzercise Member @ Dance Connections

Page 209 of 586 ends

From: Ezell, Justin
To: Patricia Durham
Subject: Re: Rezoning: Save the Women Businesses & Warehouses!! Date: Monday, October 28, 2024 5:10:42 AM
Hi Patricia, thank you for your email. It will be added to the record.

We initiated communication about this program through various channels last spring.

Information was mailed twice to every postal address in the City including businesses. The mailings included information about upcoming public meetings and a link to the webpage where more details can be found. In addition to mailers, we used several digital platforms to reach the community. These included NextDoor to broadcast information citywide, Facebook posts that reached thousands of viewers, and our e-newsletter, which is sent to 9,500 subscribers. The program details were also posted on City webpages. Twice we sent 7,000 notices directly to property owners and businesses included in the study along with properties that are within 500 feet of the sites being considered for rezoning and about 3,000 more to properties within 1,000 feet of the sites recommended for redevelopment. Moreover, the Concord Pioneer published an article in late August with details about the community meetings. Local online publications such as Claycord and Contra Costa News also featured stories on our program.

You can see more questions and answers about the project by reading the FAQs here.

Project website is www.cityofconcord.org/AFFH

Kind regards,
- Justin
Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]
From: Patricia Durham <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 27, 2024 7:29 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Rezoning: Save the Women Businesses & Warehouses!!

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”

Page 210 of 586 ends

Dear Assistant City Manager Justin Ezell,
We constitute a devoted group of women and men who attend Zumba dance/exercise/fitness classes at WildKat Fitness, which has been a long standing tenant of Dance Connection now for almost ten years. WildKat Fitness is currently the most popular Zumba dance business in Concord.

We have just learned late Friday, October 25, with great alarm and dismay that the City is considering rezoning this area of Concord, which we use and enjoy every day, in a manner that would destroy forever our use and enjoyment and that of many other women-owned businesses in the same location.

We are deeply concerned that whatever process was pursued to this point by the City of Concord and others has overlooked the legitimate interests of those who are entitled to know and understand threats to the well-being and existence of a highly successful business which we currently patronize, support, and enjoy, in addition to the other neighbors such as Peet's, Trader Joe's, Chipotle, and many others to which we give our frequent business. Why were not all owners, lessors, lessees and community members timely advised about this process and given adequate opportunity to speak up for our business locations, and ourselves as patrons, customers, and citizens? We can attest forcefully, and passionately to the unique and irreplaceable value of WildKat Fitness, its benefit to Concord residents and the wider East Bay community, and the need for this popular and beloved business to continue at this location. Dance Connection's studios have rare features, specific to its particular usage - spring wood dance floors; large open, well- ventilated spaces, excellent parking, proximity to other excellent shopping destinations within that mall area.

Rather than destroying existing viable beloved diverse successful businesses, please target vacant lots or other open sites within Concord, or consider adding higher density to existing housing facilities.

Thank you!
Patricia Durham
A Zumba Student at WildKat Fitness

Page 211 of 586 ends

From: Ezell, Justin
To: Yoshiko Trudeau
Subject: Re: Save the Women-Owned Fitness & Wellness Businesses behind Trader Joe"s! Date: Monday, October 28, 2024 1:47:49 PM
Hi Yoshiko, thank you for your email. It will be added to the record.

Regards,
- Justin
Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]
From: Yoshiko Trudeau <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 28, 2024 1:10 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Save the Women-Owned Fitness & Wellness Businesses behind Trader Joe's!

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”
Mr. Ezell
I’m writing this for my fitness gym which is located Oak Grove and Treat Blvd. please consider to save the fitness we go.

Please Save the Women-Owned Fitness & Wellness Businesses behind Trader Joe's! I have been working out at the Zumba class with my friends. I live next to Lime Ridge Open Space, so It is very convenient for me to go the fitness gym. I can go to Trader Joe’s after class, socializing at Peet’s Coffee, very convenient for many friends who is going to the fitness gym.

I wish I can join the meeting at centra concord tonight, but unfortunately I cannot. I would like to support local small businesses, women owned, too.

Thank you.

Yoshiko Trudeau

Page 212 of 586 ends

From: Ezell, Justin
To: BONNIE SCHEREK
Subject: Re: Stores behind Trader Joe’s
Date: Monday, October 28, 2024 5:36:28 AM
Hi Bonnie, thank you for your email. It will be added to the record.

Kind regards,
- Justin
Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]
From: BONNIE SCHEREK <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 27, 2024 1:17 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Stores behind Trader Joe’s

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”
Hello,
I am writing to express concern of moving the stores behind the Trader Joe’s shops. Lots of business’s are located there and - they are doing well. Our daughter is taking after school classes there and the programs offered are martial arts, aerial silks, dance and so much more. Please consider a vacant location - like the Kmart or some other space for your proposed - residential project.

Sincerely and Thank you
Bonnie Stewart - Concord resident, home owner and employee at MDUSD.

Sent from my iPhone

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: MaryBeth DeWalt
Subject: Re: Trader Joe’s dance studios
Date: Monday, October 28, 2024 12:54:25 PM
Hi MaryBeth, thank you for your email. It has been added to the record.

Kind regards,
- Justin
Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]
From: MaryBeth DeWalt <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 28, 2024 9:15 AM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Trader Joe’s dance studios

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”
Hi, Just a quick emphatic message to preserve the dance studio area in back of Trader Joe’s. I have lived in Concord for 4 years. I am 76 and just retired from a part time job at fed ex in Pacheco. I spent weeks looking for an affordable exercise program somewhere between pickleball and CrossFit.

The Zumba classes, the cultural dance, jazzercise at this location are not replaceable. I looked in Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, and Concord.There are dozens of strip malls with “for lease” signs held open by one or two stores which would be much better candidates….with significantly increased parking. The area behind Trader Joe’s is INTENSIVELY used.

I spent 20 years in construction and was an elevator inspector for the Coomonwealth of Massachusetts. I have walked and looked
at this area with a trained eye. Please take the dance warehouse area at Treat and Oak Grove OFF the list for proposed housing.

Thank you
Marybeth DeWalt
Sent from my iPad

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: Karen Dugas
Subject: Re: Treat Blvd. warehouses
Date: Monday, October 28, 2024 5:22:38 AM
Hi Karen, thank you for contacting me about the AFFH program. Your email will be included in the record.

Additionally, traffic studies will be completed as a part of this project prior to any final decisions being made.

The above information is from the project FAQs here
.

Project website is www.cityofconcord.org/AFFH

Kind regards,
- Justin
Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]
From: Karen Dugas <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 27, 2024 4:14 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Treat Blvd. warehouses

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”

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Dear Mr. Ezell,
I strongly oppose the recommendation to rezone the warehouses behind Trader Joe’s in Treat.

Rezoning that space will negatively impact multiple businesses that support our community.

The stakeholders of these Warehouses include not only the small business owners least no the spaces but the hundreds of people living healthy, active and enriched lives because those businesses are there. It’s very important the the Planning Commission and City Council understand that these spaces a huge need for the wellness and quality of life of Concord residents.

I’m a 23 year member of Concord Jazzercise, one of the businesses that rents Dance Connection Arts Centre (DCPAC). I speak on behalf of 150+ Jazzercisers in our Concord fitness family and our extended family in the greater Treat Warehouse community - please please please do not rezone this site. This unassuming industrial building tucked behind a strip mall houses our lifeblood - yes our lifeblood. It depends on this site remaining zoned as it is. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
Karen Dugas

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: Renee Seaton
Subject: Re: Update on the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) Program Date: Saturday, October 26, 2024 7:22:56 AM
Hi Renee,
Property owners are not required to provide land to developers, and this remains unchanged under the proposed rezoning. The sites currently being considered for rezoning, such as the Kmart property, are already zoned for residential use but at a lower density (24 units per acre). The rezoning proposal would increase the allowed density to 60 units per acre, with no other changes.

The City is mandated by the State to "plan" for housing development, not to build it. We must identify areas with the most realistic potential for redevelopment over the next eight years, such as underutilized or vacant properties. For instance, rezoning wouldn’t apply to recently constructed commercial centers, as they lack potential for near-term redevelopment.

By rezoning properties with the highest potential for development, the City meets its legal obligations. If no development occurs, it simply means we have fulfilled the State’s requirement to plan for housing, regardless of actual construction.

Regards,
- Justin
Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]
From: Renee Seaton <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, October 25, 2024 9:30 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Update on the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) Program

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”
What happens if a private owner of a property has no interest in entering into a contract to provide property to a builder for AFFH development? And what if multiple property owners make this decision and it results in the city of Concord unable to locate lands for developers? Thank you,
Renee

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(Please do not sell or give away my private email or information to any third party marketing companies or similar data-farming companies.) On Mon, Oct 21, 2024 at 4:07ௗPM Ezell, Justin <[email protected]> wrote:

For those of you new to this email distribution list (it has grown to more than 700), please see the below information that was shared last week. I want to share this additional information with you as well:

The list of AFFH program FAQs on the City website has been updated; the following questions and answers have been added:

Why isn't the Cal State University East Bay Campus being considered for the AFFH program? (short answer: it cannot realistically be developed in the next 8 years) What are the consequences of not completing the AFFH program? (there are many, see link)
Will businesses be torn down because of this program? (short answer: no) Is the City building Section 8 housing? (short answer: no, the City does not build housing and Section 8 is not a specific type of housing)
Is the City building emergency shelters? (short answer: no, the City does not build emergency shelters and they are not currently allowed in the AFFH study area) How did the City notify the community about this project? (see link) Will higher density housing affect the value of my property? Did the State dictate the study area, number of acres, and units for the AFFH program? How were these determined? (see link)
How do neighboring cities approach AFFH? (see link)
The FAQs are located here: https://www.cityofconcord.org/DocumentCenter/View/11736/FAQs - Justin
Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]
From: Ezell, Justin
Sent: Thursday, October 17, 2024 12:57 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Update on the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) Program

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Dear Stakeholder,
Thank you for your continued interest and participation in the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) Program. This email is being sent to 680 individuals who have participated or expressed interest in the program.

As you may know, the AFFH Program is a key component of Concord’s Housing Element, as mandated by the State of California. It commits the City to rezoning at least 20 acres in high- resource neighborhoods to support higher-density multifamily development, allowing up to 60 units per acre. These 20 acres will be distributed across various parcels within the study area .

Last month, we began collecting your feedback on five potential alternatives for meeting the AFFH Program goals. Your input—provided through community meetings, emails, phone calls, and one- on-one discussions—has helped narrow down the list of properties under consideration. Based on the feedback, City staff are recommending the following sites for rezoning:

Site 1: Kmart
Site 2: Clayton Faire (excluding In Shape, Clayton Bowl, and Centre Concord) Site 7: Warehouses behind Trader Joe’s at Treat and Oak Grove Site 8: Palm Lake Apartments (remaining areas that can be developed) The above four sites total 20.77 acres, can accommodate up to 1,200 units, are all located in the high resource areas of the City, and meet the goals of the AFFH program.

Additionally, three alternative sites have been identified as potential options:

Site 3: Staples, CVS, service station, and Burger King parcels Site 16: Vacant lot at Kirker Pass and Myrtle
Site 18: Large residential parcel at Kirker Pass near Allegro Ave You can view the updated map of the recommended and alternative sites here. We encourage you to share your thoughts on the staff's recommended sites by completing this new survey. The results from the previous survey on Alternatives 1-5 are available for review here.

Lastly, we invite you to participate in one of the upcoming community meetings:

Monday, October 28, 6 p.m. at Centre Concord, 5298 Clayton Road, Concord Wednesday, October 30, 6 p.m. via Zoom. Register here.

Thank you for your valuable contributions to shaping the future of our community. We look forward to your continued engagement.

Please visit www.cityofconcord.org/AFFH for more information.

Kind regards,
- Justin

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Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]

Page 220 of 586 ends

From: Ezell, Justin
To: Eileen Nakamura
Subject: Re: Urgent Concern About Rezoning Site 7 Warehouses Behind Trader Joe"s on Treat Date: Monday, October 28, 2024 5:01:21 AM
Hi Eileen, thank you for contacting me about the AFFH program. Your email will be included in the record.

The above information is from the project FAQs here.

Project website is www.cityofconcord.org/AFFH

Kind regards,
- Justin
Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]
From: Eileen Nakamura <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 27, 2024 11:15 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Urgent Concern About Rezoning Site 7 Warehouses Behind Trader Joe's on Treat

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I am writing to you to express strong concerns for Site 7 identified as a recommended site for the Rezoning Project. Site 7 is the home to many small businesses, one of which is crucial to maintaining the physical and mental wellness of many local community residents. Wildkat Fitness conducts group fitness classes at one of the dance studios owned by Dance Connection, another small business that is unique in running a competitive dance school for the local community. Wildkat Fitness is a physical fitness business and relies on the studio space for the quality dance floor. There is no other comparable dance facility in the area. Additionally, Wildkat Fitness is a huge contributor to the local community. It has held fundraising events over the years, and in the last month raised close to $4,000 for the cancer community. It has also raised money for the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano. Wildkat Fitness is a thriving woman-owned small business owned by a Concord resident!
I urge you to remove Site 7 Warehouses Behind Trader Joe's on Treat from the recommended sites list for rezoning. Small businesses like Wildkat Fitness are finally up and functioning after surviving the pandemic shutdown. Please consider choosing a different site to rezone.

Sincerely,
Eileen Nakamura
Resident of Walnut Creek
Full-time Employee in a Concord Office
Student at Wildkat Fitness

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: May Patel
Cc: May Patel
Subject: Re: Wild Kat Studio-Re Zoning for Housing
Date: Monday, October 28, 2024 4:58:10 AM
Hi May, thank you for contacting me about the AFFH program. Your email will be included in the record.

The above information is from the project FAQs here.

Project website is www.cityofconcord.org/AFFH

Kind regards,
- Justin
Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]
From: May Patel <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 28, 2024 12:52 AM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Cc: May Patel <[email protected]>
Subject: Wild Kat Studio-Re Zoning for Housing

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”

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Hello Justin,
I’m reaching out as a member of Wild Kat Fitness, which holds classes behind Trader Joe’s.

I'am asking you to consider an alternate site for rezoning to preserve the unique community that Wild Kat Fitness fosters.

Wild Kat Fitness isn’t just a dance studio; it’s a vibrant space where people from diverse walks of life come together, connect, and build community. Kathryn has cultivated an environment where we don’t just exercise but celebrate Concord’s diversity, form lasting friendships, and even find therapeutic relief. For many of us, this is the only studio in Concord that feels warm and welcoming, a place that truly brings us joy.

I hope that you can consider looking into another site for rezoning without displacing the incredible work that Kathryn and her studio does.

The small businesses at this site are primarily woman-owned, and it’s heartbreaking to think that some may face permanent closure. For studios like Wild Kat Fitness, relocating isn’t a simple task, as members often come from nearby neighborhoods I fully understand the importance of creating more housing in our city. However, it’s equally painful to consider the potential loss of these women-owned businesses that contribute so much to our community. I sincerely hope that alternative sites might be considered for the housing project to preserve the livelihood of these businesses.

Warm regards,
May Patel

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: Kim Jenner
Subject: RE: Refining in Concord
Date: Monday, October 28, 2024 2:57:00 PM
Hi Kim, thank you for the email. It will be added to the record.

We initiated communication about this program through various channels last spring.

You can see more questions and answers about the project by reading the FAQs here .

Project website is www.cityofconcord.org/AFFH
Kind regards,

-Justin

Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
City of Concord
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]

From: Kim Jenner <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 28, 2024 2:49 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Refining in Concord

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“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”

Hi Justin
I was recently informed that Four Corners Veterinary Hospital may be affected by the rezoning as we are located behind the Traders Joes Plaza. I am concerned that we were not notified previously as the rezoning could potentially affect our clients and their pets negatively. I plan to attend the meeting to get more information regarding the upcoming plans for rezoning in Concord.

Best,

Kim Jenner
Four Corners Veterinary Hospital
2956 Treat Blvd Suite E
Concord, CA 94518
925.685.0512

Get Outlook for iOS

Page 226 of 586 ends

From: Ezell, Justin
To: Howard & Marlene
Subject: Re: Rezoning
Date: Friday, November 1, 2024 7:37:18 AM
Hi Marlene, thank you for your email. It will be added to the record.

Kind regards,
- Justin
Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]
From: Howard & Marlene <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, October 31, 2024 8:13 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Rezoning

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”
Dear Mr. Ezell,
I was very saddened to hear that the properties on Oak Grove & Treat behind Trader Joe’s is being considered for rezoning. I am a senior who has been going to Jazzercise at that location for over twenty years. The special dance floor has enabled me to continue my exercise without injuring myself. There are a number of small businesses run by women who will lose their livelihood. I understand there is a serious housing shortage however, I don’t think this would be a wise choice.

Sincerely,
Marlene Berkman
Sent from my iPhone

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: Elizabeth Reichelt
Subject: RE: Housing rezoning project
Date: Monday, November 4, 2024 8:22:08 AM
Elizabeth, thank you for your email. It will be added to the record.

Kind regards,

-Justin

Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
City of Concord
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]

From: Elizabeth Reichelt <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, November 2, 2024 11:45 AM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Housing rezoning project

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”

Hello
I wanted to voice my strong opposition to the rezoning project near Trader Joe’s. To take away the building in which we hold our Jazzercise classes would greatly affect the mental health, physical health and longevity of many people’s lives. I am a big proponent of fair housing but surely there’s a solution to accomplish this without causing suffering to so many people who benefit from this location currently. Thank you for your consideration of the matter.

Respectfully
Elizabeth Reichelt
Jazzercise class member

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: Peter Steinhoff
Subject: RE: Concord AFFH re-zoning project
Date: Monday, November 4, 2024 8:21:09 AM
Peter, thank you for your email. It will be added to the record.

Kind regards,
-Justin
Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
City of Concord
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]
-----Original Message-----
From: Peter Steinhoff <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, November 2, 2024 11:52 AM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Concord AFFH re-zoning project
“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.” Hello Justin,
I want to take this time to provide my input regarding the re-zoning project.

My top point is that I do not agree with the re-zoning of the warehouse space behind Trader Joes. The businesses there are an integral part of the community and are thriving. Those businesses are a perfect commercial paring for the businesses at the front such as Trader Joes.

I do agree with the commercial space around Staples and around K-Mart. Those areas seem to be less attractive for business and are definitely less vibrant. Concord would benefit for re-zoning for those two locations.

I do like to bowl, so I hope that the changes around Clayton Bowl would not affect that community institution. It is a legend.

I have been a Concord resident for 13 years and very much want to see our city flourish. Please remove the space behind Trader Joes from consideration and elevate the spaces around Staples and K-Mart.

Thanks,
Peter

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: Nakamura, Laura; Ramon De La Cruz
Subject: Re: Concord Affirmative Further Fair Housing Rezoning Project Date: Tuesday, November 5, 2024 7:42:50 PM
Attachments: image001.png
Mr. and Mrs. De La Cruz,
Thank you for your email; it has been added to the record for the project.

Regards,
- Justin
Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]
From: Nakamura, Laura <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, November 4, 2024 1:05 PM
To: Ramon De La Cruz <[email protected]>
Cc: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: RE: Concord Affirmative Further Fair Housing Rezoning Project

Ramon and Diana,

Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts on the recent rezoning proposal. I appreciate your perspective as long-time residents of Concord.

I have copied Assistant Manager Justin Ezell so that your concerns can be added to the record as feedback from the community.

In the meantime, you might find more information about the AFFH program on our City website: https://www.cityofconcord.org/1205/Affirmatively-Furthering-Fair-Housing-Re Many of the frequently asked questions can be found in this FAQ document:
https://www.cityofconcord.org/DocumentCenter/View/11736/FAQs

Best,

Laura

Laura Nakamura (She/her/hers)

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communities. What City Planner have been able to do over the past years is increase the density and population, increase traffic congestion and lower the quality of life by not implementing thoughtful planning that increase the City's reputation?

Thanks in advance for your time,

Ramon and Diana De La Cruz

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: Mark Kendall
Cc: [email protected]; [email protected]; Shirley Issel ([email protected]); Jeanine Quinly Subject: RE: City AFFH Rezoning Program and Oak Grove Plaza Date: Tuesday, November 5, 2024 12:59:09 PM
Mark, thank you for contacting me about the potential rezoning of your property. Knowing your position on this is helpful and the feedback is appreciated. Your email will be shared with all councilmembers and become part of the record.

Regards,

-Justin

Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
City of Concord
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]

From: Mark Kendall <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, November 5, 2024 12:38 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Cc: [email protected]; [email protected]; Shirley Issel ([email protected]) <[email protected]>; Jeanine Quinly <[email protected]> Subject: City AFFH Rezoning Program and Oak Grove Plaza

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”

Justin Ezell,
Assistant City Manager
City of Concord
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord CA, 94519

Re. Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) Program and Oak Grove Plaza, Concord CA

Dear Mr. Ezell,

Zuckerman Construction Company, LLC, the ownership Oak Grove Plaza,

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respectfully requests that the City of Concord withdraw Oak Grove Plaza Shopping Center ( specifically designated as “Site 7: Warehouses behind Trader Joe’s at Treat and Oak Grove” ) as a potential candidate site for rezoning to high density residential.

We support the City’s efforts to address the AFFH Program as a key component of Concord’s Housing Element and appreciate the opportunity to consider participating in the program. All of us here at Oak Grove Plaza look forward to continuing to serve the diverse needs our community for many years to come.

Sincerely,

Mark

Mark Kendall
President/CEO
Kenmark Development Group, Inc.

Oak Grove Plaza
785 Oak Grove Rd., Suite U
Concord, CA 94518

Cc.

Mayor Edi Ersalesi Birsan, City of Concord
Bernice Greene, Co-Managing Member Zuckerman Construction Company, LLC.

Shirley Issel, Co-Managing Member Zuckerman Construction Company, LLC

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: Sarah Murray
Subject: RE: Update on the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) Program Date: Thursday, November 7, 2024 3:26:13 PM
Sarah,

Thank you for your email and for the support you've shown for the project and the team. I understand the survey may not have fully captured the feedback you've shared here, but please know that your insights will be added to the project record. Your perspective is valuable, and we appreciate your continued support.

Thanks again.

-Justin

Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
City of Concord
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]

From: Sarah Murray <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, November 7, 2024 1:29 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Update on the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) Program

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”

Hi Justin,

Thank you for the survey reminder; I have just completed it. I just wanted to voice my thoughts on the sites, as well as mention a frustration I have hearing some feedback in the meeting on 10/30. I am disappointed that the majority of the possible units (720 by my count) are all concentrated on Clayton Road. I had hoped for a more equal distribution across the possible area as Clayton Road is already quite busy. Secondly, it was mentioned at some point, assuming I heard correctly, that 90% of the respondents to the original survey were homeowners and they clearly supported the sites that are on

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busy thoroughfares (Clayton and Treat) thereby keeping these possible developments out of their neighborhoods. As a homeowner whose property backs up to Clayton Road, I don’t feel that it we should shuffle it all off to these areas exclusively. The Staples/CVS alternative is more of the same and if it is chosen, along with Kmart and Clayton Faire, almost everything will be on Clayton Road, which is exactly what I would not like to see.

Just wanted to send some thoughts along and didn’t see a way to do so on the survey.

Thanks for all your efforts (and your team, too) on this.

~Sarah and Patrick
On Nov 5, 2024, at 16:22, Ezell, Justin <[email protected] >
wrote:

If you are having trouble with the “new map and survey link,” please use this one:
https://raimi.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/sidebar/index.html? appid=7c1a347ff75142f586ef927017f2c470

Additional updates on the City’s AFFH Program

Thank you to all community members who attended our recent workshops. We had a great turnout, with approximately 200 participants at Centre Concord on October 28 and 130 attendees joining the Zoom session on October 30. Here are some key updates following these meetings:

1. The AFFH Program update for the Concord City Council and Planning Commission will not take place on November 12. It has been tentatively rescheduled for January 7, 2025.

2. We’ve revised the FAQs to address a new question regarding admission to Clayton Valley Charter High School. You can view the updated FAQs here .

3. The presentation slides from both the October 28 and 30 meetings are now available on our website here
.

4. During the October 30 Zoom session, an audience member requested access to the raw survey data for Alternatives 1-5. That data is now posted here
.

5. The survey on “staff recommended sites” is still open but will close on Friday, November 8. We are currently seeing only a slow trickle of

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responses, so please make sure to participate before it closes. Find the updated map and survey here.

6. No one claimed the white ThermoFlask left at Centre Concord during the September meeting, and a pair of glasses were left at the October 28 meeting (see photo of both). These items are in the lost and found at Centre Concord.

If you are new to this email list, please scroll down for more background information. Our interested parties list has now grown to nearly 1,000 members, and we appreciate the active engagement with this program.

<image001.jpg>

Regards,

-Justin

Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
City of Concord
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]

From: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]
>
Sent: Monday, October 21, 2024 3:34 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Update on the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) Program

The list of AFFH program FAQs on the City website has been updated; the following questions and answers have been added:

1. Why isn't the Cal State University East Bay Campus being considered for the AFFH program? (short answer: it cannot realistically be developed in the next 8 years)

2. What are the consequences of not completing the AFFH program? (there are many, see link)

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3. Will businesses be torn down because of this program? (short answer: no)

4. Is the City building Section 8 housing? (short answer: no, the City does not build housing and Section 8 is not a specific type of housing)

5. Is the City building emergency shelters? (short answer: no, the City does not build emergency shelters and they are not currently allowed in the AFFH study area)

6. How did the City notify the community about this project? (see link)

7. Will higher density housing affect the value of my property?

8. Did the State dictate the study area, number of acres, and units for the AFFH program? How were these determined? (see link)

9. How do neighboring cities approach AFFH? (see link)
The FAQs are located here:
https://www.cityofconcord.org/DocumentCenter/View/11736/FAQs

- Justin

Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]

From: Ezell, Justin
Sent: Thursday, October 17, 2024 12:57 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Update on the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) Program

As you may know, the AFFH Program is a key component of Concord’s Housing Element, as mandated by the State of California. It commits the City to rezoning at least 20 acres in high-resource neighborhoods to support higher-density multifamily development, allowing up to 60 units per acre. These 20 acres will be distributed across various parcels within the study area
.

Last month, we began collecting your feedback on five potential alternatives for

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meeting the AFFH Program goals. Your input—provided through community meetings, emails, phone calls, and one-on-one discussions—has helped narrow down the list of properties under consideration. Based on the feedback, City staff are recommending the following sites for rezoning:

1. Site 1: Kmart

2. Site 2: Clayton Faire (excluding In Shape, Clayton Bowl, and Centre Concord)

3. Site 7: Warehouses behind Trader Joe’s at Treat and Oak Grove

4. Site 8: Palm Lake Apartments (remaining areas that can be developed) The above four sites total 20.77 acres, can accommodate up to 1,200 units, are all located in the high resource areas of the City, and meet the goals of the AFFH program.

Additionally, three alternative sites have been identified as potential options:

1. Site 3: Staples, CVS, service station, and Burger King parcels

2. Site 16: Vacant lot at Kirker Pass and Myrtle

3. Site 18: Large residential parcel at Kirker Pass near Allegro Ave You can view the updated map of the recommended and alternative sites here. We encourage you to share your thoughts on the staff's recommended sites by completing this new survey. The results from the previous survey on Alternatives 1-5 are available for review here.

Lastly, we invite you to participate in one of the upcoming community meetings:

1. Monday, October 28, 6 p.m. at Centre Concord, 5298 Clayton Road, Concord

2. Wednesday, October 30, 6 p.m. via Zoom. Register here.

Thank you for your valuable contributions to shaping the future of our community. We look forward to your continued engagement.

Please visit www.cityofconcord.org/AFFH
for more information.

Kind regards,

- Justin

Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: Diane Burns
Subject: RE: Rezoning
Date: Tuesday, November 12, 2024 6:30:49 PM
Hi Diane, thank you for your email; it has been added to the record.

Kind regards,

-Justin

Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
City of Concord
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]

From: Diane Burns <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, November 11, 2024 11:32 AM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Rezoning

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”

Hi Justin,
I am writing to you regarding the rezoning possibility for the properties behind Trader Joes. I attend Zumba classes regularly at the dance studio there. I also have a hair dresser and shoe repair store in the same location. There are, as you know, many small businesses located on this property. Please consider these businesses and the many people who attend Zumba and other classes each week. The exercise studio next door is always busy as well. While the need for high density housing is necessary there must be better locations that would not affect so many small businesses and their clients.

Thank you for your consideration,
Diane Burns

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: Aaron Foster
Subject: RE: Concord CA / Rezoning Zones #7 and #8
Date: Tuesday, November 12, 2024 6:29:51 PM
Attachments: image001.jpg
Aaron, thank you for coming to the meeting the other night and for following up with this email.

It has been added to the record.

Kind regards,

-Justin

Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
City of Concord
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]

From: Aaron Foster <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, November 11, 2024 1:04 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Concord CA / Rezoning Zones #7 and #8

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”

Afternoon Justin

Thanks for the Meeting the other Day I hope we can meet more to open more ideas on better areas to improve housing areas for Concord.

Of course, like I mentioned to you Monday toward the end of the meeting I am very passionate at the two main areas that very negatively affect us in our area both in way of life and in Sale price of our home.

Which is newly purchased back toward the end of 2019 and 20 when the economy was good.

Several people already told you the obvious. The area of treat and Oak Grove are miserable areas during Commute hours and School times in and out. I have seen way too many near misses with students and people already running lights and this area would only be flooded with even more commuters if we continue to look at these plots as an option.

Palm Lake / Trader Joes areas

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We currently own / live and work directly behind and bordering Palm Lake. Our home prices exceed a ridiculous million dollars that we are committed to. This is our livelihood and ability to retire due to the current state of California and its current path. So, saying we are going to throw in another 50/100/150 more or less people int that area would never sit well with me, and I don’t think it would with you if you lived in the area.

Changing the layout of the land that is available to expand Palm lake would have people staring down at us or us up at them and that is no way to live and will just crush everything we loved about our little house.

We have continued to put money into our home to make it a better place and we do that to increase the value and our way of life not to just have local city come in and trample on everything we have worked for
There is already allot of foot and car traffic during day and nighttime in and out of the apartments with its current occupancy increasing that or adding to low-income acceptance will just trash it.

I don’t know why people insist on glossing over the fact that the introduction of low income Negatively affects the area. The proof is in all the other cities that have pushed for low income and moved mass amounts of people into their areas.

If you didn’t realize that you bit off a bit more than you could chew Monday with the ladies that attend the exercise and Dance areas is a place that people of all ages rely on for their mental and physical health.

Restaurants / Coffee shops and Salons in that shopping center are already overloaded there just isn’t enough there to support a big influx of people
I didn’t realize till Monday night that this also looks like a area that kids are involved in the dancing and exercise and I think we both know we would rather these young kids get into exercise and healthy after school activities rather than headed down a bad path.

Being obvious – people looking for lower income housing are not going to be the ones utilizing Trader Joes their prices are way higher. We don’t shop there due to that we go to Clayton Stores due to the inflation of all the prices these days.

Its not acceptable to me to say all we need to do is appease the state by saying we have set aside 20 acres. The state works for the people not the other way around. The people have spoken, and they do not want it, it is now up to you and the city employees to work for what the people think is acceptable and take that back to the state.

Aaron Foster
Heat and Control
Process Field Service Manager
Hayward CA,94545
Direct # 1-510-259-7793
Cell # 1-510-303-5524
[email protected]

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: Choices of sites for rezoning
Date: Tuesday, November 12, 2024 6:06:19 PM
Hi Donna, thank you for your email. It has been added to the project record.

Kind regards,
-Justin
Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
City of Concord
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]
-----Original Message-----
From: Donna Walton <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, November 12, 2024 8:24 AM
To: City Clerk <[email protected]>
Cc: Donna & Jack Walton <[email protected]>
Subject: Choices of sites for rezoning
“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.” The site on Treat Blvd where Staples and CVS are should be the number one site chosen, for the following reasons:
1) The older buildings are already torn down and the space is ready for construction; 2) There are schools at all levels within walking distance and that provide a good education; 3) There are parks very close by: Newhall Park can be accessed by walking, behind the site and the trail to Markham Nature Trail is across the street 4) There is bus service down Treat Blvd to the Pleasant Hill BART and also to Clayton and to the Concord BART station—which is a transportation hub; 5) Parking and traffic: there are many parking spots that are not presently used and there are at least five exits from the site, so not all traffic would flow from only one site; 6) The increased foot traffic could help both Staples and CVS; and also the U.S. Post Office could benefit from having more people use it.

Thank you, Donna Walton, homeowner

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: Update on the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) Program Date: Tuesday, November 12, 2024 1:00:29 PM
Attachments: image001.jpg
Hi Brigitte, thank you for your email. It will be added to the record for the project.

Kind regards,

-Justin

Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
City of Concord
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, November 12, 2024 11:59 AM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: RE: Update on the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) Program Importance: High

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”

Hi Justin,
I don't know if I'm too late to comment, but I am so concerned about these sites.... 1, 2, 16 and 18
My main issue is that traffic in these areas is already HORRIFIC and DANGEROUS (speeders on Kirker Pass coming from the pavilion area in one case).

Not to mention we just don't have the resources in these areas to accommodate ALL these extra people. We have no grocery store options (only Safeway robbing us daily...), very few restaurants... All the small businesses have been run out of town.

It's very depressing. We should have traffic solutions BEFORE even planning this.

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Ayers and Clayton Road will become an intersection no one will get through. It's already a nightmare because of the poor driveway planning at the gas station/popeyes. It's in the "school path" so it will be just awful all day long. And that's my only option for commuting - Kirker Pass or Ayers Road.

I don't understand how the city could think this is even feasible.

My commute to Pleasant Hill takes me OVER 30 minutes now - just to get across town - and I leave early! I am worried about traffic, and I'm worried about crime.

Police and fire can't show up NOW, what will it be like when they also can't get through the traffic?
On days the pavilion has concerts, the traffic jam is just beyond. It will be like there is a concert every day. I have worked so hard to carve my little space for the last 14 years. I believe this high density housing will ruin both Clayton and Concord.

Thanks for listening - I know your job is difficult.

I'm open to discuss whenever. I was unable to attend the last meeting because of my job, but I will try to be at the next one. I'm grateful to get the newsletter now, as I am not on Social Media, and I was so upset that I had missed the first meeting because I am not on social media and that's the only place you posted it. Please don't use Social Media as your only outreach. I have been a victim of crime which is why I'm not on social media.

Many thanks and wishing you a lovely day,
Brigitte Forristall

On Wed, 6 Nov 2024 00:21:51 +0000, "Ezell, Justin"
<[email protected]
> wrote:

If you are having trouble with the “new map and survey link,” please use this one:
https://raimi.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/sidebar/index.html? appid=7c1a347ff75142f586ef927017f2c470

Additional updates on the City’s AFFH Program

The AFFH Program update for the Concord City Council and Planning Commission will not take place on November 12. It has been tentatively rescheduled for January 7, 2025.

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We’ve revised the FAQs to address a new question regarding admission to Clayton Valley Charter High School. You can view the updated FAQs here.

The presentation slides from both the October 28 and 30 meetings are now available on our website here
.

During the October 30 Zoom session, an audience member requested access to the raw survey data for Alternatives 1-5. That data is now posted here .

The survey on “staff recommended sites” is still open but will close on Friday, November 8. We are currently seeing only a slow trickle of responses, so please make sure to participate before it closes. Find the updated map and survey here .

No one claimed the white ThermoFlask left at Centre Concord during the September meeting, and a pair of glasses were left at the October 28 meeting (see photo of both). These items are in the lost and found at Centre Concord.

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IMG_5569.jpg

Regards,

-Justin

Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
City of Concord
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]

From: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]
>
Sent: Monday, October 21, 2024 3:34 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Update on the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) Program

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The list of AFFH program FAQs on the City website has been updated; the following questions and answers have been added:

What are the consequences of not completing the AFFH program? (there are many, see link) Why isn't the Cal State University East Bay Campus being considered for the AFFH program? (short answer: it cannot realistically be developed in the next 8 years) How do neighboring cities approach AFFH? (see link)
Will businesses be torn down because of this program? (short answer: no) Is the City building Section 8 housing? (short answer: no, the City does not build housing and Section 8 is not a specific type of housing)
Is the City building emergency shelters? (short answer: no, the City does not build emergency shelters and they are not currently allowed in the AFFH study area) How did the City notify the community about this project? (see link) Will higher density housing affect the value of my property? Did the State dictate the study area, number of acres, and units for the AFFH program? How were these determined? (see link)
The FAQs are located here: https://www.cityofconcord.org/DocumentCenter/View/11736/FAQs

- Justin

Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]

From: Ezell, Justin
Sent: Thursday, October 17, 2024 12:57 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Update on the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) Program

Dear Stakeholder,

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Thank you for your continued interest and participation in the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) Program. This email is being sent to 680 individuals who have participated or expressed interest in the program.

Last month, we began collecting your feedback on five potential alternatives for meeting the AFFH Program goals. Your input—provided through community meetings, emails, phone calls, and one-on- one discussions—has helped narrow down the list of properties under consideration. Based on the feedback, City staff are recommending the following sites for rezoning:

Additionally, three alternative sites have been identified as potential options:

Lastly, we invite you to participate in one of the upcoming community meetings:

Monday, October 28, 6 p.m. at Centre Concord, 5298 Clayton Road, Concord Wednesday, October 30, 6 p.m. via Zoom. Register here.

Thank you for your valuable contributions to shaping the future of our community. We look forward to your continued engagement.

Please visit www.cityofconcord.org/AFFH for more information.

Kind regards,

- Justin

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Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]; [email protected]
Subject: RE: Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Rezoning Project Risk to Building Kidz Date: Monday, December 2, 2024 3:15:24 PM
Attachments: image001.png
Thank you for reaching out and sharing your concerns about the potential impact of the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) Rezoning Project on the Buildingkidz of Concord School.

To provide clarity on your questions:

1. Current Status of AFFH Rezoning
The AFFH Rezoning Project is still in the consultation and planning stage. No final decisions have been made regarding the rezoning of specific parcels, including the site referred to as the "K-Mart" parcel. The City has been gathering input and reviewing options to ensure the process aligns with community needs and regulatory requirements. We will be providing an update, seeking City Council, and Planning Commission direction on January 7, 2025. The public meeting will be held at Centre Concord, 5298 Clayton Road, at 6 pm.

2. Potential Redevelopment Timeline
To clarify, the Kmart property can be developed into residential housing right now. The property is currently zoned for 40 residential units per acre. The AFFH project is considering an increase to 60 units per acre. If the property owner decided to pursue redevelopment, such projects typically involve a lengthy timeline due to planning, permitting, and development processes, and could indeed take 4-5 years or more, depending on various factors.

3. Current Property Owner Plans
To the best of our knowledge, the property owner does not have an active redevelopment plan. No redevelopment is required now, nor will it be required after rezoning, should the rezoning occur. Additionally, new development may involve ground floor commercial space, allowing businesses like Buildingkidz of Concord to continue to operate at the same location.

We understand the importance of maintaining continuity for your students, employees, and the valuable services you provide. We encourage you to stay engaged in the consultation process and share your perspective during public meetings; your email and my response will be added to the record.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any further questions.

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Best regards,

-Justin

Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
City of Concord
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, December 2, 2024 2:20 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Cc: [email protected]; [email protected]
Subject: Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Rezoning Project Risk to Building Kidz Importance: High

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”

Good Afternoon Justin,
Hope you had a great weekend. We recently heard that the city of concord is about to make a decision on rezoning properties in “higher resource neighborhoods” to allow multi-family development (Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Rezoning Project | Concord, CA (cityofconcord.org)
The newest iteration here has BK included in the old K-Mart parcel as the top choice to rezone:

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If chosen, this likely wouldn’t immediately impact Buildingkidz School of Concord, but I would imagine that upon the next lease agreement, the property owner (assuming it is leased) would look to remove all the tenants so they could convert the site into multi-family properties, with the city’s encouragement.

We personally think it is quite deceptive to refer to the parcel as “K-Mart” when it would in fact, potentially displace 100+ students and 20-22 employees in an already critically stressed and necessary community service. We believe that it’s still in discussion phase and would like to know final details from you.
- The AFFH Rezoning is still in the consultation stage, nothing final yet ? - Even our parcel is rezoned. The landlord has no active plan for redevelopment at his stage. - Based upon our past realty development experience, this can easily be 4-5 years out if anything happens.

Please advise the details as we need to start planning at least 4-5 years in advance to maintain continuous business. Appreciate your quick response.

Best Regards,

Sangita & Mahesh Hingorani
Executive Director
Buildingkidz of Concord School
5100 Clayton Road, F 36
Concord, CA 94521
Off: 925-687-9124
www.buildingkidzschool.com

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Support Inclusive and Affordable Housing in Concord! Date: Monday, December 16, 2024 3:52:30 PM
Hi Karen, thank you for your email. It will be included in the record for the January 7 council meeting.
- Justin

Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]

From: Karen Hernandez <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, December 16, 2024 10:07 AM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Support Inclusive and Affordable Housing in Concord!

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”
Assistant City Manager Justin Ezell,
Dear Concord City Council,
I am writing to let you know that I believe in creating a more affordable, diverse, and inclusive Concord. For this reason, I support the AFFH goals and the City’s work to rezone sites to allow for more affordable housing to be built throughout the city, instead of being

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limited to lower-resource areas of Concord. I support the most recent sites that have been identified, but I strongly urge the City to consider even more sites to provide ample and flexible opportunities for affordable developers to build homes that meet the needs of current and future residents.

Ultimately, this site selection process must center on the goal of promoting more affordability. Right now, there’s not enough housing that’s affordable to most people in Concord, and that’s hurting all of us. More affordable housing in Concord means that the teachers, caregivers, retail clerks and restaurant workers who make our community run can live here, too. Young adults can stay and start families in the communities where they grew up. Seniors can remain in Concord. Nobody has to choose between paying rent and buying food. Affordable housing helps stabilize families and communities, allowing residents to invest in healthcare, education, and local businesses, benefiting the entire local economy.

This process must also help remedy the pattern of segregation in Concord. The City’s Housing Element revealed that Concord is deeply segregated by race and income: the southeastern neighborhoods are overwhelmingly White, affluent, and well-resourced, while its central and western neighborhoods are not. This is because the southeastern neighborhoods are primarily restricted to single-family homes, which have historically been denied to residents of color due to unfair public policies and lending practices. The problem of segregation has been created by zoning. It needs to be solved through zoning, too. It is important that this rezoning allows more multi-family units to be built throughout the city.

This is a key moment in the city’s history. As representatives of the City, you have the power, legal obligation, and moral imperative to break down barriers and create more access to housing for community members of all backgrounds and income levels. I urge you to offer more sites for rezoning throughout the study area and prioritize affordable housing for these sites as the process moves forward.

This is a critical step for developing a more inclusive and thriving Concord.

Karen Hernandez
[email protected]

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Support Inclusive and Affordable Housing in Concord! Date: Monday, December 16, 2024 3:51:25 PM
Hi Noelle, thank you for your email. It will be included in the record for the January 7 council meeting.

Regards,
- Justin

Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]

From: Noelle Trinidad Taylor <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, December 16, 2024 10:15 AM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Support Inclusive and Affordable Housing in Concord!

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”
Assistant City Manager Justin Ezell,
Dear Concord City Council,
I am writing to let you know that I believe in creating a more affordable, diverse, and inclusive Concord. For this reason, I support the AFFH goals and the City’s work to rezone

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sites to allow for more affordable housing to be built throughout the city, instead of being limited to lower-resource areas of Concord. I support the most recent sites that have been identified, but I strongly urge the City to consider even more sites to provide ample and flexible opportunities for affordable developers to build homes that meet the needs of current and future residents.

This is a critical step for developing a more inclusive and thriving Concord.

Noelle Trinidad Taylor
[email protected]
1493 So. Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, California 94110

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Support Inclusive and Affordable Housing in Concord! Date: Tuesday, December 17, 2024 11:02:06 AM
Millie, thank you for your email. It will be placed on record for the January 7 council meeting.

Regards,
- Justin

Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]

From: Millie Phillips <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, December 17, 2024 10:27 AM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Support Inclusive and Affordable Housing in Concord!

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”
Assistant City Manager Justin Ezell,
Dear Concord City Council,
As a minister and interfaith organizer working in Concord, I am writing to let you know that I believe in creating a more affordable, diverse, and inclusive Concord. For this reason, I

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support the AFFH goals and the City’s work to rezone sites to allow for more affordable housing to be built throughout the city, instead of being limited to lower-resource areas of Concord. I support the most recent sites that have been identified, but I strongly urge the City to consider even more sites to provide ample and flexible opportunities for affordable developers to build homes that meet the needs of current and future residents.

This process must also help remedy the pattern of segregation in Concord. The City’s Housing Element revealed that Concord is deeply segregated by race and income: the southeastern neighborhoods are overwhelmingly white, affluent, and well-resourced, while its central and western neighborhoods are not. This is because the southeastern neighborhoods are primarily restricted to single-family homes, which have historically been denied to residents of color due to unfair public policies and lending practices. The problem of segregation has been created by zoning. It needs to be solved through zoning, too. It is important that this rezoning allows more multi-family units to be built throughout the city.

This is a critical step for developing a more inclusive and thriving Concord.

Thanks, Rev. Millie Phillips
Millie Phillips
[email protected]

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Support Inclusive and Affordable Housing in Concord! Date: Thursday, December 19, 2024 7:54:16 AM
Jose, thank you for your email. It will be added to the record for the January 7 council meeting.

Regards,
- Justin

Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]

From: Jose Cordon <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, December 18, 2024 9:45 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Support Inclusive and Affordable Housing in Concord!

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”
Assistant City Manager Justin Ezell,
Dear Concord City Council,
I am writing to let you know that I believe in creating a more affordable, diverse, and inclusive Concord. For this reason, I support the AFFH goals and the City’s work to rezone

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This is a critical step for developing a more inclusive and thriving Concord.

Jose Cordon
[email protected]
2699 Monument Blvd
Concord, California 94520

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From: thogenmill
To: Ezell, Justin
Cc: Birsan, Edi; Obringer, Carlyn; Aliano, Dominic; Hoffmeister, Laura; Nakamura, Laura Subject: AFFH Kmart and Clayton Fair Decision
Date: Thursday, October 17, 2024 5:42:35 PM
“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”
Did you seriously take any input into this decision, I have to believe these sites were chosen long before these "discussions" were opened to the public. At the last meeting at Concord Centre, I asked you about the intent of the state mandate to put no more than 60 units per acre yet the City has decided to ignore this and interpret it differently.

If Kmart and Clayton station are the two locations, it will undoubtedly have a severe impact on infrastructure, traffic and quality of life not to mention the disruption of enjoying our homes while noise, dust, and heavy construction vehicular traffic permeate our sanctuary during construction.

How are schools already with waiting lists going to absorb the additional students? Parents will be forced to jump onto congested roads to transport their children god knows where adding to the chaos.

You keep stressing high resource areas but it's obvious your evading the real high income neighborhoods and inpregnating our area with low and so called middle income residences on a road and in a neighborhood already saturated with it. Apartments and condominiums have already been constructed near BART and now your planning for the other end of Clayton Road, so this road which is already turning into a nightmare is your go to location. A road bordered with parallel and perpendicular roads where low to moderate income apartments and condominiums are the norm.

This also brings up the point, this state mandate was brought about to bring cities with no low or moderate housing options to create the ability of limited resource individuals to live in these communities. The City of Concord is not one of these locations, it has plenty of people who are unemployed, low income, physically and/or mentally impaired residents. It appears an agenda was created by you to go above and beyond the state's intention and present residents be dammed. Other sites, recent construction near BART and existing low income housing is not part of your equation while flooding this neighborhood with a quagmire of problems and ignore the rest of us. No wonder you don't represent any specific district.

The individuals who devised and instituted this plan have utopium ideals, interpreting the state's law to meet their agenda.

Have you or any city council member ever taken a drive and noticed all of the condos and apartments that are already in this vicinity, many are already inhabited with low income, disabled and people who are unemployed.

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September 09,2024
Subject:

Opposition: NOTICE REGARDING POTENTIAL REZONING OF A NEIGHBORING

PROPERTY( AFFH)
Dear City Councils,
We, the community members of Rose Lane, Lime Ridge, Larwin Street and surrounding are deeply concerned about the proposed Aﬃrmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) initiative.

We believe that the proposal is discriminatory and harmful to our community. The map of your proposed plans shows that developments are concentrated along the Clayton Road corridor, which is likely to exacerbate existing traﬃc congestion, crime, and disrupt our community's well-being. The plan seems to target lower-income communities while neglecting higher- income areas, such as the Crystal Ranch area. We seek an explanation for this disparity? We also request clariﬁcation on the council's decision to reject the Ashbury low-income housing project in downtown, which would have incurred no cost to the city. Given California’s current ﬁnancial challenges, turning down free funding seems contrary to the interests of your constituents. A 4-1 majority of council-members rejected the project, citing concerns about concentrating aﬀordable housing in the city's central business district. Instead, they encouraged Idaho-based Paciﬁc West Communities to develop market-rate apartments without subsidies.

Council member Aliano’s suggestion to diversify the community appears to come at the expense of our neighborhood. We have worked hard to maintain a peaceful environment near wildlife and open spaces. The council's plan to build 60 units on less than one acre of our community is troubling. Why not consider developing these units near council houses instead? It seems that the council has declined $90 million in state funds in favor of creating exclusive housing for aﬄuent communities in downtown areas, which impacts Rose Lane, Lime Ridge, and surrounding communities. If the council considers this diversiﬁcation, we view it as discriminatory against our community. Our neighborhood is already diverse, including residents from Afghanistan, Iran, Mexico, India, China, and various other racial and ethnic backgrounds.

We do not need the councils , city , state or federal government to dictate our living conditions or determine who lives next to us!
This approach feels more like an imposition rather than reﬂecting American values. It threatens our community’s well-being, including potential impacts on retirement plans, property values, environmental consequences for wildlife and rare frog species at Lime ridge and open spaces, increased traﬃc and pollution on already congested Treat Boulevard and YVB, higher crime rates, and negative health outcomes due to pollution, already scarcity of water shortage , ﬁre danger in high density communities.

We chose to live and retire here with the expectation that the city would respect our community's character. We urge you to reconsider this proposal to prevent further disruption to our neighborhood.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Neighbors and Community in Concord

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: Barbara Anne Reagan
Subject: Follow up information
Date: Friday, September 20, 2024 3:04:00 PM
Attachments: image001.png
image002.png
image003.png
image004.png
Hi Barbara, I enjoyed speaking with you on Monday. Thank you for coming to the AFFH meeting and for providing the feedback.

You asked for more information about how the City arrived at 1,000 units spread over 20 acres and why the specific study area was chosen. At the meeting you pointed out that Assembly Bill 686 did not prescribe specific figures (i.e. 1,000 units and 20 acres) to Concord and you wanted more information about how those metrics came about.

The metrics were developed through a combination of: a) community engagement during the Housing Element process; b) review of AB 686 guidance provided by the state (see it here
); and c) discussions with the State as we worked toward Housing Element certification.

The document linked above is a lengthy document but as you read through it you will see the guidance provided to cities includes the use of the state’s RCAA and TCAC opportunity maps. As we discussed during the meeting these maps were the basis for the study area where properties are being considered for rezoning. You can learn more and see the maps by visiting this site: https://www.hcd.ca.gov/planning-and-community-development/affirmatively-furthering-fair-housing

You also asked what neighboring cities are doing with regard to AFFH. I researched our closest neighbors and provided the below summarized information for Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, and Martinez (FYI that Martinez’s document is still in draft form awaiting certification from the state).

Please keep in mind that no community is the same. They will have different demographics, different resources, and different goals in how housing objectives will be achieved.

From Pleasant Hill’s Housing Element, beginning on page 311 of the PDF here . The document has a long list of AFFH related programs, the highlighted one here is most comparable to the rezoning Concord is undertaking.

Walnut Creek’s Housing Element, Appendix B here
provides a long list of AFFH programs. The highlighted area is most comparable to the rezoning Concord is undertaking.

City of Martinez does not have a certified/finalized Housing Element. The draft policy document is here . There are several programs in draft form, below are some examples.

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Please contact me with any questions.
-Justin
Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
City of Concord
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]

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From: Nakamura, Laura
To: Ezell, Justin
Subject: FW: A different perspective on zoning
Date: Wednesday, October 16, 2024 10:13:42 AM
Attachments: image002.png
Justin, please add this AFFH feedback to the stack.

Thank you,
Laura
Laura Nakamura (She/her/hers)
City Councilmember, District 5
Mobile 925-338-1259
Web https://www.lauranakamura.net/
Sign up for my newsletter:
https://www.lauranakamura.net/newsletter
From: Brian Beckon <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 8, 2024 3:28 PM
To: Nakamura, Laura <[email protected]>
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: A different perspective on zoning
“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”
Hi Laura,
I wanted to thank you for the event you did last week at the ice cream shop.

You may recall that I’m on the board of Neto Community Network, and I’m also on the board of the HOA in the Crossings neighborhood.

I didn’t speak at your event last week, but to be honest, I was quite dismayed at the level of small-mindedness, ignorance, and NIMBYism on display in the crowd. My gut says

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that the crowd was not a fair representation of the views of District 5. Rather, you heard from the 50 or so angriest people in the district, and it wasn’t pretty. But you did a great job in managing it all.

For what it’s worth, I’d like to offer a quite different perspective. I believe it’s very important to recognize that single-family residential zoning came into existence in the mid-20th century for the very explicit purpose of eliminating diversity, both economic and racial.

The first such zoning law in the entire country was implemented in Berkeley in 1916 for the express purpose of keeping neighborhoods white. Across the country, other cities took note of Berkeley’s success in maintaining segregation, and it spread everywhere. In suburbs all across America, it proved to be a very effective tool to keep neighborhoods white.

But it came at a very steep cost -- ironically even for the families who live in those nice white neighborhoods -- because it halted the natural evolution of the housing market.

For thousands of years, cities and neighborhoods around the world have evolved to meet the needs of the day. When more people want to live in a neighborhood, housing density naturally increases according to the simple law of supply and demand. In a free market, there will always be houses available in any economic strata, to meet whatever the demand is.

But single family zoning artificially restricts the supply of housing. And doing that in a region like California, with a growing population, drives prices through the roof. This is basic economics. When you have an increasing demand and a constrained supply, prices shoot up. In practice, when there are only so many houses that can be built, developers have little incentive to build housing at the lower end of the economic spectrum, and will only build expensive luxury housing.

That is, of course, the situation we’re in, and it’s because of the widespread adoption of single family zoning. Simply put, single family zoning is the single biggest government intrusion into the free market that America has ever seen.

And what our neighbors last week don’t realize is that these artificially high prices hurt all of us, even if we already own a home. That’s because every local business has to pay higher wages to its employees so that they can afford housing. As a result, everything we buy is more expensive than it needs to be. It has led to increasing homelessness. It also

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means our own children can’t afford to buy a home near us.

So we have all paid a very heavy price for keeping our neighborhoods uniformly expensive. And I believe it’s time to stop this misguided intrusion into the free market. I recognize that the state has taken some baby steps to solve this, allowing single family parcels to be divided into two; but it doesn’t do enough. I strongly recommend that Concord abolish all single family zoning, as other cities like Minneapolis have already done, not just in the areas indicated on the City’s proposed maps, but literally everywhere in Concord.

Then, the free market will dictate density. And I’m fairly sure that the highest density will continue to go in near BART and other transit, as it should, because if you’re going to rent an apartment, I think that’s where you’d want to live.

Thanks for reading my long email. I think you’re doing a great job! Best,
Brian Beckon

--
Brian Beckon
[email protected]
http://www.linkedin.com/in/brianbeckon

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From: Hoffmeister, Laura
To: Ezell, Justin
Subject: Fwd: Support rexoning project
Date: Wednesday, September 18, 2024 8:32:07 PM
Get Outlook for iOS
From: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, September 18, 2024 11:14 AM
To: Birsan, Edi <[email protected]>; Obringer, Carlyn <[email protected]>; Nakamura, Laura
<[email protected]>; Hoffmeister, Laura
<[email protected]>; Aliano, Dominic
<[email protected]>
Subject: Support rexoning project

Elsie Mills
She, her, hers
Article: Why I Put Pronouns in My Email Signature

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: gloria valerio
Subject: Re: Do not choose the warehouse behind Trader Joe’s on Treat Date: Monday, October 28, 2024 5:48:08 AM
Hi Gloria, thank you for your email. It will be added to the record.

Kind regards,
- Justin
Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]
From: gloria valerio <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, October 26, 2024 6:27 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Do not choose the warehouse behind Trader Joe’s on Treat

I go to Jazzercize every morning at the Dance connection located in the warehouse. Getting to class is a challenge considering the traffic is already heavy in the area. I support equal opportunity housing but please choose a different site it would be devastating to loose the place I have worked out for years with all my Concord fitness family.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Gloria Valerio
Sent from my iPhone

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: david rosen
Subject: RE: " Attention City Council"
Date: Wednesday, September 18, 2024 9:00:00 AM
Mr. Rosen,
Thank you for your email regarding the AFFH project. I will make sure it’s shared with all Councilmembers.

It sounds like you're referring to the City's Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) Program. A few years ago, the State passed a law requiring cities to adopt policies that reduce segregation. We had to include these new policies in our Housing Element, which is a State-required plan that addresses our community’s housing needs.

To meet the State's requirements, we identified an area in the City using data from the State, where there's both a concentration of race and resources like better schools and access to parks. In this area, we’re planning for up to 1,000 new housing units across 20 acres of land. Here is a map to the study area.

When we say "plan for," it means rezoning the land to allow more housing, but the City is not building it. For example, if the old Kmart site on Clayton Road gets rezoned, it could stay a retail center, or it could become higher-density housing. The choice would be up to the property owner.

Many of the properties we’re considering already allow some housing, including the Kmart site and others along Clayton Road, but this program would increase the amount that could be built, or they could remain as they are.

If any new housing is constructed from this planning process it would likely be a mix of affordability levels, meaning some homes that are affordable and some that are the going market rate.

For more information, please visit www.cityofconcord.org/AFFH or reach out to me directly.

Kind regards,

-Justin

Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
City of Concord
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]

-----Original Message-----
From: david rosen <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 17, 2024 8:19 PM

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To: Concord City Council Email <[email protected]> Subject: " Attention City Council"

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”

Please do not build affordable housing or low income between treat Blvd and ygnacio valley road off Clayton.

This will only hurt smaller businesses and bring trouble from other cities, this will also cause more issues for kids and raise prices for everyone in the community.

Have you not seen the problems in Antioch and Pittsburg due to the low income and affordable housing.

Send these builders to port Chicago, willow pass, or even north concord.

Cheers!

Sent from my iPhone

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: Peter Maclennan
Subject: RE: Additional community meetings scheduled for the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Program Date: Wednesday, September 11, 2024 5:14:00 PM
HI Peter, thank you for reaching out to me. I am sorry to hear they cannot make it. They can send me an email and I can share with our project team. They will also have future opportunities to weigh in on this. We are planning a council meeting in November.

-Justin

Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
City of Concord
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]

From: Peter Maclennan <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, September 11, 2024 2:55 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Additional community meetings scheduled for the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Program

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”

Justin,
Some neighbors are concerned about a parcel that is under consideration in our neighborhood. They are unable to attend either the in person or virtual meeting. Can they provide feedback in another forum regarding a parcel at Landana & Mulberry?

Peter Maclennan
Chair

Dana Estate Neighborhood Alliance
[email protected]

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https://www.danaestates.org

On Thu, Aug 22, 2024 at 8:34ௗAM Ezell, Justin <[email protected] > wrote:

Dear stakeholders,

We have scheduled two more community meetings on the AFFH program; please see dates and times below (you only need to attend one).

We have also narrowed down the list of properties being considered for rezoning. We will continue narrowing down the list as we get further into the program. An updated map showing the properties currently under consideration is here .

Please note that no properties have been selected for rezoning at this time.

Attend one of the following upcoming community meetings; you do not need to attend both:

Monday, September 16, 6 p.m. at Centre Concord (5298 Clayton Road, Concord) Thursday, September 19, 6 p.m. via Zoom (Registration link)

Regards,

-Justin

Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
City of Concord
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: AFFH City of Concord
Date: Tuesday, October 22, 2024 8:47:00 AM
Mr. Booth, thank you for your email. Traffic and congestion is a top concern of staff and the community as we navigate through this process. As part of the process, we will be analyzing traffic/transportation through formal studies which will begin after the new year and be available for public review and comment in the spring/summer of 2025. Your email will be added to the record for this program.

Kind regards,

-Justin

Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
City of Concord
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, October 22, 2024 8:34 AM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: AFFH City of Concord

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”

Dear Justin,

I received the letter in the mail at 780 Montfield Place in Concord about proposed AFFH housing. It must be difficult for the city of Concord to meet this State mandate. But I question about some of the locations you are investigating in the Treat Blvd & Oak Grove rd. intersection area. In the recent years there has been a dramatic increase of congestion probably because of our neighboring city Of Walnut Creek and their expansion of Shadelands Business Park and nearby shopping centers, sometime during the commute & school hours you should visit this area and you will notice how the traffic flows. I don’t think we need to add more into the mix into to an already high density congested area.

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Philip Booth
Concord citizen

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: "Sarah Murray"
Subject: RE: AFFH Community Meeting
Date: Friday, September 27, 2024 11:59:00 AM
Attachments: image001.png
Hi Sarah,

I truly appreciate your patience in hearing from me as I was out of the office earlier this week.

First, thank you for your involvement in this program. We greatly value your feedback submitted through the survey and this email, both of which will be shared with both the project team and the City Council so that they can all read your comments.

With regards to the car wash, I included a snippet showing the location of the self-serve car wash on the North side of Clayton.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

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Kind regards,

-Justin

Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
City of Concord
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]

From: Sarah Murray <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, September 22, 2024 12:02 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: AFFH Community Meeting

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”

Hi Justin,

I attended the meeting on Thursday the 19th and completed the survey just now. I was hoping to find a spot to convey my dislike for one particular site but did not. How can I best convey the problem site 21 would present for our home? It sits right in front of our home and a 3-5 story building would completely box us in. We already have owned during the time that the mini-golf property next to us was replaced by the 3 story Oakmont of Montecito Senior Living. By putting a 3 or more story building on the other side of our one story 1100 square foot condo we would be dwarfed by these buildings. It would be a great disappointment to have this happen.

Also, I noticed your notation of the number 5 site on the five models for the carwash at Clayton and Matheson appears to be on the North side of Clayton, but unless I am missing something, it should be represented on the South side of Clayton Rd. Should I direct this to someone in particular or am I reading the map incorrectly?

Thank you for your time,
~Sarah

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On Sep 21, 2024, at 08:55, Ezell, Justin <[email protected]> wrote:

Thank you for attending Thursday's community meeting. Presentation materials and the survey are now posted at www.cityofconcord.org/AFFH.

Slides
Survey
Neighborhood Map
Alternatives

Regards,

- Justin

Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: Anne T.; Ulrey, Benjamin
Subject: RE: AFFH Community Meeting
Date: Monday, September 30, 2024 9:24:00 AM
Hi Anne, I apologize for the tardy response. I am getting caught up from being out of office last week. Thank you for sharing your feedback on this program. It will be shared with the project team and considered as we move forward.

Kind regards,

-Justin

Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
City of Concord
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]

From: Anne T. <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, September 21, 2024 4:40 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>; Ulrey, Benjamin <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: AFFH Community Meeting

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”

Hi Justin & Ben,
Thank you for a very information and well-run meeting earlier this week. I truly appreciate the efforts of you and your colleagues to inform the community on the project and provide an open environment for community members to have their voices heard. Tough crowd, but you all did a professional and respectful job.

Ben, I was the gal who was speaking with you about what the transportation evaluation would be comprised of. It sounds like considering the issue of overwhelming traffic already present in the potential rezoning areas is high priority for many community member’s with regards to AFFH. To that end, I would suggest that, as part of the e-mail updates to interested parties, you include a detailed description of what exactly the

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traffic evaluation will be comprised of (is it cameras, staff observation, wires across the road that measure number of cars and speed, during all times of the day and evening, or is it going to be a fly-by observation mid-morning without providing a true picture of the daily ebb and flow of traffic?). I think it would really help to be very transparent about what exactly the evaluation would entail, which will hopefully be thorough enough to truly evaluate the potential rezoning areas. It might be a good pro-active step to take by informing the community of the traffic evolution process prior to it’s implementation. If it sounds thorough and comprehensive to people up-front, they would be more likely to accept the results as an accurate reflection of their daily traffic reality.

Thanks again!

Best regards,
Anne

On Sep 21, 2024, at 8:59ௗAM, Ezell, Justin <[email protected] >
wrote:

Thank you for signing up for the AFFH interested parties list. Presentation materials from our recent community meeting and a survey on the AFFH alternatives are now posted at www.cityofconcord.org/AFFH
.

Slides
Survey
Neighborhood Map
Alternatives

Regards,

- Justin

Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: AFFH feedback
Date: Monday, October 28, 2024 5:45:56 AM
Hi Daisy, thank you for your participation in this program and for your email. It will be added to the record.

Kind regards,
- Justin
Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]
From: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, October 26, 2024 8:04 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: AFFH feedback

I am a Concord resident and attended the September 16th AFFH meeting. On the feedback form, I voted against all the selected areas except Site 3, Staples/CVS and the motel on Willow Pass site. At the time of the meeting, I had no idea Site 7, the warehouses behind Trader Joe's would make it to consideration.

Site 7 is of special concern to me. I implore you to convince the City to take it off the re-zoning list! As a long time Jazzerciser, I am dependent on Dance Connection for my health, physically and mentally. We have an established community at that facility, and so do the people in the other warehouses.

In addition to my personal concerns, the traffic in the area of Site 7 is horrendous. I substitute teach at Carondelet High School, and I can assure you additional traffic would be a nightmare in the area.

There are three high schools in close proximity to Site 7. That is a guarantee for unbearable traffic.

Thank you for considering my request.

Sincerely,

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Daisy Stirton

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: Marion MacArthur
Subject: RE: AFFH Project
Date: Wednesday, October 30, 2024 1:19:15 PM
Hi Marion, thank you for your email. It will be added to the record.

Kind regards,

-Justin

Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
City of Concord
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]

From: Marion MacArthur <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, October 30, 2024 12:05 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: AFFH Project

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”

Dear Justin

As a registered dietitian working for the Mt. Diablo Unified School District, I made a career of teaching Concord children about the importance of healthy eating and exercise. Now a retired senior citizen, I try to maintain my good health by practicing what I preached.

I exercise regularly at the Jazzercise classes in a building identified as “Warehouses behind Trader Joes” in the AFFH project. I previously attended classes at Centre Concord but the hard cement floor was not senior friendly.

My knee pain is exasperated by a hard floor and limited the number of times I could attend class. I appreciate the flexible “give” of the unique wooden dance

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floor at the Dance Connection building. I do not know of another such floor in Concord that could accommodate my needs.

I am asking the City Council to reconsider rezoning the Warehouse behind Trader Joes for increased housing development so that this small business is not impacted and the Concord Jazzercise community can continue to keep good health a priority.

Thank you for the opportunity to submit my input.

Sincerely,
Marion MacArthur
Concord CA

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: Nakamura, Laura; me
Subject: RE: AFFH
Date: Thursday, September 19, 2024 8:32:00 AM
Attachments: image001.png
image002.png
Hi Shirley,

In addition to what Councilmember Nakamura has said, I’ll affirm what you’ve already stated about private properties along the Clayton corridor – we cannot control the economic decisions made by these owners, particularly, the old Kmart site. Our Economic Development team is regularly working to help bring new businesses to the City, including that site, but we cannot make decisions for the business owners.

The recent State law that is driving the project requires cities to adopt policies that reduce segregation. The areas that we are studying were identified using data from the State where there's both a concentration of race and resources like better schools and access to parks. You can learn more and see maps by visiting this site: https://www.hcd.ca.gov/planning-and-community- development/affirmatively-furthering-fair-housing

I am sorry that I cannot provide the names of individuals that attended past public meetings. We have not asked for, nor have attendees provided, consent for sharing personal information.

Kind regards,

-Justin

Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
City of Concord
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]

From: Nakamura, Laura <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, September 19, 2024 7:58 AM
To: me <[email protected]>
Cc: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: RE: AFFH

Shirley,
One thing to keep in mind, is that any development, when it happens, will be incremental and won’t happen overnight.

This may be good news to some but might also frustrate those who are concerned about our housing crisis. I’m sharing an article here and invite you to join the East Bay Times’ webinar on September 26 th - California's housing crisis
becomes a national issue

https://bayareanewsgroup.zoom.us/webinar/register/5717259090760/WN_8eHBDakiQMSogmLTjJnGHQ#/registration Date & Time: Sep 26, 2024, 10:00 AM
For years, it felt like California was unique in its housing affordability crisis — no place had the skyrocketing home prices and rampant street homelessness seen here. But now, as affordability issues plague regions around the country, the conversation around a housing shortage has reached a national audience. Join us to discuss how housing policies developed here in California, and particularly the Bay, have become a part of a national pro-housing platform, and how federal housing policies could move the needle on California's housing shortage, if at all.

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In the Bay Area, the number of homeless students has skyrocketed. What’s driving that trend? The tally of homeless students increased by 30% between the 2019-20 to 2022-23 academic years. https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2023/12/22/in-the-bay-area-the-number-of-homeless-students-has-skyrocketed- whats-driving-that-trend/
I look forward to continuing this conversation with you.

Best,
Laura
Laura Nakamura (She/her/hers)
City Councilmember, District 5
Mobile 925-338-1259
Web https://www.lauranakamura.net/
Sign up for my newsletter:
https://www.lauranakamura.net/newsletter
From: me <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, September 18, 2024 7:10 PM
To: Nakamura, Laura <[email protected]>
Cc: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: AFFH
“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.” Thank you for addressing the concerns and thoughts related to the subject matter. In addition, major concerns related to our major traffic corridors to the freeways. During commute hours given there are only 1 to no more than 2 lanes (Clayton Road, Ygnacio Valley, Concord Blvd) to get to the major freeways, it currently takes upwards if not more than 30 minutes to get on the freeways.

Myself and many others are anxious to hear back from your team. Thank you again.

On Wednesday, September 18, 2024, 01:05:10 PM PDT, Nakamura, Laura <[email protected]> wrote:

Hello Shirley,
Thanks for reaching out and taking the time to put your thoughts into an email for me. I have cc’d Assistant City Manager, Justin Ezell as he will likely need to jump in and help answer some of the questions you have posed.

You have highlighted your concerns as being the Kmart location and lengthy vacancy; a non-compete leasing agreement by the Lucky store with an unknown term; the timing of housing on the CNWS site; power grid and school capacities; and moderate vs

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high resources areas.

This process to define our AFFH program is just that, a process. It’s unfortunate that people feel they weren’t notified of the earlier opportunities to get involved, but, as with each stage, more people will engage and give input. And I think it was mentioned that staff did recognize the need for additional engagement workshops. My hope is that the input we receive is constructive as continued resistance (as was demonstrated) will only disrupt the work at hand. Residents have a valuable opportunity to help us tailor the AFFH program to meet housing needs.

Your patience with getting answers to your questions is appreciated as several departments may need to provide answers. With regards to the CNWS timeline, I’ve attached a photo that I took last night at the developer’s engagement session.

Best,
Laura
Laura Nakamura (She/her/hers)
City Councilmember, District 5
Mobile 925-338-1259
Web https://www.lauranakamura.net/
Sign up for my newsletter:
https://www.lauranakamura.net/newsletter
From: me <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 17, 2024 9:27 PM
To: Nakamura, Laura <[email protected]>
Subject: AFFH
“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.” Laura, We spoke briefly last night regarding the community and the need for viable retail services to exist in the community. The question raised was related to the location of the former KMART store on Clayton Road. Since its closure, the site has remained

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predominantly vacant exceptions being made during
Halloween when that site becomes the Halloween
store. Over the past several years, we have seen
the decline of larger businesses leaving the area.

This has been disheartening.

It is understood that the City Council does not
manage Leasing agreements between Businesses
and Landlords, but the City Council should have the
best interest of community and business needs for
the community.

Lucky's and Safeway are now under the same ownership and FoodMax also under the umbrella of that corporation. This gives the corporation the entire monopoly for grocery food sales from Ygnacio Valley Road to Port Chicago-Willow Pass.

It is well known the Landlord has in the lease with
the current grocery store Lucky's a non-compete
clause for no other Retail to sell groceries in this
location. It is also known that Target had made an
inquiry to move into the KMART location but was
turned down due to this clause. How long has this
non-compete clause been in play...? Is there a way
to approach this Landlord about any modifications to
this non-compete? Understanding again, the City
Council is not ultimately responsible for Landlord
Leases.

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A Corporation with control over the whole Clayton
Road corridor of Grocery stores and also has control
over a location where another Retail store could
provide additional products and services to the
Community seems to be a monopoly. The
Community would be able to put sales taxes back
into their own City's budget and help with funding
our own infrastructure improvements rather than
providing support to outlying City's budget. The
Concord Community will make trips to Pittsburg,
Walnut Creek and Pleasant Hill to pursue this type
of Retail store services.

Concerns about how some of the sites are targeted
for AFFH and what has been done to assist
Landlords to entice more business not less is high.

Confusion as to why it will take 8 or more years for
the Navel Weapons Project to take off is
unacceptable to those of us that have been in
Concord for over 2 plus decades listening to the
misdirection of the project.

In addition, the inability to get the State to give an exception to the City as it is working towards plans
to execute the project which would provide the
AFFH that is needed seems like a lackluster effort.

Past minutes state 30-60 participants weighed in on

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these locations as optimal. That is .0005 of the
122,000 population of Concord. It was stated
multiple times that notifications and invitations for
meetings were sent out. Yet everyone I spoke to last
night including myself never saw a thing. Can you
share the names of those 60 that attended? It
would be helpful to understand who spoke up for
this resident area and selected the sites referenced
on the maps.

In reviewing the Map the State provided showing
their delineation for the Resource borders. The
current map suggests and incorporates moderate
resource areas not just high resource areas and
only along the Clayton Road corridor. How does this
equally focus affordable housing in the city overall?

There are two potential huge development efforts
the City has in view. Both projects seem to be
focused in the same areas of the Community where
resources are maxed out already or limited.

Infrastructure is old and streets and roadways are in
need of upgrades.

The power grids are stretched where my
house has had power outages almost monthly this year alone and I have solar. The schools in the area need upgrades and classrooms are full. How will the city address this? Hopefully, not counting on more bonds that will increase our property taxes...

Many concerns and many questions from myself and other community

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members.

Thank you for your time.

Shirley Huie

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: Steffani Tomizaki
Subject: Re: AFFH
Date: Tuesday, September 17, 2024 7:22:07 PM
Hi Steffani, I saw you at the meeting but didn't get a chance to stop and talk. Thank you for attending and for this feedback which will be shared with the team. - Justin
Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]
From: Steffani Tomizaki <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, September 16, 2024 8:25 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: AFFH

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”
Greetings
I attended the meeting tonight at the Centre Concord. Thank you for the presentation. Most of the questions were answered in the presentation, but unfortunately, it seems many vocal people did not listen so I left.

I did complete a survey but had some further thoughts.

Regarding rezoning where there are established businesses, I don't think is good. I live and work in Concord. I own a small business that is on 2 of the proposals. IF, it were rezoned, then the owner of the land has the option to sell to a builder. The challenge now for me, a small business owner (almost 20 years) will have to find a new location. We already moved once from our first location, where we had been for 10 years, cause a Sprouts was going to be built and the landlord wouldn't renew our lease.

Finding a new location is costly and time-intensive. Would there be any concessions for displaced businesses?
Many other long-time established businesses are on the proposals. Finding a good location is hard, costly, time-consuming. I think rezoning vacant lots, long term vacant businesses (Kmart) is a great idea, but you shouldn't put established

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businesses at risk.

Thank you,
Steffani Tomizaki
owner - Tomizaki's Champions Kung Fu *site 23
"bringing out the CHAMPION within you!"

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: Mary B
Subject: RE: AFFH
Date: Monday, October 28, 2024 10:32:22 AM
Thank you for your email; it will be added to the record.

Kind regards,

-Justin

Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
City of Concord
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]

From: Mary B <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 28, 2024 10:15 AM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: AFFH

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”

Dear Mr. Ezell,

I strongly oppose the recommendation to rezone the Warehouses behind Trader Joe’s on Treat.

Rezoning that space will negatively impact multiple businesses that support our community.

The stakeholders of those Warehouses include not only the small business owners leasing those spaces, but the hundreds of people living healthy, active and enriched lives because those businesses are there. It’s very important that the Planning Commission and City Council understand that these spaces serve a huge need for the wellness and quality of life of Concord residents.

I’m a 27 year member of Concord Jazzercise, one of the businesses that rents Dance Connection Performing Arts Centre (DCPAC). I speak on behalf of 150+ Jazzercisers in our Concord fitness family, and our extended family in the greater Treat Warehouse community —

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please please please do not rezone this site. This unassuming industrial building tucked behind a strip mall houses our lifeblood. Yes, our lifeblood. It depends on this site remaining zoned as is.

In addition to our Jazzercise classes at Dance Connection, many other small businesses depend on this space. As you know, finding a replacement would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, and would devastate and cause much misery for these small business owners and their families.

I support any of the other sites under consideration. Please take the Warehouses behind Trader Joes out of consideration.

Sincerely,

Mary Butler

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: "Debby Butterworth"
Subject: RE: Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Rezoning Project Date: Thursday, September 19, 2024 2:25:00 PM
Hi Debby, I am sorry you cannot make it to the meeting. The meeting materials will be posted to the webpage by tomorrow and there will be a link to the survey that you can complete, though this email and your feedback will be shared with the project team.

Webpage www.cityofconcord.org/affh

Kind regards,

-Justin

Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
City of Concord
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]

From: Debby Butterworth <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, September 19, 2024 2:09 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Rezoning Project

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”

Dear Mr. Ezell

I was not able to attend the Sept 16 meeting at Concord Centre and I will be out of town and will not be able to virtually attend the Sept 19 meeting on furthering fair housing in Concord.

While I do agree we seem to need more housing in all our cities I do not think the choices of Areas 11, 12, or 13 are ideal choices.

Living in the Crossings development, we already experience close (perhaps overcrowded) living with many homes developed with zero lot lines. Our development is extremely compact but we do have the great advantage of a park like green space centering our housing.

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If these above-mentioned areas are developed to high density, we will experience higher traffic impacts (and it's already quite busy with commuters using our development as pass through areas from Antioch, Pittsburg, Brentwood, etc.). I have no idea what is planned for parking...we do not need a large parking lot at the entrance of our development.

We enjoy the green space we have that is maintained by our HOA dues. It will undoubtedly become more of a public park (even though it is marked private property, homeowners only) if high density is placed at our doorstep.

More crowded conditions with more traffic, more dense housing areas in our entrance will surely result in affecting our housing values that we've improved and worked on for years of living here in our community.

Please consider high density housing in areas along already high-trafficked commuter streets with commercial areas already built in, many of which have been vacant for years and could be revamped into high density housing.

Thanks for taking my comments. Please do not rezone and build high density housing at Areas 11,12, or 13 on your rezoning maps.

Debby Butterworth
Concord, CA

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: "[email protected]"
Bcc: McAuley, Wendy
Subject: RE: City of Concord Proposed Rezoning (Cowell Rd/North Larwin) Date: Monday, October 7, 2024 1:50:00 PM
Juan, thanks very much for contacting the City about this program and for providing your feedback. It will be shared with the City Council and project team. If you have not done so already, you may complete the survey on the various alternatives that we are considering.

Slides
Survey
Neighborhood Map
Alternatives

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Kind regards,

-Justin

Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
City of Concord
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]

From: J F <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 7, 2024 1:43 PM
To: Concord City Council Email <[email protected]> Subject: City of Concord Proposed Rezoning (Cowell Rd/North Larwin)

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”

Hello,
Unfortunately, I was unable to attend today's meeting at The Kreamery & Bake Shoppe to discuss a proposal to locate high density affordable housing on the corner of Cowell

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Road/North Larwin.

As a long time resident of Walnut Country (The Crossings) neighborhood since 1978, I see no benefits to this neighborhood building there. The traffic through North Larwin has increased exponentially the past 10 years and this project has the potential to impact the neighborhood and possibly drive down real estate prices as a result.

In addition, the future tenants would have much better access to public transportation, businesses and markets/restaurants building this proposed project downtown. Specifically, Galindo Street which has a huge vacant space that has been sitting undeveloped for many, many years! This location would be ideal as it is situated within a few blocks of BART, markets, restaurants, etc.

I am completely opposed to the City of Concord developing your proposed site at Cowell/North Larwin.

Thank you in advance for your attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,

Juan Fernandez

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: Kasey Bernard
Subject: RE: Concord AFFH re-zoning project
Date: Monday, October 28, 2024 9:19:22 AM
Hi Kasey,

Thank you for your email; it will be included in the record.

Regards,

-Justin

Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
City of Concord
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]

From: Kasey Bernard <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 28, 2024 9:15 AM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Concord AFFH re-zoning project

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”

Dear, Justin,

I'm writing to oppose the rezoning in the "warehouse spaces behind Trader Joe's".

The businesses operating there are strong and thriving, other options are currently vacant or easier to relocate. The intersection is already overcrowded due to multiple high schools surrounding it intersection is already overcrowded due to multiple high schools surrounding it.

Please reconsider the initiative around rezoning this area.Thank you!

Kasey Bernard

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: Michelle Wallroth
Subject: Re: Concord AFFH re-zoning project
Date: Monday, October 28, 2024 5:41:08 AM
Hi Michelle, thank you for contacting me about the AFFH program. Your email will be included in the record.

There is some misinformation about businesses being torn down as a result of AFFH program rezoning, but that is not accurate. The properties being considered for rezoning already allow residential development. For example, the properties behind Trader Joe's/Peets can already support development at a density of 24 units per acre, but no such projects have taken place. Increasing the zoning to 60 units per acre does not mean buildings will be demolished or businesses will be displaced. Any decision to develop housing is entirely up to the property owner. The City will not require development, demolition of existing buildings, or relocation of businesses. Rezoning simply changes what is allowed but does not dictate how properties are used. Existing businesses can continue to operate indefinitely unless the property owner decides to pursue redevelopment.

Additionally, traffic studies will be completed as a part of this project prior to any final decisions being made.

The above information is from the project FAQs
here.

Project website is www.cityofconcord.org/AFFH

Kind regards,
- Justin
Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]
From: Michelle Wallroth <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 27, 2024 11:52 AM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Concord AFFH re-zoning project

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”

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Hi there,
My name is Michelle Wallroth and I currently live in the city of Concord at 4081 Clayton Road. I am a member of Concord CrossFit which is a small WOMAN owned business that is located in the "warehouse spaces behind Trader Joe's". This is one of the small businesses being threatened by the re-zoning project and I'm writing to strongly urge the City of Concord to PLEASE find an alternate location for this project. Concord CrossFit, as well as the other small businesses in this area, are thriving and provide a sense of belonging and community to so many people. Concord CrossFit in particular is giving people like me a totally new lease on life and it would be hugely detrimental to force us to relocate or re-establish new connections, forsaking what we have created together. The area is already seriously congested due to the high school traffic. The pandemic threatened small businesses in a way that most of us have never seen and are hoping to never see again in our lifetime. Help us support those people who are still strong enough to dream of generating their own path to success in the wake of the pandemic. PLEASE, please reconsider.

Thank you,
Michelle Wallroth

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: Tawnya Brode
Subject: Re: Concord AFFH re-zoning project
Date: Monday, October 28, 2024 5:51:38 AM
Hi Tawnya, thank you for your email. It will be added to the record.

Kind regards,
- Justin
Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]
From: Tawnya Brode <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, October 26, 2024 4:46 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Concord AFFH re-zoning project

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”
Good afternoon. With all due respect, I and my family do not agree with re-zoning the "warehouse spaces behind Trader Joe's" . The businesses operating there are strong and thriving, other options are currently vacant or easier to relocate. The intersection is already overcrowded due to multiple high schools surrounding it.

Concord CrossFit /Delta Martial Arts was an amazing support to myself and my son particularly during and after Covid.

Please consider other options that do not put small businesses in jeopardy.

Sincerely,
Tawnya Brode

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: Jorge Silva
Subject: Re: Concord AFFH re-zoning project
Date: Monday, October 28, 2024 5:50:51 AM
Hi Jorge, thank you for your email. It will be added to the record.

Kind regards,
- Justin
Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]
From: Jorge Silva <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, October 26, 2024 4:50 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Concord AFFH re-zoning project

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”
I oppose the re-zoning of the warehouse spaces behind Trader Joe's. The businesses there are strong and thriving, while other available options are either vacant or easier to relocate. Additionally, the intersection is already overcrowded due to multiple high schools in the area.

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: Cassandra Morden
Subject: Re: Concord AFFH re-zoning project
Date: Monday, October 28, 2024 5:49:34 AM
Hi Cassandra, thank you for your email. It will be added to the record.

Kind regards,
- Justin
Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]
From: Cassandra Morden <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, October 26, 2024 4:55 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Concord AFFH re-zoning project

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”
Hi Justin,
I wanted to share my opinion, that many others I know share, about the proposed rezoning for the warehouse spaces behind Trader Joe's in Concord.

I've lived in Concord for almost 8 years now and the warehouse space has housed many community fitness areas throughout that time. I was an active member of Yoga Treat, made lifetime friends and found a sense of community there and then they closed due to Covid. It took me a long time to find another place that I could call home again and then I discovered Delta CrossFit last year. Not only do I call it home, but my kids love it, too! Meg is an amazing and welcoming business owner, mentor, and friend to me and my family. I would hate to lose my community there, and could only imagine what it would mean to her to lose that space as well. Meg has put so much work into her business and my only regret is that I hadn't discovered her gym sooner than a year ago.

As I'm sure you are aware, there are several other proposed areas for your project. From my understanding there are other areas that would not displace small but significantly accomplished businesses, or put business owners in severe jeopardy of price gouging rent increases. There are other areas in town that are currently vacant, would be easier to relocate and/or displace less community members. I strongly urge you to consider the negative impact of the businesses and communities lost by introducing a new, proposed community that can

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easily be considered elsewhere with less consequences to the existing businesses and their loyal clients.

Additionally, as a mother of two kids who commutes in town with school drop off and extracurriculars, Treat and Oak Grove Blvd are already severely congested with multiple schools there and I foresee it would get even worse with additional housing. This alone creates more issues for the surrounding area, not just the businesses in the warehouse space- there are more downstream effects to this project.

I truly hope this space can be removed as an option and we can enjoy our city and community as it currently stands. Being that you are a city manager, I encourage you to think about your city, its existing residents, and not just future builds- look at the community and thriving businesses your city already has.

Sincerely,
Cassandra Morden

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: Andrea Cupples
Subject: Re: Concord AFFH re-zoning project
Date: Monday, October 28, 2024 5:47:38 AM
Hi Andrea, thank you for your email. It will be added to the record.

Kind regards,
- Justin
Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]
From: Andrea Cupples <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, October 26, 2024 7:18 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Concord AFFH re-zoning project

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”
Hello,
I do not agree with re-zoning the wearhouse spaces behind Trader Joe's. The businesses operating there are strong and thriving, and so many of the local you attend dance, and aerial classes in the studio and gym spaces. Taking away that healthy and safe activity could be detrimental.

Other options are currently vacant or easier to relocate. The intersection is already overcrowded due to multiple high schools surrounding it. Adding additional housing would impact that even more.

Please consider other sites.

Thank you
Andrea Cupples

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: Mandie Rhoads
Subject: Re: Concord AFFH re-zoning project
Date: Monday, October 28, 2024 5:47:00 AM
Hi Mandie, thank you for your email. It will be added to the record.

Kind regards,
- Justin
Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]
From: Mandie Rhoads <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, October 26, 2024 7:30 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Concord AFFH re-zoning project

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”
We are current customers at Delta Athletics where our two daughters take aerial silks classes several times a week. We DO NOT agree with the re-zoning of the warehouse spaces behind Trader Joe's. Delta Athletics is a thriving business and we have been coming there for the past several years. There are much better options available that are currently vacant or much easier to relocate. Please DO NOT re-zone the warehouse spaces behind Trader Joe's. Thank you so much for your consideration in this matter.

Best regards,
Mandie Rhoads

Page 313 of 586 ends

From: Ezell, Justin
To: Alexandra Restall
Subject: Re: Concord AFFH re-zoning project
Date: Monday, October 28, 2024 5:44:18 AM
Hi Alex, thank you for contacting me about the AFFH program. Your email will be included in the record.

Additionally, traffic studies will be completed as a part of this project prior to any final decisions being made.

The above information is from the project FAQs
here.

Project website is www.cityofconcord.org/AFFH

Kind regards,
- Justin
Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]
From: Alexandra Restall <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 27, 2024 2:34 AM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Concord AFFH re-zoning project

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”

Page 314 of 586 ends

To whom this may concern:

I’m writing share that I do not agree with re-zoning the "warehouses spaces behind Trader Joe's" .

The businesses operating there are strong and thriving. The intersection is already overcrowded due to multiple high schools surrounding it.

Alex Restall
Please excuse any typos... Sent from my iPhone

Page 315 of 586 ends

From: Ezell, Justin
To: Katie Krembs
Subject: Re: Concord AFFH re-zoning project
Date: Monday, October 28, 2024 5:43:54 AM
Hi Katie, thank you for contacting me about the AFFH program. Your email will be included in the record.

Additionally, traffic studies will be completed as a part of this project prior to any final decisions being made.

The above information is from the project FAQs
here.

Project website is www.cityofconcord.org/AFFH

Kind regards,
- Justin
Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]
From: Katie Krembs <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 27, 2024 8:25 AM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Concord AFFH re-zoning project

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”

Page 316 of 586 ends

Hi Justin,
As a nearby resident, and supporter of businesses in this vicinity, I do not agree with re- zoning the warehouse spaces behind Trader Joe's . The businesses operating there are strong and thriving, other options are currently vacant or easier to relocate. The intersection is already overcrowded due to multiple high schools surrounding it.

Thank you,
Katie Krembs

Page 317 of 586 ends

From: Ezell, Justin
To: Tinamari Coleman
Subject: Re: Concord AFFH re-zoning project
Date: Monday, October 28, 2024 5:42:46 AM
Hello Tinamari, thank you for your email. It will be added to the record.

Kind regards,
- Justin
Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]
From: Tinamari Coleman <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 27, 2024 9:55 AM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Concord AFFH re-zoning project

First and foremost, these are thriving small businesses that have been an important part of the community for years! Does no one care at all about the hundreds of children who take karate, dance, and other lessons in these spaces?
Aside from that it is INSANE to think that this would be a good place to put housing, and I say that as someone who desperately supports the need for more housing in our communities.

This is not it.

The traffic is already extremely heavy.

This would be a tremendous loss to the community if you displaced these small businesses, some of which would likely end up having to close altogether.

It is a shame that this proposal is even being considered! --
~Tinamari Coleman Bekkali
[email protected]

Page 318 of 586 ends

From: Ezell, Justin
To: Christina Bowen; Meg Hamilton
Subject: Re: Concord AFFH Rezoning
Date: Monday, October 28, 2024 5:43:21 AM
Hi Christina, thank you for contacting me about the AFFH program. Your email will be included in the record.

Additionally, traffic studies will be completed as a part of this project prior to any final decisions being made.

The above information is from the project FAQs
here.

Project website is www.cityofconcord.org/AFFH

Kind regards,
- Justin
Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]
From: Christina Bowen <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 27, 2024 9:17 AM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>; Meg Hamilton <[email protected]> Subject: Concord AFFH Rezoning

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”

Page 319 of 586 ends

Good morning,
I’d like to address the potential rezoning of the warehouse spaces behind Trader Joe’s:

Please don’t do it!
Those businesses are THRIVING - our family has been a part of Delta Martial Arts for over a decade and want to continue to see it grow in its current space.

I am concerned about the increase in traffic in an already congested area due to the proximity to YV High School.

It is my understanding that there are other locations better suited to residential projects.

Please keep the area behind Trader Joe’s zoned for small yet VERY important Concord businesses!
Sincerely,
Christina Bowen

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: "Anne T."
Subject: RE: Concord resident input on AFFH project
Date: Tuesday, September 10, 2024 9:11:00 AM
Anne, thank you for the very thoughtful email and your feedback on the project. I will share it with the team.

The notice you received in the mail is the first such notice to be delivered to mailboxes. Prior outreach was through our e-newsletter, social media (NextDoor and Facebook), and other written and electronic materials. The mailed notice was specific to properties within 500’ of a property being considered for rezoning (about 7,000 properties received this notice).

If a site is selected for rezoning it could go on operating just like it does now, there would be no loss of use, only gain. For example, if the oil change place is selected for rezoning, it could continue operating as an oil change business forever. Alternatively, it could also be demolished, and housing built there, or it could have a combination of residential and commercial uses.

The Palm Lakes property owner has expressed interest in constructing additional units but there would be no demolition of existing (there is no discussion of that anyway).

FYI that we made a commitment to the community that we would not takeaway any parks or open space as a part of this program, so only existing sites would be considered for rezoning.

You are not alone in your concern/feedback about traffic impacts. We will study those impacts as we move further along in the process and the sites have been selected.

I do hope that you attend an upcoming meeting and I appreciate you weighing in.

Kind regards,

-Justin

Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
City of Concord
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]

From: Anne T. <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 10, 2024 7:25 AM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Concord resident input on AFFH project

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“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”

Good morning, Justin!

I am a proud and grateful Concord resident for the past 31 years in the Ygnacio Woods neighborhood (across from Ygnacio Valley HS). I received the letter in the mail recently about the AFFH project in Concord. I’m pretty conscientious about opening mail and I don’t recall any other prior communication about this project coming to our house. I apologize if I missed the communication on my end, but I’m glad that letter arrived now! I did a deep-dive into the Concord website and was able to review that excellent community Zoom meeting from April 25th 2024.

That was such an informative and well-run presentation and meeting by you and Eric (?). I was also VERY impressed with the level of compassion and interest by the Concord residents who attended and their thoughtful, intelligent, respectful and creative approaches to the issue at hand, wow! I agreed with almost all of the discussion at that meeting. Great group!

I understand and support the project! As everyone agrees, it needs to be studied, designed and implemented in a very thoughtful manner, so that it will be value-added to the whole community for many years to come. Conversely, a poorly planned project could have a severe negative impact on a wonderful community far into the future. I think everyone is in agreement to not let that happen.

Since I wasn’t aware of the project prior to now, I’m going to provide my 2 cents worth of what I see so far. Going forward, I hope to attend one of the upcoming September meetings.

I see that some of the high priority sites are around the Treat & Oak Grove Road area. My BIGGEST concern about that area is that the TRAFFIC is already horrible at that intersection, especially on Oak Grove Road. As I said, we have lived here for many years and the increase in traffic over the years has really been remarkable. There are frequently times when we literally cannot pull out of our neighborhood onto Oak Grove Road because of the shear number of cars backed up from the intersection. And of course, as it sounds like in other neighborhoods, people are now cutting through our neighborhood and the neighborhood adjacent to ours as a passthrough to avoid the intersection of Treat & Oak Grove Rd as they head up Treat towards Clayton. Not being able to pull out onto Oak Grove Rd and people cutting through neighborhoods to avoid the intersection are just symptoms of an intersection and roads which are not able to accommodate the amount of traffic that is already present. So, from a resident’s point of view, those possible re-zoning sites directly adjacent to the Treat & Oak Grove Rd intersection would pose a distinct negative impact to the residents in that area. That section of street between Treat and Ygnacio Valley HS, which also contains a very busy strip mall with a bank and Trader Joes, is VERY dangerous already with walkers and erratic drivers trying to navigate the bad traffic. Treat & Ygnacio are the only two main arteries from the freeway up to Clayton, Antioch, Pittsburg etc and only very few streets cross between the two (Bancroft & Oak Grove Rd being the main ones in this area). So by definition, these cross streets are already very heavily traveled.

On the other end of Oak Grove Road and Ygnacio Valley Road (Walnut Creek), there is a proposal to put a Chick- fil-A in that strip mall. There would be no drive-through, but those fast food places are very popular and generate a high level of traffic to them day and night. The local Walnut Creek residents are protesting that proposal due to the extreme traffic that business would generate. So Oak Grove Rd between Ygnacio & Treat is already a bottleneck of traffic, negatively impacting the residents in the adjacent neighborhoods.

I see on the subsequent slides of the proposed sites that the Treat & Oak Grove Rd area consistently ranks high in the desirable categories. I understand that on paper, that would be a great area to build the new housing, with access to stores, schools, transportation etc, but to build at that particular INTERSECTION would have a significant negative impaction on congestion the area, in my estimation. I hope that the upcoming transportation study of the areas are comprehensive in their scope and have a strong impact on the planning process.

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: Paula Wong
Subject: Re: Delta arts, etc
Date: Monday, October 28, 2024 5:44:57 AM
Hi Paula, thank you for contacting me about the AFFH program. Your email will be included in the record.

Additionally, traffic studies will be completed as a part of this project prior to any final decisions being made.

The above information is from the project FAQs
here.

Project website is www.cityofconcord.org/AFFH

Kind regards,
- Justin
Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]
From: Paula Wong <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, October 26, 2024 11:31 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Delta arts, etc

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”

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It has come to my attention that Delta Arts, our local aerial arts studio, is at risk in the new rezoning plans. We do not agree with re-zoning the warehouse spaces behind Trader Joe's . The businesses operating there are strong and thriving, while other options are currently vacant or easier to relocate.

The intersection is already overcrowded due to multiple high schools surrounding it. Let's support small businesses and use some of the other vacant lots for these projects! (Also, there is concern that if the property is zoned for housing, the landlord will be able to raise rents since "it would be easier to sell now." We can't afford higher rents!!!)
Paula Wong

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: Jessica Fox
Subject: Re: Do not choose the warehouse behind TJs!!
Date: Monday, October 28, 2024 5:55:47 AM
Hi Jessica, thank you for your email. It will be added to the record.

Kind regards,
- Justin
Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]
From: Jessica Fox <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, October 26, 2024 4:13 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Do not choose the warehouse behind TJs!!

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”
Dear Mr Ezell
Please don’t choose that site to rezone! It is already completely chaotic with the school traffic and I can’t imagine it if you add hundreds of new residents to live right next to the schools.

I go to Jazzercise class at the dance connection and have for many years. I live near by so I shop in the shopping center and there are days I don’t want to deal with the traffic already. If you allow an apt complex there it will compound the issue 10 fold.

Please choose another, I am all for affordable equal opportunity housing but this is the wrong choice.

Also why would you want to rent a place in the thick of all that traffic that occurs heavily twice a day! In the morning right when people would be commuting. There has got to be a better location to pick that won’t impact so many long standing business, many small businesses and women owned none the less!
Please remove this location as an option.

Thank you,
Jessica Marcotte
Sent from my iPhone

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From: Nakamura, Laura
To: Julia Young
Cc: Ezell, Justin
Subject: RE: Fair Housing concern: property @ 4415 Cowell rd ( Cowell Rd and N. Larwin) Date: Monday, October 7, 2024 12:32:38 PM
Hello Julia,
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts about Concord's Housing Element program to Affirmatively Further Fair Housing.

To better understand the history of why this is being done you can read more about AB 686 at the link I am providing. Please note that this is a state law and was supported by our Assemblymember, Tim Grayson. https://www.nhlp.org/wp-content/uploads/AB-686-Fact-Sheet-Feb.-2019.pdf To be clear, the city has not approved a 5-story multi-family complex that will be built in the next 8 years. The process we are undergoing is the rezoning of commercial properties within certain areas of the city. Here is a link to the project boundary: https://www.cityofconcord.org/DocumentCenter/View/11390/Concord-AFFH_Project- Boundary_Final?bidId=
The City of Concord is considering several properties for a program that may change allowable land uses to facilitate the development of high-density residential housing. The City hosted two community meetings and one for Spanish language in September. There is a survey that residents have been asked to provide feedback.

This potential rezoning will not affect any current uses on the properties under consideration but will allow high- density residential housing to be built in addition to the existing permitted uses. The City is committed to rezoning at least 20 acres in higher resource neighborhoods to permit high-density multifamily development (up to 60 units per acre). These 20 acres will be distributed across various parcels within the study area.

More information can be found in this FAQ: https://www.cityofconcord.org/DocumentCenter/View/11736/FAQs? bidId=
I have cc'd Assistant City Manager, Justin Ezell, as he might have more to add.

Sincerely,
Laura
Laura Nakamura (She/her/hers)
City Councilmember, District 5
Mobile 925-338-1259
Web https://www.lauranakamura.net/
Sign up for my newsletter: https://www.lauranakamura.net/newsletter

-----Original Message-----
From: Julia Young <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, October 3, 2024 5:31 PM
To: Nakamura, Laura <[email protected]>
Subject: Fair Housing concern: property @ 4415 Cowell rd ( Cowell Rd and N. Larwin)

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I have just been made aware that the commercial property at the entrance to our development is going to be rezoned under the Fair Housing project and a 5 story building for multi family housing will be built there within the next 8 years. Is this true??!
It is very unfortunate that our community was not previously made aware of this so concerns could be made known.

I understand that property owners directly facing this property has been made aware, but not our general Walnut Country /Crossings community.

As you know from your recent visit to our community, our development, Walnut Country ( also known as the Crossings) is one of the largest, if not the largest, middle class single family communities with a huge open greenbelt with walking paths, recreational facilities etc, in Concord. And Limeridge which is directly opposite our development on Cowell Rd/N Larwin is also a large single family residential development. ( although their zip code is Walnut Creek). Our neighborhoods are one of the best neighborhoods for resale and to live in. As a long time resident of concord yourself, I’m sure you are aware of this.

How did the city rationalize approving a multi level ( 5 stories I believe) building right at the entrance of our single family residential communities? That height is totally out of character to a residential neighborhood. How will the city ensure that our neighborhood ( private greenbelt and facilities) be safe and secure from an increase of use by non- residents that will be residing at that property? Since this rezoning is a decision by the city, will the City of Concord be paying and maintaining locked privacy gates to each and every street entrance to our private property greenbelt access? No-trespassing private property signs, is not a real deterrent, especially in anticipation of higher density (rental?) housing that will be built at the entrance of our 1,000 + home single family residential neighborhood.

How will the city respond to increased street parking in front of our residential houses if there isn’t enough overflow parking provided on their multi family building property? Is the Concord police force prepared to provide additional patrol and rapid responsive due to the higher density housing near our residential community?
These are concerns that need to be addressed if these were not brought up during the decision process.

Transparency is important to keep our community dialogue open to address decisions that impact our daily life and security.

I hope you or someone on your staff will provide some real information to address these concerns.

Regards,
Julia Young
Sent from my iPhone Sent from my iPhone

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: Kelly Guertin
Cc: Ryan Guertin
Subject: RE: Feedback on Proposed Rezoning of Parcel 10 - Dana Estates Date: Friday, September 27, 2024 9:52:00 AM
Kelly and Ryan, thanks to you both for being involved in this program; we really value and appreciate the feedback, which will be shared with the project team and City Council.

One point of clarification I need to make is that, if that parcel is ultimately rezoned, it could be developed up to a maximum of 60 units with the minimum being 30-40 units. Also, you should know that the parcel could be developed today under its current zoning, however the maximum today is 24 units.

Thanks again for the feedback. Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions.

Regards,

-Justin

Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
City of Concord
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]

From: Kelly Guertin <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, September 25, 2024 2:01 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Cc: Ryan Guertin <[email protected]>
Subject: Feedback on Proposed Rezoning of Parcel 10 - Dana Estates

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”

Hello Mr. Ezell,

It was a pleasure to meet with you and with many of my concerned neighbors from Dana Estates at the community meeting held on September 16. I appreciated the time you gave us near the end of the session to answer our many questions and to hear our feedback on the proposed rezoning alternatives. I also attended the September 19 online meeting on the same topic.

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I have been a resident and homeowner in Dana Estates for 25 years. Our neighborhood is made up of 1-story single family homes. My home is located on Landana Drive within 500 feet of the parcel of land at Dana Plaza that is being under consideration for rezoning. This parcel is identified as parcel #10 and is part of Alternative #3 Distributed Development on Small Sites.

My husband and I, as well as many of our neighbors, are very concerned about the significant negative impacts rezoning a parcel of land at Dana Plaza could bring to our neighborhood. My understanding is that a high density structure would consist of at least 60 units per acre and be at least a 4-story building.

I’m against rezoning this parcel of land, #10 as part of Alternative #3, for the following reasons:
· Limited parking availability.

New construction will not have appropriate parking for the building’s residents and guests. They will then have to park in the Dana Plaza parking lot which is meant for customers. Dana Plaza is a thriving center now and the parking lot is frequently full. Residents and their guests parking in these spaces will negatively impact the Dana Plaza businesses because their customers will not have a place to park.

New residents and their guests will have to resort to parking on the surrounding residential streets, such as Landana. We would like to continue to have access to park in front of our own home.
· Traffic and Safety.

Living on Landana Drive has it challenges because of the through traffic we have on our street as people cut through our neighborhood to get to and from highway 4 and the fact that we are located near 3 schools. Adding high density housing at Dana Plaza will make traffic worse and ultimately more unsafe for pedestrians, especially our kids who are trying to get to and from school. As it is, as a baseline, cars speed down Landana to cut through the neighborhood, we see erratic and unsafe passing regularly to get around cars who are trying to turn into their driveway, and I’ve witnessed fights and accidents near the traffic circle. At commute times it gets worse because the traffic gets heavier and then on top of that during school drop off & pick up times its bumper to bumper on Landana and all of the streets surrounding Dana Plaza and the schools. We have a hard time getting out of our driveway during these times. Adding more cars to this equation is not safe for pedestrians.
· Building is out of Scale for the Area
Simply, a 4-story or more building is not compatible with our neighborhood of 1-story homes. A building so large is too big in scale and would be out of place.

For these reasons, I’m against rezoning this parcel of land. Thank you for the opportunity to share my concerns and for your thoughtful consideration of the negative impacts rezoning would cause our Dana Estates neighborhood.

Sincerely,

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Kelly and Ryan Guertin

On Saturday, September 21, 2024 at 08:55:16 AM PDT, Ezell, Justin <[email protected]> wrote:

Thank you for attending Thursday's community meeting. Presentation materials and the survey are now posted at www.cityofconcord.org/AFFH.

Slides
Survey
Neighborhood Map
Alternatives

Regards,

- Justin

Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: Lindsey Duvall
Subject: Re: Fw: AFFH Community Meeting
Date: Wednesday, September 25, 2024 1:25:33 PM
Attachments: 2247 Concord Blvd.pdf
Hi Lindsey,
Thank you for your active participation in this program. Your attendance at the meetings, completion of the survey, and engagement with both neighbors and staff have been invaluable, and we truly appreciate your efforts.

At this time, we do not have strong, comparable examples regarding the impact of Concord-specific projects with densities up to 60 dwelling units per acre on adjacent home prices.

For example, the Park Central Apartments, developed at 60 dwelling units per acre in downtown, were completed in 2002. While there are adjacent single-family homes, I have not yet been able to locate reliable home price data from over 20 years ago for comparison.

More recently, the Renaissance Apartments, built at 65 units per acre downtown, have no adjacent homes, making a comparison in this case unavailable as well.

Lastly, the Grant Street Apartments, constructed at 116 dwelling units per acre (nearly double what is being considered near your home), opened in late 2022/early 2023. There is one single-family home located at 2247 Concord Blvd., directly across the street from The Grant. The value of that property has increased by 63% over the last five years, compared to a 34% increase in typical home values across Concord during the same period. While this level of appreciation is likely an outlier and difficult to explain, it is clear that the construction of The Grant did not negatively impact the property’s value. Please see the attached details for further information.

Here are additional resources related to how the construction of affordable housing affects property values.

Amark Foundation, citing 13 studies
"Research studies into the impact of low-income housing on neighborhood property values have, in general, concluded that there was either no impact or positive impacts on property values. Even in studies where results were mixed, some positive impacts on property values were found."
The National Association of Realtors also advertised this meta-analysis, which shows that even national organizations whose goal is higher home values supports affordable housing.

Source
The Center for Housing Policy and National Housing Conference, citing 12 studies "To 'summarize the summaries' — the vast majority of studies have found that affordable housing does not depress neighboring property values, and may even

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raise them in some cases. Overall, the research suggests that neighbors should have little to fear from the type of attractive and modestly sized developments that constitute the bulk of newly produced affordable housing today." Source
The Urban Institute
"...empirical research provides little evidence that subsidized housing depresses neighborhood property values (Ellen et al, 2007; Galster 2002; Center for Housing Policy 2009)."
"Projects financed through...the largest affordable housing financing program in the United States, have been associated with an immediate positive increase of

3.8 percentage points in nearby property values (Ellen et al. 2007). "LIHTC properties, on average, revitalize low-income neighborhoods, increasing house prices by 6.5 percent, lowering crime rates, and attracting racially and income-diverse populations (Diamond and McQuade 2016)."
"We find that...in Alexandria, affordable housing in higher-income neighborhoods has a positive and highly significant effect on surrounding home values, as does affordable housing in lower-income neighborhoods."
Journal of Housing Economics
"We find some evidence that both stand-alone and clustered LIHTC developments generate positive price spillover effects on the surrounding neighborhoods; subsequent LIHTC projects do not affect prices negatively. The benefits are strongest within one quarter mile of the development, but smaller impacts prevail for up to a half mile from the LIHTC property. The positive impacts remain strong for at least 10 years after the initial development. The cumulative price effect is positive in both lower and higher-income areas and more significant in lower-income areas." Source
Trulia
"In the nation’s 20 least affordable markets, our analysis of 3,083 low-income housing projects from 1996 to 2006 found no significant effect on home values located near a low-income housing project."
Again, this is a real estate company advocating for affordable housing.

Source
Please contact me with any additional questions.

Kind regards,
- Justin
Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519

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(925) 671-3155
[email protected]
From: Lindsey Duvall <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, September 23, 2024 10:20 AM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Fw: AFFH Community Meeting

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”
Hi Justin,
Thank you for the informative meeting last week. I filled out the survey but wanted to give more context to my thoughts - please let me know if there's a better forum to capture this information?
I live in the neighborhood behind the TJMaxx parking lot at Bailey/Treat. I was very excited to get involved in this proposal as I would love to see that parking lot get a makeover - as I'm sure you're aware, it's very rundown. It would be great to build on our neighborhood with local businesses on the bottom and apartments above, however, I have recently realized that a building higher than a lamp post would impede our current backyard view. It was discussed that these buildings would not have an impact on house value, but I would strongly disagree as I would not have purchased this home if there was an apartment complex hovering over me. I'm sure my neighbors would agree and I plan on speaking to them about this potential site as well.

I would also like to point out the congestion on Bailey during commute hours and the KinderCare on the corner - I'm not sure of any laws that are in place for building near a daycare, but apartments looking down onto the playground doesn't seem appropriate in my opinion.

I would like to be very honest in my intentions here - I am all for this project but not at the expense of my home value. I'm pasting my thoughts from the survey below to reinforce my strong opinion about multiple, smaller sites. I look forward to this ongoing discussion.

The point of this project is to create housing to foster an inclusive community in higher resource neighborhoods. I feel strongly that building only a few high-rises (more than 3 stories) will do the exact opposite. To keep the integrity of a neighborhood, it would behoove Concord to invest in several smaller buildings, encouraging the growth of a community rather than introducing large commercial-like housing.

Thank you,
Lindsey

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On Sat, Sep 21, 2024 at 8:55ௗAM Ezell, Justin <[email protected]> wrote:

Thank you for attending Thursday's community meeting. Presentation materials and the survey are now posted at www.cityofconcord.org/AFFH.

Slides
Survey
Neighborhood Map
Alternatives
Regards,
- Justin
Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]

Page 335 of 586 ends

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: Julie
Subject: RE: High Density Housing in Concord
Date: Monday, October 28, 2024 7:20:23 AM
Hi Julie,

You are welcome; contact me any time about this program. I do want to clarify how we have been communicating on this project.

Kind regards,

-Justin

Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
City of Concord
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]

From: Julie <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, October 28, 2024 7:16 AM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: High Density Housing in Concord

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”

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Thanks Justin! I appreciate you taking the time to respond. We are just now finding out about this project so hopefully some of these questions will be answered at the meetings. I unfortunately can not attend but hope that the community learns more about the projects and can help the city find a suitable area for more housing.

Thank you,
Julie

On Mon, Oct 28, 2024, 7:03 AM Ezell, Justin <[email protected] > wrote:

Hi Julie, thank you for contacting me about the AFFH program. Your email will be included in the record.

Increasing the zoning to 60 units per acre does not mean buildings will be demolished or businesses will be displaced. Any decision to develop housing is entirely up to the property owner.

Additionally, traffic studies will be completed as a part of this project prior to any final decisions being made.

The above information is from the project FAQs here.

Project website is www.cityofconcord.org/AFFH

Kind regards,

- Justin

Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]
From: Julie <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, October 27, 2024 9:46 PM

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To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: High Density Housing in Concord

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”

Dear Mr. Ezell,

I have just read an article about the proposed high density housing sites in Concord. I am in Concord most days at the shopping center located at the corner of Oak Grove and Treat for my exercise class, shopping, and dining. The warehouses in the back of the shopping center are always bustling with activity and if the small businesses were forced to leave, many would not have the resources to relocate. I take 3 to 4 zumba classes a week at Dance Connection which has a specialized dance floor. There are no other dance studios in the area where classes can be held.

I am also concerned about the traffic at the intersection of Oak Grove and Treat.

Adding more residents in that location would increase the traffic at this already busy intersection. There have been several major accidents with fatalities in there. Morning and evening rush hours as well as school drop-off and pickup cause traffic to back up in all directions leaving motorists to wait through several cycles of the traffic light to get passed the intersection.

These are just a few of my concerns with adding extra housing where the warehouses now exist behind Trader Joe's. Please consider a location that would not effect so many small businesses and would not create more traffic at an already hazardous intersection.

Thank you,

Julie Allen

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: "[email protected]"
Subject: RE: Low Income Housing off Cowell Rd
Date: Friday, September 27, 2024 11:43:00 AM
Mrs. Grech,

Your email was forwarded to me, and I truly appreciate your patience in hearing from me as I was out of the office earlier this week.

First, thank you for your involvement in this program. We greatly value your feedback, which will be shared with both the project team and the City Council.

Regarding the Naval Weapons Station land, the City of Concord is mandated by the State of California to develop a plan for new housing units over an eight-year period (2023-2031), known as the Housing Element, which is a part of our General Plan. While the full buildout of the Naval Weapons Station project will take approximately 40 years, we are still several years away from breaking ground. As a result, the housing units planned for this site fall beyond the timeframe of the current Housing Element. We will not be able to account for these units until the next Housing Element update, scheduled for 2031.

With regard to the properties on Cowell, we would appreciate your input via the survey linked below. Your thoughts on which properties should or shouldn’t be rezoned will help us refine our recommendations for the program.

Here are the links:

Slides
Survey
Neighborhood Map
Alternatives

Thank you again for your valuable participation, and we look forward to hearing more from you.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Kind regards,

-Justin

Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
City of Concord
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]

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On Saturday, September 21, 2024, 1:41 PM, [email protected] <[email protected]> wrote:

I live in Concord off Cowell Rd and North Larwin. The corner of North Larwin is not feasible for the neighborhood is already impacted. There are larger parcels like where the old Kmart was which is more suited for such a project or off treat near the CVS.

This has been home to me since 1977. The traffic has gotten worse and it is even hard to get out of my own driveway.

To even consider this area along Cowell Road is not only unreasonable, but it would be negligent on the City of Concord’s representatives to force such a project in such a small , already congested area.

I am therefore requesting that none of the sites that are being considered off of Cowell Road should be given any consideration towards this Low Income housing area. There is NO public transportstion in this area and no extra parking anywhere around here. It would be a disaster to promote such an idea!

The Concord Naval Weapons Station area is also more suitable for such a project. Jamming these type buildings in already tight areas is just not right!

Jane Grech

Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: "Tracy Goldman"
Subject: RE: Questions RE: Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Program Date: Thursday, September 19, 2024 1:59:00 PM
Hi Tracy, thank you for attending tonight’s meeting. Please see below responses and let me know if you have other questions.

Regards,

-Justin

Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
City of Concord
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]

From: Tracy Goldman <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, September 19, 2024 1:09 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Questions RE: Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Program

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”

Good afternoon.

I plan to attend tonight’s meeting and have a few questions I’d like to add to the list.

1. Has the city examined the impact that high density housing projects in the proposed lots would have on traffic? It already takes an hour to drive from the intersection of Clayton and Ygnacio Valley Road to the 680. Given the number of developments proposed along Clayton Road between Ygnacio Valley and Treat Boulevard, I can only imagine that traffic will get a lot worse if these lots are developed.

Not yet but it’s coming. The transportation related studies will occur during the next phase of this project. Our first objective is to narrow down the list of properties to be considered for rezoning. We expect this to occur by the end of the year. We will then begin performing various environmental impact

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studies, including transportation-related (more cars, more congestion, etc.).

The time frame for this portion of the work is from roughly the new year to the summer.

2. Has the city considered the fact that several of the proposed lots flank both ends of Alberta Way? This 2-lane road is already horribly congested during the week due to traffic heading to and from Clayton Valley High School (which has over 5,000 students).

Adding several hundred more residents to those areas will only make matters worse.

Same answer as above. This will be examined during the study phase. We will also be working with the schools during this phase of the program.

3. Will re-zoning the proposed commercial lots put current businesses such as Clayton Valley Bowl, Staples, CVS, Leslie’s and Concord Family Optometry at risk of being displaced? Will there be measures in place to protect these businesses? Possibly. I say possibly because if a property is rezoned, it doesn’t change anything with the existing uses. The bowling alley can continue being a bowling alley forever, same as CVS, Staples, and all others. The only change is that the amount of housing that can be built on these sites will increase.

These sites that you mention already allow housing on them, the project would increase the amount allowed but not force any existing use to change.

The “possibly” part comes from the fact that a property owner may decide to develop housing after the rezoning occurs, but as I mentioned, housing can be built on those parcels today.

Thank you.

Tracy Goldman

Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPad

On Thursday, August 22, 2024, 8:34 AM, Ezell, Justin <[email protected]> wrote:

Dear stakeholders,

We have scheduled two more community meetings on the AFFH program; please see dates and times below (you only need to attend one).

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We have also narrowed down the list of properties being considered for rezoning.

We will continue narrowing down the list as we get further into the program. An updated map showing the properties currently under consideration is here .

Please note that no properties have been selected for rezoning at this time.

Attend one of the following upcoming community meetings; you do not need to attend both:

Monday, September 16, 6 p.m. at Centre Concord (5298 Clayton Road, Concord)
Thursday, September 19, 6 p.m. via Zoom (Registration link)

Regards,

-Justin

Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
City of Concord
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: Kathryn Durham-Hammer
Subject: Re: Rezoning AFFH sites: Opposition to rezoning Warehouses behind Trader Joe"s Date: Monday, October 28, 2024 5:55:08 AM
Hi Kathryn,
You are welcome to contact me any time about this program. I do want to clarify how we have been communicating on this project.

Kind regards,
- Justin
Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]
From: Kathryn Durham-Hammer <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, October 26, 2024 12:38 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Rezoning AFFH sites: Opposition to rezoning Warehouses behind Trader Joe's

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”

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Dear Justin,
Thank you for your response. Yes, I am aware that the city is not tearing down buildings, but our concern of course is that the property owner will be motivated by the higher-density rezoning to sell to an eager developer and all of our businesses will be kaput.

I'm sad that we only just found out about this! If we had known sooner, you would have heard from us from the beginning.

Kathryn
On Sat, Oct 26, 2024 at 9:59ௗAM Ezell, Justin <[email protected] > wrote:

Hi Kathryn, thank you for contacting me about the AFFH program. Your email will be included in the record.

Increasing the zoning to 60 units per acre does not mean buildings will be demolished or businesses will be displaced. Any decision to develop housing is entirely up to the property owner.

The City will not require development, demolition of existing buildings, or relocation of businesses.

Rezoning simply changes what is allowed but does not dictate how properties are used. Existing businesses can continue to operate indefinitely unless the property owner decides to pursue redevelopment.

The above information is from the project FAQs
here.

Project website is www.cityofconcord.org/AFFH

Kind regards,
- Justin
Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]
From: Kathryn Durham-Hammer <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, October 25, 2024 10:24 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Rezoning AFFH sites: Opposition to rezoning Warehouses behind Trader Joe's

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“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”
Dear Mr. Ezell,
I have been a small business owner in Concord since 2012 teaching Zumba Fitness and Bollywood Fitness classes to primarily active seniors at 2956 Treat Blvd Suite G. I learned this afternoon
that the City of Concord has been working on a plan to rezone 20 acres of property in a target area in Concord for high-density housing. I further understand that the warehouses behind Trader Joe's in the Oak Grove Plaza Business Park, where I have run my small business for the past 12+ years, are one of the final four sites being put forth for rezoning.

I am writing to strongly and unequivocally oppose rezoning these unique and special warehouses behind Trader Joe's.

My business offers irreplaceable services and community to the City of Concord. The majority of my clients are over age 50 and many of them are seniors. Additionally, a large percentage of my clients are of Chinese, Japanese, and Filipino ancestry. Many others have roots from around the world, particularly India, Brazil, Eastern Europe, Mexico, West Africa, and Puerto Rico. Our dance fitness community is truly multi-racial and multi- national and brings a special diversity to Concord. The dances we do also incorporate music, cultures, and styles from around the world.

My business is nestled inside the larger, also woman-owned business, Dance Connection, which has been a prominent, nationally-renowned dance studio for children and teens for over 3 decades. My neighbors are other thriving woman-owned businesses, Jazzercise with Teri Crippen and Delta Athletics with Margaret Hamilton. Around the corner is the Four Corners Vet, to which I and my neighbors and clients take our pets for care. My hunch is that the City was not fully aware of the special and unique use and services provided on this site. We all would have spoken up much sooner, had we known this process was underway and that stakeholders were providing feedback.

I understand that many other sites have been taken off the list of sites for various reasons.

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One site in particular seems much more appropriate than the unique warehouses behind Trader Joe's. That site is the dental office location across Treat Blvd. It is much more feasible for medical offices to relocate than those of us who use a special dance studio space with a proper dance floor that is conveniently located for our active senior clients.

Please protect our small businesses and choose to rezone sites that will not put people out of business or harm the wellbeing of our local seniors!
Thank you,
Kathryn Durham-Hammer
Owner, WildKat Fitness
Home address: 3460 Zion Place, Concord, 94518
--
Kathryn Durham-Hammer
Owner, WildKat Fitness
Licensed Instructor, Zumba Fitness, Zumba Toning
Certified Nutrition Coach, Precision Nutrition Level 2
Certified Mindset Coach, Noom
510-847-2422
http://www.wildkatfitness.com (visit website)
https://studiobookingonline.com/wildkatfitness/classes.html (book a live class) https://www.zumba.com/en-US/profile/kathryn-durham-hammer/540407 (take a pre- recorded class - free with code "2BWILD")
Love WildKat Fitness classes and want to help us grow? A positive review on Yelp
, Google, and Zumba.com is always greatly appreciated!
To unsubscribe, reply to this email with "Unsubscribe" in the subject line. I understand! --
Kathryn Durham-Hammer
Owner, WildKat Fitness
Licensed Instructor, Zumba Fitness, Zumba Toning
Certified Nutrition Coach, Precision Nutrition Level 2
Certified Mindset Coach, Noom
510-847-2422
http://www.wildkatfitness.com (visit website)
https://studiobookingonline.com/wildkatfitness/classes.html (book a live class) https://www.zumba.com/en-US/profile/kathryn-durham-hammer/540407 (take a pre-

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recorded class - free with code "2BWILD")
Love WildKat Fitness classes and want to help us grow? A positive review on Yelp, Google, and Zumba.com is always greatly appreciated!
To unsubscribe, reply to this email with "Unsubscribe" in the subject line. I understand!

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: Karen Moe
Cc: Kathryn Durham-Hammer
Subject: Re: Rezoning
Date: Monday, October 28, 2024 5:50:19 AM
Hi Karen, thank you for your email. It will be added to the record.

Kind regards,
- Justin
Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
1950 Parkside Drive
Concord, CA 94519
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]
From: Karen Moe <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, October 26, 2024 4:53 PM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Cc: Kathryn Durham-Hammer <[email protected]>
Subject: Rezoning

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”
Hello Mr Ezell,
I am a Concord resident of 20+ years concerned about the rezoning project. I appreciate that there is a forum for community outreach and input prior to the decision being made. While I understand the need for affordable housing, I wonder why active sites with functioning small businesses are being considered instead of vacant sites.

In particular, I am concerned about the warehouses behind Trader Joe’s on Treat Blvd. I recently discovered that area when I started taking a Zumba class at one of the studios. When I discovered this tucked-back nook for the first time on a Friday morning this August, I remember being excited to find such a hidden gem in Concord. The area was bustling with various workout studios pumping hype music and parents getting their children to athletic classes. After my first Zumba class, we joined fellow exercisers at Peet’s for a post workout snack. There is a children’s dance studio; one Saturday morning multiple generations were there supporting the girls as they prepared for a competition. This area not only provides valuable recreation and physical fitness opportunities for all ages, it also supports many local small business owners as well as the businesses in the main Trader Joe’s shopping center.

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The studio I attend is WildKat Fitness owned by Kathryn Durham-Hammer. Her studio space is very special for so many reasons. The central location draws people from Concord, Clayton, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, Martinez and beyond. I had been taking Zumba classes at the Martinez Senior Center when I discovered this space much closer to home. After my first class, I realized my feet did not hurt as usual; a friend told me the studio has sprung wood dance floors, as opposed to the standard-issue floors in the multi-use room in Martinez.

Kathryn's studio is bright, open, and big, perfect for me and my fellow dancers. While I am only lucky enough to dance on Fridays and Saturdays, Kathryn has full, energetic classes there Monday through Saturday. I can only imagine how hard, if not impossible, it would be for Kathryn to find a similar space to support her small business and dozens of clients.

I noticed on the survey that there is a vacant site at Kirker Pass and Myrtle. I am not sure about the status of the property at 1539 Kirker Pass Road but it also does not seem used. It seems beneficial for the city to pursue unused sites that can be revitalized rather than dismantling a vibrant area providing much-needed services to many members of our community and beyond.

I appreciate your time and consideration. Thank you for your service to our community.

Sincerely,
Karen Moe

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From: Ezell, Justin
To: "Lindsay duPont"
Subject: RE: Traffic feedback for AFFH
Date: Monday, September 30, 2024 7:49:00 AM
Lindsay, thanks very much for contacting me about this program and for providing your feedback. It will be shared with the project team. If you have not done so already, you may complete the survey on the various alternatives that we are considering.

Slides
Survey
Neighborhood Map
Alternatives

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Regards,

-Justin

Justin Ezell
Assistant City Manager
City of Concord
(925) 671-3155
[email protected]

From: Lindsay duPont <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, September 29, 2024 10:42 AM
To: Ezell, Justin <[email protected]>
Subject: Traffic feedback for AFFH

“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”

Hi, my name is Lindsay duPont, I’m a resident of one of the areas in consideration for AFFH.

I got off work too late to attend the meetings, but wanted to communicate my feedback.

I can offer my perspective of three things, Belair Dr., Clayton Road, and Treat and Cowell. I live off of Bel Air, and it is already tricky to turn onto Bel Air Dr. in either direction because of limited visibility, and morning pedestrian traffic from apartment occupants and dog walkers

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jumping out from behind parked cars. The CVS and liquor store lot adds unexpected traffic, and you really have to be vigilant at all times. I would recommend avoiding any outlet onto Bel Air if possible.

Clayton Road is often congested during the morning commute, I see it backed up past Bailey and Ayers. Adding residents turning into this would gum things up even more and block traffic to Dunkins and other businesses.

I think right now treat might be the road that can absorb the most traffic, but admittedly I don’t see that during commute hours. However, there’s always steady traffic onto Cowell to get to freeways and downtown, and that road probably can’t be expanded to accommodate more cars.

I understand that this has to happen, and I appreciate your asking for resident feedback.

Whatever decision is made, please take into account how residents will enter the flow of traffic.

Thank you,

Lindsay duPont

Page 353 of 586 ends

From: thogenmill
To: Ezell, Justin
Cc: Obringer, Carlyn; Aliano, Dominic; Birsan, Edi; Hoffmeister, Laura; Nakamura, Laura; Tom Hogenmiller Subject: Re: Update on the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) Program Date: Monday, October 21, 2024 7:55:59 PM
“EXTERNAL EMAIL: This email originated from outside of the City of Concord. Do not follow guidance, click links, or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.”
The State Attorney General claimed that Elk Grove was fined because of their "interpretation" of the state mandate. He claimed it was not open for interpretation. Governor Newsom stated that there shouldn't be more than 60 dwelling units per acre so as not to drastically impact the existing neighborhood, yet the city has "interpreted" it is an aggregate number. If you build only 5 units on one acre over here, you'll add the 55 that you didn't build to the 60 units on another acre.

Again, you appear to have an aggressive agenda with more empathy towards future constituents than the existing ones.

My last email brought concerns regarding inundating upper Clayton Road with the majority of these units, creating an unimaginable overload on services and traffic congestion. Mayor Birsan responded with a question insinuating that since I didn't mention the Treat/Oak Grove locations, I must be ok with those. I had to laugh considering he and I both realize that placing the majority of units at this location will create the same mess.

This type of question gives me the impression that city council and city planners composed a list of locations, scaring people into pointing fingers in another direction away from their neighborhood, in other words, NIMBY. Turning Limeridge residents against Clayton Valley residents, Kicker Pass citizens against everyone. This panics people into filling out surveys that places the emphasis on building in a particular area and giving you your fall back position, "the citizens identified this area."
I walk my dog on Clayton Road and surrounding neigborhoods between Ygnacio Valley and Treat every day. One and a half to two hours everyday, except for a small area, dwellings are condominiums and apartments with many appearing to be low and moderate income with people of all races and some appearing to have medical handicaps and other impairments. I enjoy these walks, exchange brief pleasantries with some and have never had a negative interaction to date.

One thing I've noticed, there is no shortage of transportation vehicles in the parking lots, city streets and driveways. There are quite a few abandoned vehicles covered in dirt with weeds around the tires inflated or not but that's another issue. These are areas of affluence and bus lines are crucial?
I'll stipulate that senior citizens are often in need of public transportation but unless you're planing assistant living facilities in these identified locations, I don't think it is an overriding perogative.

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Concord City CouncilJanuary 7, 2025

Concord City Council
January 7, 2025