From: Michael Burger <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, July 3, 2025 8:59 AM
To: GeneralPlan <[email protected]>
Cc: Michelle Cordis <[email protected]>
Subject: RE: General Plan Update 2035 - 45 day Comment Period
Hello,
The Contra Costa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District (FC District) has reviewed the General Plan Update 2035 for the City of San Pablo (City).
We submit the following comments:
General Comments
1. Figure 3-1: Existing Land Use does not adequately illustrate current conditions regarding land use density/intensity in a way that provides a basis for comparison to target land usage shown in Figure 3-2. Additional categories should be added to Figure 3-1 for existing density/intensity areas (e.g. Low, Medium, and High Density residential).
2. Page 3-12: Mixed Use Center North does not indicate the target or anticipated residential density of the proposed residential units.
3. Section 7-3: Water Resources does not adequately address the effects of increased stormwater drainage from PDAs on the natural watercourses, particularly the area directly upstream of the fish ladder on Wildcat Creek.
4. Figure 7-2: Water Resources is misleading, showing only watersheds for these creeks within the boundaries of incorporated San Pablo downplaying the integral nature of these creeks as major, regional drainage facilities in west county.
5. Section 7-14: Surface Water mischaracterizes Rheem and Wildcat Creek as intermittent streams, continuing to downplay those watercourses as integral, regional drainage facilities for the surrounding areas, several of which have had historic issues with drainage in the past. While both creeks have seasonal changes in flow, both would be better characterized as year-round watercourses. Additionally, the actual watershed area for all three creeks is not accurately represented.
6. The majority of the 3 identified PDAs are in Drainage Area 43 (DA 43), an unformed drainage area. As such, the FC District has insufficient funding to construct storm drainage facilities in this area. In Section 7-3: Water Resources, the City should more clearly address the management and impact of increased surface water runoff due to increases in land use density/intensity.
San Pablo Avenue PDA
7. In addition to DA 43, the north portion of the San Pablo Avenue PDA is in DA 127. DA 127 is an unformed DA and faces similar funding challenges as compared to DA 43. The General Plan should address increased runoff that drains to Rheem Creek and the impacts to downstream watercourses potentially caused by increased density/intensity of land use.
We appreciate the opportunity to comment on General Plan Update 2035 for the City of San Pablo and welcome continued coordination. If you should have any questions, please contact me by phone at (925) 313-2308 or by email at [email protected].
Michael Burger | Engineering Technician
Contra Costa County Flood Control
255 Glacier Drive, Martinez, CA 94553
Phone: 925.313.2308 | Fax: 925.313.2333
[email protected] | cccpublicworks.org
Mon – Thu 7:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.