Senate bill aims to speed Concord Naval reuse while preserving oversight

A presenter introduced SB 328 to the committee as a measure to facilitate long-running implementation of the Concord Naval Weapons Station reuse area plan. The bill, described by the presenter, leverages prior federal and local environmental review (NEPA and CEQA) and the surplus lands framework to qualify projects that meet specified development parameters (including a 25% affordable housing target and labor agreements).

Josh Roden of Brookfield Residential described the developer role and emphasized signed project labor agreements and large-scale open-space and housing commitments. "We are the developer, working with the city of Concord," Roden said, noting the project's scale and scope and the planned open-space transfers to East Bay Parks.

Speakers representing labor unions and construction trades said the project would create thousands of construction and permanent jobs and urged the committee to support the bill. Committee members asked about tribal consultation, repatriation, and enforcement of affordable housing commitments; presenters said NEPA and CEQA reviews included outreach to identified tribes and that HCD and other mechanisms would monitor affordability and phase progress.

The committee took a motion and recorded roll-call votes; the chair announced the bill as due passed after the vote.