All application processing costs are paid for by the applicant.
Project Summary
The applicant is requesting a General Plan Amendment (GPA) to the 2005-2020 Contra Costa County General Plan to change the land use designation of the subject property from Public Semi-Public (PS) to Commercial (CO), consistent with the proposed boat repair facility use. The CO designation would allow for a broad range of commercial uses typically found in smaller scale neighborhood, community and thoroughfare commercial districts, including retail and personal service facilities, limited office and financial uses. The proposed CO land use designation would generally be consistent and compatible with the other designations in the area.
Upon approval of the general plan amendment, the applicant is expected to implement the Discovery Bay Boat Repair Facility Project (County File No. CDLP22-02002 and CDGP21-00001), converting the existing firehouse building to a boat service and repair facility. The facility operations are expected to include boat repair, boat servicing, the sale and storage of retail parts and accessories, and associated activities. To accommodate the operations, the building would require interior improvements and a new 8-foot fence for screening.
General Information
A. General Plan: The subject property is located within the Public and Semi-Public (PS) General Plan Land Use designation. The project includes a General Plan Amendment request to change the designation to Commercial (CO).
B. Zoning: The subject property is located within the P-1 Planned Unit District (P-1).
C. CEQA Status: On June 8, 2022, an Initial Study was prepared for the project, posted, and circulated for public review. Upon completion of the Initial Study, it was found that the project would not result in any significant environmental impacts. Comments received during the circulation period are discussed below.
D. Lot Creation: The project site was legally established upon transfer from the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District, a public agency.
Site/Area Description
The 27,748 square-foot (0.64-acre) project site is located at 1535 Discovery Bay Boulevard in Discovery Bay. The subject property previously hosted Fire Station #58, which was owned and operated by the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District. The current owner/applicant purchased the property at auction following the station's closure and designation as surplus property. The property is occupied by the decommissioned fire station building and paved parking areas. The building’s current configuration includes large fire engine bays, which would allow for easy ingress/egress of boats and provide ample working space. While changing the land use designation to CO would allow up to 27,748 square feet of potential development, no expansion of the development on the lot is proposed and the applicant has indicated that the property would not be altered except for installation of fencing and removal of an existing accessory building shed. The screened parking areas would be used for storing boats awaiting service.
To the north are an office building, single-family homes, and a Town of Discovery Bay owned well site, designated CO, Single-Family Residential Medium-Density (SM), and PS, respectively. Across Discovery Bay Boulevard to the west is the Discovery Bay Shopping Centre, also designated CO. To the south and east are recreational facilities (game courts, swimming pool, barbeque facilities, and a dog park), the Town of Discovery Bay Community Center, and Community Services District offices, all designated PS. The greater Discover Bay area includes water-oriented residential development supported by limited commercial and retail development.
County Planning Commission Hearing
The County Planning Commission (CPC) held public hearings on July 27, 2022 and August 24, 2022, for the land use permit and general plan amendment for the project. Following the staff presentation of the matter and public testimony, the CPC discussed the approval of the land use permit and change of the general plan designation of the property. At the conclusion of their discussion at the August 24, 2022 hearing, the CPC unanimously voted to conditionally approve the land use permit for the boat repair facility (subject to conditions of approval including the Board approval of the subject GPA) and recommend that the Board of Supervisors adopt the general plan amendment.
Conclusion and Recommendations
The proposed general plan amendment would be consistent with the goals and policies of the County General Plan. The change to the CO land use designation would allow a broad range of commercial uses typically found in smaller scale neighborhood, community and thoroughfare commercial districts, including retail and personal service facilities, limited office and financial uses. Specifically, the Discovery Bay Boat Repair Facility Project would repurpose the site from a retired vacant fire station to a boat repair facility. The overall project would be consistent with the existing surrounding development and provided needed services to the water-oriented Discovery Bay area. Conditions of approval would ensure the project is compatible with surrounding uses, mitigating potential noise and odor impacts.
If the Board does not adopt the proposed General Plan Amendment, the project site would retain the PS land use designation and the Discovery Bay Boat Repair Facility Project could not be implemented.