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C.125

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	John Kopchik, Director, Conservation & Development Department
Date:	May 7, 2019

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Communication to the State Lands Commission About 501 Port Street, Crockett

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 05/07/2019

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

925-674-7869

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: May 7, 2019
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

AUTHORIZE the Chair of the Board of Supervisors to sign the attached letter to the State Lands Commission (SLC) requesting that it proceed to repair and re-tenant its property at 501 Port Street, Crockett, formerly known as the Nantucket restaurant, for the benefit of the Crockett community as well as the greater public benefit to all Californians to have access to the waterfront in this location.

FISCAL IMPACT:

None.

BACKGROUND:

The former restaurant building and adjacent structures at 501 Port Street, Crockett, are held in trust for the people of the State of California by the State Lands Commission (SLC). The February 2019 closure of the Nantucket restaurant, which was in violation of its lease with the SLC, created a new source of blight in the area. It has increased the workload for County services like Code Enforcement and the Sheriff's Department without a commercial operation there to help maintain the area. The SLC has not announced its plans for the future of the site. Staff-level discussion has covered the possibility of demolishing all the structures on the site in addition to removing the sunken vessels and other debris from the bayside.

If the restaurant building were demolished, it would be very difficult to replace due to regulatory requirements of building at the water's edge, and escalating construction costs. The Crockett community is very interested in seeing that waterfront space continue to be in active use, as both a deterrent to crime in the area and an amenity for local residents. Perhaps more importantly from the SLC's perspective, the opportunity for the public to enjoy safe, legal access to the water and affordable waterfront dining is not replicated for miles in either direction.

Park advocates in the community have been working to develop a vision for a public park nearby, and a repaired restaurant under new management would be very compatible with the vision for recreation use taking shape in this general location. In light of the many benefits to cleaning up the site, securing crossing access from Union Pacific, and seeking a new tenant that would be open to the public, should be a high priority for the SLC.

Before the matter of finding a new tenant versus demolishing the structures even gets to the point of being scheduled for the SLC board, it is recommended that the County send a letter indicating its official position of opposition to demolition, in light of the greater public benefit to keeping a restaurant or other commercial business there.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

If the County does not send a letter indicating opposition to demolition, the State will not be aware of the County's position and may proceed directly to demolition of these structures.