To: Board of Supervisors
From: Warren Lai, Public Works Director/Chief Engineer
Report Title: Quitclaim County rights to East Bay Regional Park District, Antioch Area
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
As the governing body of Contra Costa County, Contra Costa County Public Works requests the Board to:
1. APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Public Works Director, or designee, to execute two quitclaim deeds to quitclaim to the East Bay Regional Park District the future development rights on an area totaling approximately 1,111 acres located westerly of the intersection of Balfour and Deer Valley Roads in the unincorporated Antioch area (APNs 007-010-040, 078-050-009, 075-190-010 (Portion), 075-190-012 (Portion), 075-190-013, 078-050-010, and 057-060-017).
2. DETERMINE that this action is in the public interest and supports the continued conservation of the property, and that the County will no longer retain any present or future rights in the development rights being quitclaimed.
3. DETERMINE that the activity is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines, as it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility this activity may have a significant effect on the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact.
BACKGROUND:
In 1999, Contra Costa County, along with the Contra Costa County Agricultural Trust and the California Department of Fish and Game (now the California Department of Fish and Wildlife), received certain development rights over property located in the Antioch area to preserve the property for agricultural and conservation purposes. As a condition of approving the former Roddy Ranch Golf Course Project (County File LP98-2030), the County obtained development rights over an area designated for wildlife habitat (totaling approximately 881 acres), as well as the future development rights over the former golf course (approximately 230 acres).
Since 1999, the Roddy Ranch golf course has been abandoned, and the wildlife habitat parcels and the golf course parcel have been conveyed to the East Bay Regional Park District. A recent title review indicates that Contra Costa County still holds an interest in the development rights over these parcels. To clarify the record and ensure the conservation objectives remain intact, the County will execute quitclaim deeds to quitclaim to the Park District any remaining County interest in the development rights over the combined 1,111 acres that comprises the wildlife habitat area (APNs 007-010-040, 078-050-009, 075-190-010 (Portion), 075-190-012 (Portion), 075-190-013, and 078-050-010) and the former golf course (APN 057-060-017).
The East Bay Regional Park District is the fee owner of the property and will continue to serve as the custodian and long-term steward of the land, subject to the existing conservation restrictions. This action will eliminate any uncertainty in title records and confirm that the County retains no present or future interest in the development rights. Future improvements to or use of the property will be subject to the appropriate environmental review under CEQA.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If not approved, the County may remain listed as holding an interest in the development rights, leading to confusion in title records and potential complications for land management and conservation efforts. Failure to act could delay or interfere with ongoing stewardship of the land.