The Draft Castro Valley General Plan and the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR)  are now
available for review.

Click here to download. 

Both documents can be reviewed or purchased at the Alameda County Planning Department, 224 West Winton Avenue, Room 111, Hayward, California. The DEIR and the draft Castro Valley General Plan are also available for review at the Castro Valley Library Reference Desk, 20055 Redwood Road, Castro Valley.

The review period for submitting written comments on the Draft EIR begins on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 and will close on Friday, May 25, 2007, at 5 p.m.  Written responses to any comments received during this period will be included in the Final EIR. 

Written comments should be directed to:

Lou Andrade, Project Planner
Alameda County Planning Department
224 West Winton Avenue, Room 111
Hayward, California, 94544
(510) 670-5400
Fax:  (510) 785-8793
lou.andrade@acgov.org

Upcoming Public Meetings and Hearings:

Alameda County Planning Commission Meeting

Agenda will include consideration of the El Portal Ridge area and the common boundary between the Castro Valley and Eden Area planning areas.

Click here to download meeting notice.

Information may also be reviewed at the Alameda County Planning Offices, 224 West Winton, Room 111, Hayward, or contact the Planning Department at (510) 670-5400.

Click here to download:

Map of the Eden and Castro Valley General Plan mutual boundary

Questions and answers about the planning area boundary issue

Check back for information on meetings and hearings where you can share your views on the draft Plan and the DEIR. 

Click here for documents from General Plan workshops and community meetings.

The Plan

Alameda County is undertaking a comprehensive update of the 1985 Castro Valley General Plan—“A New General Plan for Castro Valley.” The study area for the plan is the Castro Valley Planning Area (see map), extending west to the Eden Area, north and east to Alameda County’s edges, and south to Hayward. However, plans and policies for Measure D lands will be addressed by the Alameda County Resources, Open Space, and Agriculture (ROSA) element. The General Plan will cover the urbanized areas within the urban growth boundary. This new plan will provide a framework for decisions relating to growth and development, provision of public services and facilities, and protection and enhancement of the natural environment.

The New General Plan for Castro Valley will give the community an opportunity to decide how additional development, both residential and non-residential, shall be accommodated in the future.

Residential development standards will respond to the following three factors, among others: 1. Castro Valley must meet its share of Alameda County’s housing needs; 2. Measure D instituted a boundary on urban growth; and 3. Residents want to maintain the quality of Castro Valley’s neighborhoods.

Non-residential development will concentrate on the areas adjacent to “The Boulevard” (Castro Valley Boulevard, the area’s main commercial street.) A critical component of this planning effort will be exploration of alternative approaches to promote the development of a vibrant town center offering a range of retail goods and services and public facilities, as well as additional housing and employment.

Concurrent with the general planning process, a targeted Redevelopment Strategic Plan for Castro Valley Boulevard and the Central Business District (CBD) is underway. The Strategic Plan is intended to present an economic development strategy and streetscape design that will enhance the economic potential of the CBD, consistent with the General Plan’s broader goals, objectives, and policies. In addition to synchronizing project schedules and convening joint meetings to the extent practicable, the two consultant teams will share findings to produce coordinated results and make both efforts as efficient as possible.

In addition to guiding development and land use decisions, the new plan will address issues of concern to residents such as traffic circulation, community character & quality of life, cultural facilities, and open space & recreation.

Once complete, the New General Plan for Castro Valley and the Castro Valley Redevelopment Strategic Plan will replace the existing 1985 Castro Valley Plan. Together with the County’s Zoning Ordinance, these plans provide the rules that govern physical and economic development in Castro Valley.