MEETING: Wednesday, November 19, 2025, 6:30 p.m., City Council Chamber, 1950 Parkside Drive (Agenda and materials) (Presentation slides)
Concord Planning Commission Meeting To Discuss Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Site Selection On November 19 (Old Kmart Site Still The Frontrunner For 471 Units)
Can city officials show us their studies related to the impact to infrastructure, city services, schools, and roadways? If there are 471 units with atleast 1-2 people per unit every bus service will be affected not to mention the impact of atleast 471 to almost 1000 additional vehicles on the city’s roads everyday. Can the city of Concord actually facilitate this?
….is there an EIR yet? …. does it have the rubber stamp “no significant impact” ?
Concord is FULL go away,
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No, the City of Concord can’t and won’t show the public any studies, as this is being mandated by Sacramento. The State of California has mandated that properties in these areas of East and South Concord be rezoned for high-density housing, because incomes in these areas are too high compared to the rest of Concord, and because these areas have too many people of European ancestry compared to the rest of Concord.
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The selected properties will only be receiving the additional layover zoning, in addition to keeping the current commercial and/or single family home zoning because the owners of these properties have told the City of Concord that they want this additional zoning.
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Additionally, just because the former Kmart property will eventually be receiving this layover zoning for up to 471 high-density housing units, it doesn’t mean that 471 high-density housing units will be built there, it’sonly giving the owners additional land use options.
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Councilmember Laura Hoffmeister, who is Concord’s representative on the County Connection Board, has repeatedly said that County Connection services have been cut because of a lack of riders on the buses, so presumably more bus ridership would only give the County Connection what they want and have been lacking, more bus riders.
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They don’t care about more traffic!!! The State of California has declared a War on Cars!!! They want to make vehicle traffic and parking worse, in order to make travelers so miserable that they’ll stop using their cars to travel in favor of walking, biking, busing, and BARTing.
Housing should be the priority. We need to build as much as possible now. No stupid studies, no public hearings – just build it. The only people that are against this are selfish NIMBY’ s that only care about their property value. The median home buying age right now is 59 years old. We need to start focusing on the next generation before we go the way of Japan or Korea. Unaffordable housing is one of the ingredients for demographic collapse.
Jim,
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This is only a zoning change, it doesn’t mean any housing will be built on these selected parcels anytime in the near future.
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The U.S. has between 1.5 to 6 million abandoned homes, as well as commercial structures, just waiting to be rehabbed and converted into housing.
@Jim since you see the need, have you started a development company to start building apartments, duplexes, homes?
Yes, Jim, I do worry about my property value. It’s called an investment. If you don’t understand that, you mustn’t be a property owner. Or maybe you’re just another socialist who wants to take from those who have sacrificed by getting an education and working hard, and give the fruits of that labor to people who have not. If you can’t afford to live in California, there are several other states that are more affordable to live in. Life is all about choices, and we make them every day. I chose to take specific steps to get where I am today. If others choose to take an easier route, that’s perfectly fine with me. I’m just not willing to give up what I worked for to support them! If you want to call that a “NIMBY”, then I’m a proud “NIMBY”.
I’m so glad I moved out of that area.
I was in Walnut Creek last week to meet with old friends for lunch and once I descended Kirker Pass into Concord, the traffic became a nightmare.
Cheapo apartments will only add to the misery.
Unfortunately it will only get worse.
Prices continue to rise in just about every
way possible except our cola’s or paychecks.
Too much money can be made by building
more and more. Ever notice we are seeing
more and more condos, townhouses and multi
story homes.?
I think this is being planned for Concord as a 15 minute city because isn’t that the “master plan”? So no impact on what has been mentioned because people will walk to work. That is if there are still any people around…
Exactly! Any city that uses terms such as “Green” or “Sustainability / Sustainable Growth” or has a Sister City is all onboard with the World Economic Forum.
Should have a negative effect on home values.-
This whole thing smells, What do they mean by “racially concentrated areas of affluence” are they talking about the monument corridor? If they are looking for land there are several acres of land that’s undeveloped near Costco. Traffic is bad near all their sites why not put it near a transportation hub or near the freeways? Why not include it in the naval weapons site with new housing? To be honest, if you put it near the police station, the city of Concord will save a lot on gasoline for their police cruisers. If you want to know who’s responsible for this, just follow the money.
Just saying,
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What the State of California means by “racially concentrated areas of affluence” is that portions of East and South Concord have too large of a population of people of European ancestry who also have to high of a net-worth and/or earn to much money. The goal is for the entire city to be racially and economically equal, with no poor areas and no wealthy areas.
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The State of California selected the areas of Concord where rezoning is to take place, not the City of Concord.
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The State of California doesn’t care about traffic as the State has declared a War on Cars. The goal of California’s War on Cars is to create more traffic and parking problems so that the public becomes so miserable that they’ll not travel by car, but instead travel by walking, biking, busing, and BARTing.
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The areas that you mentioned near Costco, transit hubs, and freeways are still being considered for housing, but these sites do not apply towards the AFFH housing goals.
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The State of California has told the City of Concord that they’re not allowed to use future housing on the former CNWS property to satisfy AFFH goals.
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The areas near the Concord Police Department are being considered for housing, but these areas don’t qualify for the AFFH housing goals.
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Concord’s lying, cheating, corrupt, preacher and State Senator Tim Grayson is well known for his relationship with his developer friends and donors. He pushes everything YIMBY (Yes In My Backyard)!!!!!!!!!!
THE BLACK KNIGHT ~ Yes, my Hubby, with our neighbor(s), thought the same thing.
To be racially and economically equal, with no poor areas and no wealthy areas.
It’s called SOCIALISM! Everyone equal in what they own how much they make what they do where they live ect yada yada
I grew up in Concord and am still here.
I have seen so much change over the years.
My family moved to Alabama and they keep luring me to join them.
Retirement is creeping up, so thinking about it. But I would miss seeing that beautiful Mt. Diablo every day. It’s been with me since childhood.
Mount Diablo is one of the things I really miss of California.
TPC,
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You’re not the only lifelong or long-term resident of Concord who’s being lured by family or considering leaving Concord because of the way this city is being run and the direction it’s going. I understand the position that you’re in.
“Higher resource neighborhoods”
“Racially concentrated areas of affluence”
Why don’t they just come out and say it: They obviously believe there are too many Caucasians with too much money in the area.
This is their plan to change that.
And you don’t get a vote.
Bingo we have a direct to the point comment that it’s the nail on the head. The state has been trying to interfere with the way Clayton is being run what types of people are moving in to Clayton what people are staying and they are trying to get the number skewed around the other direction to their satisfaction of racial diversification.
Diversity has NEVER been a strength when it comes to what these people are after.
“Project involves the selection of properties in higher resource neighborhoods and racially concentrated areas of affluence to be included in a new zoning overlay district that will make the properties eligible to be developed with multi-family housing.”
Is Afluence racial?
Is that what the sentence says?
Well Abe I guess we should get rid of the airport because that is a “racially concentrated area of affluence” and yes that’s what it says. Please fall in line to get a DNA test to see if you’re eligible to still live in Concord.
Just Saying,
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When Congressman Mark DeSaulnier was sitting on the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors and in the State Legislature he spent significant time over several years trying to close Buchanan Field in favor of turning it into a housing development and expanding the airport in Byron to take over the air traffic that Buchanan Field had. He was unable to get support for his closure and development plan.
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Buchanan Field is under the jurisdiction of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors and not the Concord City Council, so when looking at all county controlled land, Buchanan Field may not fall into a “racially concentrated area of affluence,” in addition to it not housing anyone.
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This is also not just happening in the City of Concord, most if not all cities in central Contra Costa County are being required by the State of California to undergo the same process.
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The Pleasant Hill City Council is voting on rezoning tomorrow, Monday, November 17, 2025. I don’t know how many parcels they’re rezoning, but at one time 1,072 parcels were under consideration for rezoning in Pleasant Hill.
This will have a significant impact on the city of Clayton, but we don’t get any consideration. YVR is very bad now, and it will get MUCH worse with even a small increase in commuters. It’s also going to have a negative on impact property values.
To my knowledge, Pleasant Hill and Walnut Creek are not considering any such plan, so why should Concord with its abundance of low income housing.
Because Concord is not fighting back to protect its residents. Seems like this is unconstitutional. I would bet it wouldn’t pass a court challenge, even in the racist, socialist state of California!
Sign from Above,
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It’s only been the City of Huntington Beach, California and their City Council who’ve had the courage to fight the State of California, and they’ve not fared well in the courts so far. The City of Huntington Beach has been facing state mandates of increasing their housing stock by 50%.
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https://www.huntingtonbeachca.gov/news_detail_T4_R62.php
Concord’s planners might have to go back to the drawing board. President Trump’s recent changes to national housing policies might make a huge difference.
https://www.hud.gov/news/hud-no-25-059
Anew,
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It’s not Concord City Planners in this case, it’s the State of California forcing this rezoning mandate, although Concord City Planners have done more than enough damage to Concord.
It’s both. Got out when the time was right.
Anew,
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I read the document connected to the link that you provided. It stated the following:
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“Terminated the Biden-era 2021 Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) rule, cutting costly red tape imposed on localities and returning decision-making power to local and state governments.”
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It’s the State of California requiring this rezoning, just as the Trump Administration stated they’ve returned “decision-making power to local and STATE governments.”
Claycord Local 78,
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Both Pleasant Hill and Walnut Creek are also undergoing the same process. The Pleasant Hill City Council has a meeting on this tomorrow, Monday, November 17, 2025.
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The State of California decided the areas of East and South Concord where rezoning for a minimum of 1,000 high-density housing units must occur, because of the demographics in those areas.
Fifteen minute cities coming, goal is 2030.
Oops are there 2 Just Saying? Don’t get us mixed up
I was first, but I will change mine.
Exactly. The same people who said that lockdowns and the other shenanigans we witnessed in 2020/2021 would never happen!!
“racially concentrated areas of affluence” translates to racist socialism. Exactly what California, as a whole, has become. It is always strange to me that when they discuss these mandates, you never see low-income housing in places like Alamo or Orinda.
They likely have an agreement not to screw around with any cities that might house a mega-donor.
Never bite the hand that feeds you……….
The point of the law is to force rich areas to take welfare housing. Orinda will also have to make a show of supporting it to comply with state law and they are doing a similar study there.
Forced low-income housing has been going on for a long time in California. They may be doing a study, but I would bet they never build any low-income housing in Oriinda!
Sign from Above,
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While this rezoning could result in high-density housing, it doesn’t mean that it will result in high-density housing. The current zoning for single family homes and/or commercial zoning also remains an option for the property owners. The City of Concord is only rezoning parcels where the owners have requested the rezoning. In the City of Pleasant Hill they’re rezoning if the property owners want it or not.
I’ve always lived where I can afford it. If I had to commute then I had to commute. Everyone so do the same! If I didn’t have enough I worked two jobs and still commuted. NO ONE gave me anything or made exceptions for me!
How about we build a huge complex next to Newscums 9 million dollar home in Marin. If its good for us its good for him.
Listening to Newson, he was from a poor background and grew up in low-income housing. LOL! He has no idea what poverty is!
It’s people like Hoffmeister that have enabled this BS. I have been here for 57 years, grew up here and raised a family here. It is hardly the area I fell in love with as a child and certainly isn’t the quiet safe suburb that it once was. What a shame but hey take a look around you can see exactly what is happening and as soon as my beloved 94 year old mother no longer requires my presence I am high steppping TF out of here and putting this place in the rearview mirror!
bddp,
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Councilmember Laura Hoffmeister was first elected in 1997, for a current total of 28 years on the council. The City of Concord hasn’t improved over the last 28 years!!!
I have lived here for 57 years. I was raised here and raised a family here. It is hardly the safe suburb that it used to be and it is directly because of the actions of those elected into office. I am here for only for my 94 year old dear mother at this point. When she no longer requires my presence I will be putting this place in the rearview mirror! It SUCKS here now compartively and that slippery slope is getting steeper and more accelerated!
Read this 3 times – “…racially concentrated areas of affluence to be included in a new zoning overlay district that will make the properties eligible to be developed with multi-family housing.” Why is everything about race and class? The government is trying to solve a problem of everyone can’t live everywhere? Good luck. Please build some small duplexes in Malibu, with a view of the ocean, so I can live there. Duh.
The Trump Administration wants to increase housing supply and lower costs by getting rid of complex and punitive zoning laws such of this one. Is it even constitutional?
Anew,
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So far the Courts have found this to be constitutional. The City of Huntington Beach has repeatedly had the courage to fight the State of California over these housing mandates and have been unsuccessful.
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https://www.huntingtonbeachca.gov/news_detail_T4_R62.php
WC—Creeker,
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Did you and I have the same high school economics teacher? He would always say, “We can’t all live on the beach in Malibu.”
Triplex? 🙂 mee too!
They lost me at “affirmatively furthering” Did they get extra points for not … “furthering under extreme duress?”
The Pleasant Hill City Council is having its final rezoning meeting and vote tonight. They’ll be rezoning almost 1,100 parcels for high-density housing, according to CBS News.
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https://pleasanthill2040.com/zoning-ordinance-update.html
State of California has been mandating Clayton build low-income housing for decades the Olivia Project has been held up in court for many many years luckily and will probably never be built. It’s been an ugly vacant lot and probably will continue to be which I’m perfectly happy with. Now they are looking at another lot a quarter of a mile away to try to build similar cracker box lower income housing but that’s going to go nowhere also. The majority of Clayton residents do not want this crap built they do not want to be diversified they don’t want woke dei or any other BS in the city.
Recommendation: https://www.californiacityfinance.com/CharterCitiesandGeneralLaw.pdf
This is just about the only way for a little jewel like Clayton to escape the burdens of a nearly-socialist state like California.