According to an article in today’s San Francisco Chronicle, the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) is moving ahead to use eminent domain to acquire the bulk of what has become known as the “Breuner Property” or “Breuner Marsh.”

This move would leave approximately 20 acres for development, a shift from their original stated objective of purchasing the entire property. This will be a blow to the proposed “Parkway Transit Village” that would occupy approximately 60 acres and include a residential development of about 1,052 units, including multi-family and single family dwellings, with open space and limited commercial uses.

Previously, the Richmond City Council voted to oppose the EBRPD purchase based on, among other things, the assertion that Richmond has too many parks. See  Future of Richmond's Undeveloped Shoreline, September 18, 2005.

OAKLAND
East Bay parks agency to use eminent domain at shore
-Patrick Hoge
Wednesday, March 8, 2006

East Bay Regional Park District directors voted unanimously Tuesday to use eminent domain to acquire 218 acres on the Richmond shoreline from a developer.

The board authorized staff to file a motion with Contra Costa County Superior Court to force the sale of the land for $892,000. The district had said it was prepared to pay $4.9 million for 238 acres owned by Don and Lonne Carr, who have been seeking a 1,092-unit housing development on about 40 acres of the land.

After Richmond city officials said they want economic development on some portion of the land, park district staff amended their eminent-domain proposal to remove nearly 20 acres that are zoned for commercial or industrial use.

Park district officials said the use of eminent domain was justified because the proposed development would harm habitat for several protected species and could prevent construction of a portion of the San Francisco Bay Trail.