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Crown Harbor Homeowner Association

Crab Cove Expansion

The Federal property adjacent to Crown Harbor had been vacant for years. It was sold to a developer (Tim Lewis Communities). As part of its redevelopment, the City of Alameda rezoned the property to commercial residential. Based on a petition signed by enough voters to put the measure on the ballot, the City reversed its decision, and now the property is zoned as open space. As a result, the developer withdrew its claim to the property since, as open space, it is only attractive to the East Bay Regional Parks District (EBRPD). Despite this, the Federal government attempted to conscript McKay street using eminent domain to obtain $3.1M offered for the property by the developer, instead of the $1.1M offered by the park district, to cover their cost of downsizing. With a liaison from the city of Alameda, the parties eventually settled on a ~$2M price, and the property was sold to EBRPD. On March 3, 2017, EBMUD submitted an application for Design Review permit for their newly acquired property on McKay Avenue.

Below is a map of EBMUD's best case scenario plan. The plan is considered best case because EBMUD does not yet have enough money to fully fund this vision.

plan

Issues for Crown Harbor

The Association will now work with EBRPD to resolve its issues:

Fence along Property Line

The fence that separates Crown Harbor from the property is not on the property line. Crown Harbor would like the existing fence to remain in place. Crown Harbor would continue to maintain the trees and other vegetation that are technically on EBRPD property.

The Crab Cove site plan contains the text "LOT LINE ADJUSTMENT TO EXISTING FENCE." This has two possible meanings:
- LOT LINE ADJUSTMENT TO EXISTING FENCE
  
  The old lot line has been adjusted so that the new lot line aligns with the existing line.
- LOT LINE ADJUSTMENT TO EXISTING FENCE
  
  The new lot line includes a planned adjustment to the existing fence.
In the event that EBRPD indicated that they want to move the fence, there are two legal issues that can be looked at by a qualified real estate attorney. Legal services on this issue may be paid for by applicable title policies since the Association is an insured.
- Has the Association acquired a legal prescriptive right to continue to have and to use the property because it has done so openly and notoriously since 1979, more than the statutory 5 years required to gain prescriptive rights?
- If the Association loses its appeal for the property, do all Owners (including the Association) have claims against our title insurance carriers for lost value? The title insurance policies also may provide us with legal counsel on this issue.
Shared Sewer Drains

The federal government had an easement to share Crown Harbor sewer drains. Those easement rights should transfer to EBRPD. The Association would not be on the hook for any pollutants that originate from EBRPD but pass through our drains.
Appearance of EBRPD Property

EBRPD has typically treated the adjoining property as a maintenance yard. Crown Harbor would like to see a more attractive appearance to the property.

Meetings, meetings, meetings...

Dave Eck documented the Board's position in the June 2013 issue of The Clarion. The information from this page and its links has been summarized in a frequently asked questions page.

Jim Meeks from Tim Lewis Communities met with Dave Eck to discuss the plans for the property. Dave documented the results of their October 17, 2012 meeting.
John Russo, Alameda City Manager, met with Dave Eck to discuss the plans for the property. Dave documented the results of their December 10, 2012 meeting.
Jim Meeks from Tim Lewis Communities met with Dave Eck to discuss the latest plans for the property. Dave documented the results of their January 20, 2013 meeting.
Jessica Grossman from Tim Lewis Communities met with Dave Eck and Gene McDermott to discuss the drainage easement. Dave documented the results of their April 5, 2013 meeting.
Dave Eck attended the Environmental Impact Report Review meeting. Dave documented the results of the June 5, 2013 city meeting.
Dave Eck and Scott Sheppard attended a meeting with East Bay Regional Parks District. Dave documented the results of the August 28, 2013 walk of the property.
Dave Eck and Valerie Boone attended a public meeting hosted by Friends of Crown Beach to create a ballot initiative to rezone the former federal property as open space. Dave summarized the the January 15, 2014 meeting.
Dave Eck attended a public meeting hosted by the city of Alameda. Dave summarized the the February 11, 2015 meeting.
Dave Eck met with Christian Pascual from GSA. Dave summarized the the April 14, 2015 meeting.
Dave Eck met attended a public meeting about Crab Cove expansion. Dave summarized the the September 16, 2016 meeting.

Press coverage

Pro EBRPD

Here is a blog article highlighted in the Alameda Patch.
The Raising Sand site tracks the status of the Neptune Beach Project for the development of Neptune Pointe.
An Alameda Patch article highlighted the EBRP plans for the site.
Editorial on Save Alameda's Crown Jewel in the Alameda Sun.
Friends of Crown Beach Co-Chair Eugenie Thomson's rebuttal letter to Ms. Marilyn Ashcroft featured in the Alameda Patch.
New Committee Hopes to Halt Development at Neptune Pointe featured in the Alameda Patch.
Feds Ignore Law in Alameda featured in the Alameda Patch.
Park expansion proponents file ballot language featured in The Alamedan.
Voters Must Have Their Say on Neptune Point featured in the Alameda Sun.
Crown Beach Ballot Petition Gathers Steam featured in the Alameda Sun.
Feds to seek deed for state-owned road near Crab Cove featured in the San Francisco Chronicle.
Feds to seek deed for state-owned road near Crab Cove featured in the The Alamedan.
Alameda: Group against Crab Cove housing plan files petition with city in the Alameda Journal
Council Approves Crab Cove Initiative Unanimouslyin the Alameda Sun
Crab Cove — the final chapter on the Alameda Merry-Go-Round site

Neutral

Here is an Alamedan article from October where the suit was merely proposed.
Plea to EBRPD to clean up its property to get my support on Scott Sheppard's blog.
Neptune Pointe Mediation Underway on Alameda Sun.
Alameda: 'Open space' initiative qualifies for November ballot in the Alameda Journal
Government fight at Alameda's Crown State Beach on ABC News 7
Alamedan : Neptune Pointe housing plan is history
Alameda Sun : Feds Continue Crown Beach Court Action
Alameda Sun : Feds Prevail on McKay

Pro Tim Lewis

Here is a San Francisco Chronicle article from November with additional information.
Alameda City Council Member Marilyn Ashcroft's letter to Alameda residents featured in the Alameda Patch.
Helen Sause's [president of Housing Opportunities Make Economic Sense (HOMES)] call for calm in Everybody Take a Deep Breath Here featured in the Alameda Sun.
GSA Urges Sale of Neptune Pointe reprinted in the Alameda Sun
Feds threaten eminent domain for private development on state parkland according to the Sierra Club Yodeler
Alameda: Plan to transform Del Monte landmark in works on the Contra Costa Times (low income housing there to offset higher income housing on the federal property)