PITTSBURG -- A major East Bay homebuilder is circulating a petition for a ballot measure that would move a former petroleum tank farm within Pittsburg's urban limit line, paving the way for it to be developed according to the city's rules.
West Coast Home Builders, an affiliate of Concord-based A.D. Seeno Construction, is trying to smooth the permitting process to build homes on the 193-acre site, near Buchanan and Somersville roads, according to Pittsburg City Councilman Ben Johnson, who said he favors the effort.
The proposed initiative also would eliminate a provision in the city's general plan for the area south of the site limiting new residential development to a maximum of three units per acre up to a maximum of seven units per acre.
The density change may be a signal that Pittsburg is trying to raise money through developer fees to build a long-coveted extension of James Donlon Boulevard from Somersville to Kirker Pass Road, according to former county supervisor and state Assemblyman Joe Canciamilla.
"The city seems intent on (the extension), and will pretty much do anything to get it done," Canciamilla said. "The problem I've always had with the bypass is that the new construction that will pay for it will generate the congestion it's intended to relieve."
The ballot measure would amend Measure P, a 2006 Seeno-sponsored initiative that expanded Pittsburg's urban limit line and added 2,200 acres of open space to the city's sphere of influence.
The land sought for eventual annexation is within Antioch's urban limit line and sphere of influence.
Seeno cleaned up and built homes on an adjacent 50-acre parcel, known as Highlands Ranch Phase I, between 2001 and 2003.
Signatures to place the measure on the November ballot have been gathered at Pittsburg shopping centers and other locations since early May.
"I want (the development) in Pittsburg," Johnson said. "I would love to have the developer fees and the property taxes (from the homes), and obviously so would Antioch."
Seeno owns about 90 percent of Pittsburg's developable land, Johnson said.
Pittsburg Councilwoman Nancy Parent, who co-signed the notice of intent to circulate a petition filed with the city, did not return calls seeking comment.
Antioch City Manager Jim Jakel said he has only heard about the petition from residents, though the city is aware of Seeno's intentions based on copies of the developer's correspondence with the Contra Costa Local Agency Formation Commission, which regulates changes to local government boundaries.
"Seeno's going to look for the most effective plan for him and try to maximize the deal from his perspective," Jakel said.
It is a Pittsburg issue until it qualifies for ballot consideration, he said.
"If it moves forward, then we would do an analysis of what the possible impacts on Antioch would be if enacted and then approved by (the local agency commission)," Jakel said.
Pittsburg associate planner Kristin Vahl said the ballot measure would change the urban limit line, general plan amendment and zoning.
The developer could then apply to the city to initiate a sphere of influence amendment with the local agency commission, Vahl said.
"This is probably the most likely next step," she said. "After that, there would probably be a development proposal and then annexation."
Pittsburg has taken steps lately to encourage home development. In September, it reduced developer fees from $17,795 to $15,795 for a single-family home and from $10,924 to $9,700 for a unit in a multifamily project.
In December, the City Council also agreed to allow builders to defer the payment of fees to the time of the final property inspection or for 12 months after the developer pulls the permit, whichever comes first.
Previously, builders had to pay the fees at the time they took out construction permits.
Pittsburg also pulled out of a regional transportation funding authority on the grounds that it wanted to put more emphasis on its transportation priorities.
Chevron's Los Medanos Tank Farm was built almost a century ago and once contained 40 aboveground tanks that stored crude oil before refining.
It was used until 1980, and all but one of the tanks was removed within a year. Chevron uses the remaining tank at its Buchanan Road pump station.
The site required a cleanup of soil contamination from petroleum residue, according to a 2007 report from the California Regional Water Quality Control Board.
Staff writer Paul Burgarino contributed to this story. Contact Rick Radin at 925-779-7166.
