MAC Meeting: Central Business District Plan Reviewed

The future of the “Central Business District” was again up for discussion at this week’s Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) meeting.

County staff gave the MAC another series of presentations as the central business district plan takes shape over months and years. Beginning in the fall of 2022, the county has been focusing on the Castro Valley Central Business District Specific Plan (CVBDSP), part of the larger Castro Valley General Plan.

The goal is to determine the community's long-term vision for growth downtown.

At this week’s meeting, the MAC heard summaries of a May community visioning workshop for the public and comments from the Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club, which were made at meetings over the summer.

At the Chamber of Commerce meeting, an overall goal was stated: “Make Castro Valley a destination rather than a drive-through.”

The current CVBDSP includes land use like “core pedestrian retail” in the Village area and central Castro Valley Boulevard, the “transit village” near the BART station, and the “professional medical district” down Lake Chabot Road. The meetings were designed to see how the public would like to see things shaped in the future.

County staff said that many participants at the meetings felt there were limited commercial options in the downtown business district and particularly wanted more dining choices. Sites for future retail development included the Rite Aid lot, the Walgreens lot, the area around the Chabot Theater, and the old trailer park sites on the eastern end of Castro Valley Boulevard.

Participants also remarked that a few businesses at the Castro Valley Marketplace had gone out of business recently.

Others wanted more family and youth-oriented activities, such as a skate park and more child-friendly public spaces. The public referenced B Street in Hayward and downtown Livermore and Pleasanton as places to emulate.

The public said they saw a lot of room for improvement in terms of pedestrian access in the district and bicycle infrastructure. As far as car traffic, Castro Valley Boulevard at Norbridge, San Miguel, and Chester Street were all singled out as intersections that need improvement.

Parking proved to be a major concern- the limited availability along the Boulevard possibly hindering business. Suggested sites for possible future parking structures include the BART station and the Eden Hospital area. The public also requested more electric vehicle charging stations.

More general ideas: pockets parks, housing on the Rite Aid spot and at the lumber yard, bike paths, wider sidewalks, more outdoor dining, and the addition of benches along the Boulevard to make walking more appealing.

The CVBDSP is currently in Phase II. More meetings are planned, and the eventual adoption of the plan is tentatively set for next winter. For updates and more information on the project, visit cvgpimplementation.com/