Public Comment Closed on LAFCO Report

A study about the potential incorporation of Castro Valley and its Eden Area neighbors is back in the hands of the Alameda Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) following the close of public comment this past Monday.

Earlier this Spring, LAFCO commissioned a report to investigate three hybrid models for incorporation. The first is Castro Valley by itself. The second is Castro Valley, plus the unincorporated Eden areas (Ashland, Cherryland, San Lorenzo, Hayward Acres), and Fairview. The third is Eden and Fairview without Castro Valley.

The public was given 30 days to comment on the preliminary report and an additional two weeks following requests for additional time. The LAFCO Board will now review the preliminary report for adoption at its November 9 meeting.

“We have received a lot of public comments already and the number of comments submitted among the three proposals is pretty well balanced,” LAFCO executive director, Rachel Jones told the Forum.

Some public comments are like those submitted by Hayward Area Recreation and Park District (H.A.R.D.) Board member Peter Rosen. He poses 11 questions about the feasibility study including the viability of adding the Canyonlands (Crow Canyon, Eden Canyon, and Palomares Canyon) to the Castro Valley map. Jones noted that the draft study will now include a table that includes the easternmost parts of Castro Valley.

Other public comments like those submitted by Castro Valley resident David Livingston point out that incorporation would be “financially infeasible” without transfer of Property Tax in lieu of Vehicle License Fees from the State.

Incorporation has long been a topic of conversation in Castro Valley and the possibility of cityhood has been on ballots in 1956 and 2002 only to be shot down by voters.

With public comment in hand, LAFCO’s Jones notes that the state agency's next step includes adopting or dismissing the draft report. It does not trigger any sort of automatic inclusion on a future ballot.

“Alameda LAFCO has not received an incorporation application. We cannot submit an incorporation application. And there is currently no vote on incorporation regarding these affected territories,” Jones said.

“Please note that if LAFCO received any potential incorporation proposal, it would be placed on the ballot for voter approval at the next available general election unless 50 percent of registered voters residing in the incorporation area submit written protest to LAFCO,” Jones added. “This was also stated at the Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Committee meeting held on August 28.”

More information can be found at the Alameda LAFCO website alamedalafco.org