Alameda County Board of Supervisors Planning Committee Meeting – April 16, 2026

The Alameda County Board of Supervisors met on April 16, 2026, to consider a de novo hearing on an appeal of the West County Board of Zoning Adjustments' decision to deny a conditional use permit (CUP) for the Mosaic Project. The project proposes an overnight social-emotional camp for fourth- and fifth-graders on a 37-acre parcel at 17015 Cole Canyon Road in the unincorporated community of Castro Valley. After extensive testimony, the board voted 3-1-1 to approve the CUP and certify the project’s Environmental Impact Report (EIR), adopting the staff-recommended reduced building footprint alternative.

Consent Calendar

• The board unanimously approved the minutes from March 5, 2026, and the consent calendar without public comment.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Supporters (students, alumni, educators, parents, and experts): Over 40 speakers testified in favor, citing the program’s 25-year safety record, its impact on 76,000 students, and the importance of a permanent local site. They argued that the project meets all legal standards and that opponents rely on speculation, not evidence.
• Opponents (residents, ranchers, and technical experts): Approximately 40 speakers voiced concerns, arguing the project violates Measure D and the Williamson Act, endangers the adjacent winery, and poses unacceptable risks from wildfire, water scarcity, and evacuation challenges in a one-way-in, one-way-out canyon.

Discussion Items

• Staff Report: Albert Lopez, Planning Director, presented the project, noting it would develop roughly two acres of a 37-acre site, leaving 95% in its natural state. The camp would host up to 95 children per session across 18 five-day, four-night sessions per year. An EIR was prepared and circulated twice; the staff recommended adopting the “reduced building footprint alternative” as the environmentally superior option.
• Applicant Presentation: Sabrina Moyle (Board President), retired Fire Chief Dave Winnaker, and land-use attorneys argued that all technical concerns—water supply, wastewater treatment, fire safety, and evacuation—have been addressed by certified experts and state agency reviews. They emphasized that the project’s voluntary mitigations, such as shutting down on red-flag days and using a reverse-osmosis water system, exceed requirements.
• Opposition Presentation: Suzanne Bradford of Friends of Castro Valley Canyonlands presented expert testimony challenging the hydrology analysis, asserting that well testing was insufficient to prove no connectivity to the larger aquifer and that the water supply is unsustainable. Fire-risk and evacuation concerns were also raised, citing the lack of a comprehensive, code-compliant evacuation plan.
• Board Questions and Staff Responses:
  • Supervisor Miley focused on fire safety, evacuation, and water supply. He expressed concern that the fire department does not formally approve evacuation plans and that the single road creates a choke point. He also questioned the adequacy of the water supply and the road’s weight limit (14,000 lbs) for school buses.
  • Supervisor Tam requested substantial evidence on hydrology, wastewater, and aquifer reliability. The applicant’s experts cited state agency reviews showing adequate supply, while opponents pointed to gaps in baseline data and connectivity testing.
  • Supervisor Fortunato Bass noted the importance of diligent monitoring and suggested a three-year, rather than five-year, mandatory review.
  • President Haubert focused on Measure D compliance, questioning whether the project’s use is consistent with the intent of agricultural zoning.

Key Outcomes

• Motion: Supervisor Marquez moved to adopt the staff recommendation (approve the appeal, certify the EIR with the reduced building footprint alternative, and approve the CUP). Supervisor Fortunato Bass seconded.
• Vote: 3-1-1 (Supervisors Marquez, Tam, and Fortunato Bass voted aye; Supervisor Miley voted no; President Haubert abstained).
• Conditions and Next Steps: The project must obtain multiple permits (e.g., state drinking water permit, environmental health septic permit, building permits subject to Cal Fire and county fire codes). A mandatory review will occur in three years (instead of the standard five) to assess compliance with all 57 conditions of approval. The county planning department will serve as the central monitoring hub.