Seeno showdown nears

Seeno showdown nears
Controversial Business Park project decision deadline June 3
By SARA STROUD/Times-Herald staff writer
Article Launched: 05/23/2008 06:54:27 AM PDT

BENICIA - After innumerable staff hours and two lengthy city council meetings, the proposed Benicia Business Park project is almost ready for its big showdown.

In the meantime, city staff met Thursday with developer Discovery Builders to work out details of some project approval conditions, including how a new on-site fire station will be financed.

There's a "healthy tension" between the developer and the city, a Discovery Builders representative said this week about working through some 216 conditions.

The key issue Thursday was the funding of a fire station to be built during the construction's first phase, Community Development Director Charlie Knox said. Under one approval condition, the developer would be responsible for building a fire substation. Operating costs would be split evenly with the city.

Discovery Builders hopes to use project revenues to fund long-term operations, Knox said.

For their part, the developer said they would like more flexibility in project phasing to accommodate future tenants.

Also known as the Seeno project, the proposed mixed-use development would occupy about 528 acres in northeast Benicia, on what is the town's last large undeveloped parcel. Discovery Builders has made extensive project changes since February, when the council OK'd the project's environmental impact report, but noted conflicts with the city's general plan.

"The applicant has made some serious concessions," Knox said.

The project has spawned protest among some residents, who have spoken out at council and commission meetings against the commercial and light industrial development.

Members of opposition group Benicia First! decried what they viewed as Discovery Builders' "my way or the highway" development strategy. The environmental impacts of the revised project have not been adequately assessed, members said, and they would like to see an environmentally progressive project catering to high-tech and research and development tenants.

Discovery Builders Vice President Sal Evola said Tuesday his company is dedicated to courting high-tech businesses, but needs a project to show prospective tenants.

"We want to develop a visionary project," Evola said.

Councilman Mike Ioakimedes said Tuesday a visionary project must include a mass transit plan and substantially mitigate air quality impacts.

"I want this project; we need this project, but you're not working with us," Ioakimedes said. "Until we can figure out how to move people not automobiles, you're not going to get me."

Unless the developer asks for an extension, the council must make a decision about the project at its next meeting June 3.

• E-mail Sara Stroud at sstroud@thnewsnet.com or call 553-6833.