On Monday, July 28, a small crowd gathered at the Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) meeting to hear the MAC consider 3 issues. Here is a brief summary of the night.

Item One: The MAC considered the issuance of a conditional use permit to Verizon Wireless, allowing them to install a new type of equipment on top of the Peet’s Coffee building on Redwood Road. This equipment is a newer, smaller style which is mounted on a metal “sled” rather than a tall tower. This facility is meant to add capacity, rather than coverage, to wireless data service in the Castro Village area.  Verizon said they were reluctant to install a decorative parapet wall on the rear wall of the building to shield the equipment from view, as requested by the MAC.  The item was then continued so the applicant could either comply with the parapet request or withdrwaw the application.

Item Two: The MAC conducted a preliminary review of a proposed development on the vacant lot located at 20437 Redwood Rd, adjacent to the new I-580 on-ramp. James Knuppe, the property owner, is proposing a new 12 unit light industrial complex, with small “live-in” residential apartments on the top floor.

Four local neighbors spoke against the project citing noise, traffic and visual privacy concerns. Bill Mulgrew of the Castro Valley Eden Area Chamber of Commerce was one of the three citizens speaking in favor of the project, citing a lack of light industrial space in Castro Valley. The MAC agreed that this could be a perfect location for this type of development and a great use for a blighted parcel, but did not approve of the residential component. MAC chair Crawford in particular spoke of a desire in Castro Valley to keep commercial and residential areas distinctly separate. The developer will hone his designs and continue the developmental process.

Item Three: The MAC board heard a presentation from the Alameda County Health Department regarding a proposed amendment to the County codes which would include electronic smoking devices (e-cigs) in the Alameda County smoking ordinances. After the presentation, the MAC had many concerns with the proposal. Members Crawford, Miraglia, Ryzanich and Turner spoke up against the blanket language in the ordinance automatically grouping all e-cig products as tobacco, regardless of their individual components. They pointed out that many e-cigs are nothing more than water and flavoring, containing no nicotine at all. Three local citizens also spoke up against the proposed ordinances.

A fourth item on the agenda was the nomination and election of a Chair and Vice Chair of the MAC for the coming year. Since two of the seven council members were absent, this item was postponed until a future MAC meeting.