The Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) considers an informational item at its Monday, January 11 meeting about a proposed Chick-fil-A at the current site of Castro Valley Lumber. The location is between Golfland and “Burger Island,” (home to a McDonald’s and Wendy’s) in the area where Norbridge and Strobridge intersect at Castro Valley Boulevard.

You can participate in tonight’s meeting via Zoom. Meeting starts at 6:00 at the following link: https://zoom.us/j/94808181055

Some might think this location, due to its proximity to “Burger Island” is perfect for a Chick-fil-A location (the restaurant chain’s marketing features cows encouraging people to “Eat Mor Chikin”).

But, when you consider how this location is a gateway to this community, how poorly conceived this intersection is, and the increasing traffic along 580, it is fair to question the wisdom of placing a new drive-thru restaurant here.

Neither the Castro Valley Downtown Specific Plan, last updated in 1993 (and in desperate need of an update) nor the Castro Valley General Plan contemplate additional drive-thrus for this area of Castro Valley. As described in the planning staff report for this agenda item, this area of Castro Valley is considered a “Regional Retail and Entertainment District.”

“With regard to the General Plan policies for Castro Valley’s Central Business District, the proposed fast food restaurant is not a cultural, entertainment, or art use that would be consistent with the intent and goal of the Regional Retail and Entertainment District. It would not serve the overall goal of the CBD land use designation for enhancing the overall CBD with pedestrian-oriented subdistricts of shops and services that have a small town character, or enhance the quality of life in Castro Valley. In broad terms therefore, the use is not compatible with either the Specific Plan or the General Plan policies and regulations.”

Alameda County Planning Department Staff Report January 11, 2021

Chick-Fil-A’s long history of donating to anti-LGBTQ charities is a concern of Castro Valley Matters and many in our community. While we can simply avoid a business whose actions hurt marginalized communities, it is fair for a community to call out the past actions of large company that seeks to be a part of our community.

Castro Valley has the building blocks for a more vibrant, walkable, and livable downtown. We should not waste them.

We have a partially-built downtown streetscape that brought new fixtures, trees, art, and bike lanes along parts of Castro Valley Boulevard. Why not extend this project to create a template for a more walkable and livable community through the heart of Castro Valley?

The Castro Valley Marketplace redevelopment has been a bright spot in the heart of our downtown district during the COVID-19 pandemic. While Castro Valley Matters advocated for tearing down the old Daughtrey’s Building and building a town square, the Marketplace has brought new types of businesses to Castro Valley that will encourage people to gather in our downtown to shop, eat, and catch a movie down at The Chabot.

With The Chabot working hard to bring much needed art and culture to this entertainment sub-district of Castro Valley we must insist the MAC and Planning Department work in the same vein and pursue incremental development of this key site with pedestrian-oriented shops and services that enhance the quality of life in our Place.

This is also an opportunity to remind the MAC and Board of Supervisors that a vision for our community matters. As CVM has observed over the years, development in our community often takes place in a haphazard manner. Important planning documents that provide a vision for our community are left to age and are often ignored.

In 2015, when Castro Valley Matters went to the Board of Supervisors, Supervisor Nate Miley said “The Downtown Specific Plan for Castro Valley is extremely important.” At the time, Albert Lopez, Director of the Alameda County Planning Department, said that work would begin before the end of 2015. It’s now 2021.

When you think about the potential for our downtown and the glimmer of hope we have seen down the street at the Castro Valley Marketplace, this proposal leaves me asking “Where’s the beef?“

You can watch and provide public comment at Monday’s 6:00 pm MAC meeting on Zoom.

Castro Valley Matters