The Merc article on the Saltworks and the Army Corps of Engineers really caused some unnecessary confusion. The truth is that the “event” that generated the story was simply the Corps accepting the Saltworks request EXACTLY AS SUBMITTED. The article and headlines suggested there was some big “setback” for the project or that what the Corps did was somehow unwelcome. In fact, the Corps did exactly what Saltworks requested.

After decades of dispute and even litigation about sites like the Saltworks and how federal law applies — OR NOT — to them, Saltworks made a choice to set aside the path of conflict and lawyers and, instead, seek to work with the agencies on the best future for the site. Specifically, we tapped into a standard (though somewhat new) process offered by the Corps throughout the country. Under that process, a landowner who disagrees that federal laws apply to a given site may reserve those objections but nonetheless let the agencies treat the site “as if” it is subject to the laws. The landowner never concedes the question, but lets the agency process a permit application as if the jurisdiction applied.

Neither DMB nor Cargill believe there is a legal basis for the federal agencies to exert control over the site. But as I said, we’d rather talk solutions and the future, not fight over legal minutia.

Also, we are so confident in and proud of the incredible benefits of the 50/50 Balanced Plan, we have no doubt that the plan as submitted is absolutely permit-able under the laws in question.

We weren’t ambushed; quite to the contrary. We appreciate that the Corps started the exact process we asked for.

Bookmark:

We believe the Saltworks site is a unique opportunity to address – and potentially resolve – many of the Peninsula’s needs through smart-growth policies that are models of environmental and economic stewardship. 

Redwood City’s environmental impact review (EIR) process will analyze the many environmental benefits that may be obtained exclusively through a site of this size, scale, and location. Nowhere else on the job-rich Peninsula can this opportunity for housing, restoration, recreation facilities and transit connections be realized. 

Obviously, some don’t see this as an opportunity for the community. Opponents of our proposal sponsored Measure W – the failed ballot measure from 2008 – and now maintain a campaign to shut down the state-sanctioned environmental review process.  They may be surprised to be learning that we welcome such debate and discussion, having already spent more than four years working with residents to determine together the best uses for the Saltworks site. 

What is puzzling to us is not that some acting on misunderstanding and inaccurate “facts” might oppose our project, but that those touting the environmental banner advocate stopping an open, transparent and independent environmental review of the project, undermining its fact-finding mission. What are these groups afraid of? Why would they want to change the rules that most environmental groups support? The answer is simple and clear: they don’t want the facts known.  Over the past four years, as people learn the truth about the site today and the proposal for tomorrow, they become supporters.  It is that simple. 

For the record, here are some of the key facts:

     1. The Saltworks site is not part of the Bay. The Saltworks has been an industrial, highly engineered facility fully severed from the Bay for more than a century.

     2. As an industrial salt harvesting facility, the interior of the operation levees is devoid of any wetlands. Further, the brine, pickle, and bittern on this site are of such intensity that their release into the Bay would be a violation of federal and state law.

     3. Under our 50/50 Balanced Plan, more than 430 acres of the site will be re-created to tidal marsh habitat paid for by the project. Our opponents want this restoration to be paid for by you with your tax dollars (to say nothing of acquisition and clean up costs).

     4. The 50/50 Balanced Plan provides both project and regional protection against the rising seas paid for by the project.

     5. In 1940, the federal government issued a permit to establish the Saltworks site as an industrial salt harvesting facility.

Even more importantly, the Saltworks is the Peninsula’s single-greatest opportunity to change the underlying cause of environmental damage – greenhouse gases. Our model would reduce the continuation of exporting housing to the Central Valley, curtail the millions of vehicle miles traveled already calculated on our roads and bridges, increase Bay access, and expand Redwood City’s park and recreation system.

As we know, there is no one issue that defines a community. Such is the case in Redwood City. So, we ask, again, what are Saltworks’ critics afraid of that they want to squelch an open, transparent, independent review process on all the issues of a project that could provide so much to the Peninsula and re-create more than 430 acres of wetlands at no cost to taxpayers?

This is not a time to do as our opponents suggest – put a fence around the property with a keep-out sign and spend scarce public funds – money out of your wallet –when the full benefits for the Saltworks site can be realized as inherent components of this unprecedented project.

We welcome a genuine debate about the future of the Saltworks site, but let’s do so on a factual basis and through an open, transparent and independent process.

Bookmark:

Since I posted the myths versus facts on our blog a few weeks ago, hundreds of people have emailed me. Some good, some bad and and a few who refuse to engage in debate in a polite manner.  Well, thanks to everyone who sent me an email. I appreciate the time you’ve taken to shoot me your thoughts.  I decided to further illustrate my point that opponents of the Saltworks plan have to bend the truth or not tell the entire truth when making their arguments with an expanded truth versus fiction.  See below. 

What some groups have said: “Retired salt ponds are not the place for housing – they are a golden opportunity to restore healthy wetlands that scientists say the bay’s wildlife desperately needs.”

What the truth is: The Redwood City Saltworks site is an active salt harvesting facility operating today.  This area is not “retired,” as some groups claim. As part of the 50/50 Balanced Plan, we propose to ACTIVELY restore more than 400 acres of these lands to tidal marsh habitat, at PRIVATE expense.   Nearly 40,000 acres are ALREADY in public ownership around the Bay desperately awaiting funding for restoration. Some of Saltworks’ opponents propose to tax Bay area residents to come up with those dollars.  We believe the economic vitality of a project like the Saltworks is a better solution. 

——————

What some groups have said: “Common sense argues against putting new development at sea level on top of unstable bay mud at risk of liquefaction in an earthquake.”

What the truth is: The point here is simple: The substrate at the Saltworks site is the same as many other areas in the Bay Area.

——————

What some groups have said: “True infill development around transit hubs is the green way to accommodate Bay Area growth. Destroying the undeveloped open space that makes the Bay Area so livable is not.”

What the truth is: We agree with this statement.  Did you know that the 50/50 Balanced Plan is within a quarter mile of more than 10,000 jobs and is directly adjacent to the proposed ferry terminal in Redwood City? In addition, the 50/50 Plan proposes the creation of a true transit link between the proposed ferry terminal, the Saltworks site, major employment areas and the Caltrain station in downtown Redwood City.

Some groups would have you believe that the Saltworks site is “open space” in the same sense that Bair Island in Redwood City is open space or the pristine rolling hills of 280 is open space. That simply is not true. I would encourage everyone to visit the site and see the trucks and front loaders rolling over the crystallizer beds and decide for themselves whether this site is open space.

——————

What some groups have said: “The bay, including these salt ponds, belongs to all of us, not just Redwood City.”

What the truth is: Actually, the Saltworks site is private property. However, realization of the 50/50 Balanced Plan would bring environmental and social benefits to the entire Redwood City and regional community. What some groups want to do is play the self-appointed judge, jury, and executioner of any perspective that conflicts with their unilateral view.

Bookmark:

There’s been a lot of misinformation and half-truths being circulated out there about the Saltworks site and the proposed plan for the site. I thought I’d take an opportunity to clarify some misstatements. I’ve kept a running tally of what people have said and while I won’t name names, I do have the sources of where each one of these “myths” have come from. Drop me a line if you want the source.

Myth One: The Saltworks site is the largest unprotected stretch of restorable bay shoreline.

FACT: The Redwood City Industrial Saltworks site is privately owned by Cargill. Under the 50/50 Balanced Plan, this stretch of shoreline is proposed for restoration at NO acquisition or restoration cost to existing Redwood City taxpayers.

Myth Two: The Saltworks site was diked off from tidal action to create salt evaporation ponds.

FACT: As early as 1901, a major portion of the site was already devoted to salt production. The existing site was constructed pursuant to a federal permit issued in 1941. The current configuration and operations have remained largely unchanged since 1951. The Redwood City Saltworks site is not an evaporation pond. As a salt harvesting plant site, it is the terminus of a five year process whereby sodium chloride crystallizes for harvesting. Earlier passive evaporation ponds have much lower intensity levels and may have some hospitability to ecological uses, unlike a harvesting facility.

Myth Three: Redwood City zoning has never permitted development on these salt ponds.

FACT: The Seaport Britannia Centre, a 700,000 square-foot office complex immediately adjacent to the site was once part of the Saltworks facility. The current zoning for the site, “Tidal Plain,” anticipates future development proposals.

Myth Four: The Saltworks site is located within a flood plain and state and federal laws prohibit filling wetlands when alternatives are available.

FACT: As an industrial salt harvesting facility, the interior of the operation levees is devoid of any wetlands. THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE to the 50/50 Balanced Plan entertained by Cargill is ongoing salt industrial harvesting operations.

Myth Five: DMB and Cargill have already spent millions on slick PR Campaigns to recast their proposal as green development and making big promises to restore some wetlands on the site in exchange for destroying the rest.

FACT: The only proposed “destruction” is that of a century-old industrial facility in exchange for fully-funded tidal marsh restoration and a greenhouse-gas reducing transit-oriented community bringing direly needed housing to a jobs-rich region.

Bookmark:

More rain is forecasted for Redwood City this weekend. Every year, property owners along East Bayshore (and sometimes on the other side of US 101) are impacted by chronic and persistent flooding.  You might remember the most recent storm a week or so ago where the flooding backed up into mobile homes and across US 101 near Stanford.  See the picture below.

Here’s a little background about why this flooding occurs.

The flooding results from storm water originating from areas west of US 101, including Atherton, Menlo Park, Woodside and parts of unincorporated San Mateo County.  That storm water flows downhill on roads and through pipes and canals to eventually end up in the Bayfront Canal, which lies at the southern end of the Saltworks site, just outside the property boundary.

During heavy rains and high tides, the Bayfront Canal does not have enough capacity to transport that storm water to the Bay, and the result is that the water in those pipes and canals backs up and floods property owners and streets.

The 50/50 Balanced Plan brings critical infrastructure improvements that would serve a wide variety of City and regional stakeholders, including to help solve  a long existing capacity shortage of the Bayfront Canal by dedicating land to manage upstream, off-site storm water flows, thus improving existing flood conditions by regulating the discharge of these flows at levels the Bayfront canal can adequately accommodate.

Recent flooding in Redwood City was so severe that storm water backed up all the way to the Stanford Medical Campus in Redwood City

Bookmark: