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Alameda County endorses five Priority Conservation Area nominations for ABAG consideration
Summary
The Board of Supervisors voted July 10 to endorse five Priority Conservation Area nominations to the Association of Bay Area Governments, authorizing staff to submit materials by ABAG's July 25 deadline; staff stressed the designations are nonregulatory and grant-funded projects require willing landowners.
Alameda County officials voted July 10 to endorse five Priority Conservation Area (PCA) nominations for submission to the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG).
Planning staff described PCAs as nonregulatory designations intended to highlight areas for biodiversity, climate resilience and recreational funding. Allie Abbers of the county planning department told the board that PCA status does not change zoning or grant ABAG regulatory authority over private property and that ABAG grant rules require willing landowners for any acquisitions or on‑land projects.
The nominations before the board included an Environmental Justice Priority Communities Green Zone covering Eden-area EJ tracts and five low-income Castro Valley census tracts; Sonole Creeks, focused on riparian care and flood hazard relief; regional trail connectors to close gaps between existing PCAs in northeastern Alameda County; a three‑mile South Bay Aqueduct Trail corridor; and a ‘Resilient Fairview’ PCA for riparian corridors and wildfire mitigation.
During public comment, a Fairview resident, Michelle (identified on the record as from Bear View), urged the board to allow property owners an opt‑out, saying she had not received direct notice and was surprised her property appeared within the hashed PCA area. Another speaker, Tyler, urged the board to pursue available ABAG funding for local environmental enhancements.
Supervisors asked staff to confirm safeguards for property owners and for details on grant timing. Staff reiterated that the PCA framework is intended to support grant applications and technical assistance rather than impose new land‑use controls, and that ABAG requires evidence of willing participation before awarding grants.
A board motion to adopt the attached resolution endorsing the PCA nominations and authorizing the planning director or designee to complete and submit the required nomination form passed on a roll call vote with Supervisors Marquez, Tam and Miley and President Halbert voting aye; Supervisor Fortunato Bas was excused.
The planning director will file the nominations with ABAG in time for the July 25, 2025 submission deadline. The board’s action is procedural: any future projects seeking ABAG or PCA grant funds would need property‑owner participation and any project actions would be subject to separate approvals and environmental review as required.
