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Project Overview

The goal of the Castro Valley General Plan Implementation Project (Project) is to provide the community, the Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council (CVMAC), the County Planning Commission, and the County Board of Supervisors with the tools to make well-informed decisions consistent with the Castro Valley community's long-term vision for growth and well-being. 

The Project will help implement the 2012 Castro Valley General Plan, as well as the 2006 Castro Valley Redevelopment Strategic Plan. The primary aspects of the Project will be revising the Alameda County Zoning Code and updating the Castro Valley Central Business District Specific Plan. Planned development adjacent to the Castro Valley BART station is anticipated serve as a catalyst for planned improvements necessary to revitalize the Central Business District.

Additional objectives of the Project include:

  • Increasing flexibility of regulations

  • Enhancing the community character and design

  • Attracting infill residential development

The Project has been divided into two distinct phases:

  • Phase 1: Community-Wide Zoning and Map Update (complete)

  • Phase 2: Castro Valley Central Business District Specific Plan Update (in progress)

The Project will be characterized by open and ongoing communication with the community to keep all parties informed of project-related news. 

Phase II Overview

Castro Valley Business District Specific Plan (CVBDSP) Update

The second Phase of the Project began in December 2021 and is currently underway. This Phase focuses solely on the Central Business District area covered by the Castro Valley Central Business District Specific Plan (CVCBDSP).

The CVCBDSP Area is located north of I-580 and the BART Line in the southern part of Castro Valley. The Area contains approximately 288 acres and 763 parcels, which make up Castro Valley’s commercial and mixed-use center.

Phase II will include a comprehensive update to the current specific plan, the 1996 CVBDSP. The update will help ensure that the vision for the CVBDSP established in the Castro Valley General Plan is implemented.

Phase II consists of four tasks, which include the following:

  • Background Research and Analyses

  • Updated Specific Plan

  • New development regulations

  • Environmental Review/CEQA

Phase I Overview

Community-Wide Zoning and Map Update

The first phase of the Project began in the summer of 2016 and was completed in December 2020. This phase focused on the entire Castro Valley community apart from the Downtown, which is addressed in the Project’s second phase (Castro Valley Business District Specific Plan [CVBDSP] Update).

In Phase I, the Alameda County Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map were updated for the Castro Valley area to bring the regulations into consistency with the General Plan (CVGP) and General Plan Land Use Map.

During Phase I, County staff and the consulting teams completed the following efforts:

  • Identified inconsistencies between the CVGP and Zoning Code

  • Identified inconsistencies between the County Zoning Map and the CVGP Land Use Map

  • Recommended an approach for new zones, standards, and procedures

  • Prepared amendments to Title 17 (Zoning) of the Alameda County General Ordinance Code (ACGOC)

On December 15th 2020, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors adopted the final amendments to the Zoning Ordinance.