Located in the town of Castro Valley, the 75-acre plot is currently zoned for agricultural use. Under Trafalgar's proposal, it would be divided into lots from 6,000-9,000 sf, with two-story homes ranging from more than 2,700 sf to 3,300 sf with two-and three-car garages.

The Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council met Monday night to discuss the proposal. Earlier this month, county planners issued a draft environmental report on the project.

When preparation of the environmental report was first announced two years ago, the Five Canyons Homeowners Association expressed concerns about preservation of open space, traffic, and visibility for current homeowners.

But Cheryl Miraglia, who heads the group's Health and Welfare Committee, said in a written statement that the group has not taken a position on the report because it came out after their Aug. 7 meeting.

"Personally, I believe that the community is better off working with a developer who intends to put in quality homes and who appears willing to compromise and mitigate the concerns of the neighbors versus development of the parcel at a later date by some politically powerful developer who may come in and build some cracker box development," she wrote.

County planners are accepting public comments on the project until Sept. 29.

Instant Insights /

Builder Wants Farmland for Development

Related Stories

Recommended For You