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From: Roger Straw
Date: April 9, 2008 6:04:28 PM PDT
Subject: ALERT! SEENO UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR BREAKING THE LAW IN PITTSBURG

Friends - What is happening right now in Contra Costa County is instructive for us as we respond to Seeno's recent proposal for ripping up our hills north of town. Please be aware that it is the very same company, Seeno, that is being investigated by Save Mount Diablo for the destruction of a creek and ridgeline in Pittsburg. (see the Save Mt. Diablo press release here - http://www.savemountdiablo.org/SeenoGradingPittsburg.htm ). PLEASE READ IT!

If the Seeno project gets approved, we may need to hire a 24 hour security service to WATCH them, just so that they don't go ahead and grade hills that they have agreed NOT to grade!

Here in Benicia, the Planning Commission will address the issue tomorrow, (Thursday, 4/10, 7pm, Council Chambers). We can hope that the Planning Commission will simply recommend that Council DENY the project. Then we can look to a future proposal that conforms to current state and federal laws and ordinances. Short of that, the Planning Commission should at least recommend that Council require the "Initial Study" that will allow us to nail down the conditions of approval, and require necessary improvements in what is currently being proposed.

It seems to me that what Seeno has done in Contra Costa County (and elsewhere) goes beyond just breaking the law. It is really an issue of ethics and morality. When you destroy a creek, you destroy a life system. We are stewards of the land beneath us and around us, and we don't want to mortgage our children's and grandchildren's future by ignoring the needs of the environment. I think we should stay as far away from this company as possible.

Roger Straw

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http://www.savemountdiablo.org/SeenoGradingPittsburg.htm

SEENO COMPANIES GRADING PROJECT IN PITTSBURG

Save Mount Diablo is asking Pittsburg to investigate Seeno Companies’ destruction of creek, and ridgeline at San Marco project in Pittsburg above Concord and Naval Weapons Station.

Save Mount Diablo submitted a request to the City of Pittsburg Thursday, with copies to City of Concord officials, charging what they believe may be illegal grading by the Seeno Companies in Pittsburg at their 2,938-unit San Marco subdivision in Pittsburg, and asking for an investigation. The grading, which appears to have been completed in January at about the same time that the Seeno Companies were fined $3 million for grading in nearby Antioch, extends to the ridge overlooking Concord.

“We want to give Pittsburg officials time to consider our request,” said Ron Brown, Save Mount Diablo’s Executive Director, “but we also feel that the community has a right to this information, given that the Pittsburg City Council will be considering Hillside development regulations Monday evening.”

“It’s the highest grading in Pittsburg, ever. They’ve scalped the ridge,” said Seth Adams, Director of Land Programs and spokesman for Save Mount Diablo. “The Seeno Companies have once again destroyed a seasonal creek, related tributaries and steep slopes. In places the grading is 400-500 feet across. Despite landslides they’ve already experienced in lower elevations of San Marco, this new grading is already showing signs of erosion and slumping.”

“It’s especially bad when you consider that while Pittsburg is considering adoption of Hillside Development Regulations, the Seeno Companies have graded to the very top of the ridge, and while Concord is proposing to protect the hills and ridges of the Concord Naval Weapons Station—all of Concord’s reuse scenarios for the Naval Weapons Station protect the hillsides adjacent to Pittsburg—the Seenos have graded land over looking the Weapons Station,” said Adams, “This grading is on land within the Pittsburg city limits, but overlooks Concord from above the Naval Weapons Station, affecting the views of everyone in Central County. You can see it from Highway 4 and from Highway 680. It’s just the beginning; they have plans on the books for more development on County lands outside of Pittsburg’s city limits, much of it even higher in elevation.”

For more information please read the full Press Release: http://www.savemountdiablo.org/Seeno%20Grading%20in%20Pittsburg/PR%20-%20Seeno%20San%20Marco%20Grading%204-7-08.pdf