Successful negotiations between city, county, special district, landowner, developer, and environmental interests led to the 2006 adoption of a specific plan and phased annexation program for the 2,550-acre East Cypress Corridor in eastern Contra Costa County. Following County approval of large urban development projects within the City of Oakley's Planning Area Boundary, the City undertook preparation of a specific plan, project-level EIR, Sphere of Influence (SOI) amendment, and three separate Boundary Reorganizations.  These actions were designed to address long-range planning for up to 5,800 housing units and 1 million square feet of support services. Working closely with the City’s professional staff and leaders, Loewke Planning coordinated the work of a team of consultants to address infrastructure planning, municipal and special district service expansion, fiscal impacts, annexation and implementation policies. Phasing and overall project feasibility were complicated by the on-going entitlement of projects within this unincorporated area, the presence of three established residential neighborhoods, and several unique constraints, including required levee construction and service district boundary issues. 

This process involved balancing the economic interests of a diverse group of public and private parties, while setting the stage for Oakley to establish its own long-term land use, housing, and public service policies for the area. The program precipitated numerous neighborhood meetings and presentations before the Contra Costa LAFCO, and adoption of a specific plan and EIR, amendment of the City’s SOI, and the preparation of a Municipal Services Plan.