Castro Valley MAC rejects camp project after lengthy debate
Sideshow mayhem in Oakland over the weekend punctures good vibes on low crime rates; Khanna really wants the Epstein Files
☕️MORNING BUZZ
—A proposal to build a youth outdoor education camp in Cull Canyon was dealt a setback Monday night after the Castro Valley Municipal Advisory Council (MAC) unanimously voted against granting a conditional use permit and certifying the project’s environmental review.
The decision was another win for Castro Valley’s agricultural and rural areas, which is heavily represented on the current CV MAC.
The Mosaic Project, a nonprofit that runs outdoor programs focused on diversity and inclusion, sought county approval to construct cabins, restrooms, staff housing and a dining hall on Cull Canyon Road.
After more than four hours of testimony, the advisory council voted down the plan, reflecting deep divisions in the community.
Supporters, many of them alumni and parents, praised Mosaic’s educational programs, while residents of Cull Canyon voiced strong concerns over water supply, fire danger, evacuation routes, and septic issues.
“This is a school, not a campground,” said former East Bay Municipal Utility District director Frank Mellon, while arguing the proposed project violates Alameda County’s voter-approved Measure D, which was designed to protect agricultural lands.
Others echoed that view, saying the project amounted to a school in disguise. “The [conditional use permit] for a recreational facility is, I think, disingenuous. In my mind, it’s a school,” councilmember Bill Mulgrew said.
Several CV MAC members said they respected Mosaic’s mission but opposed its proposed location.
CV MAC member Dan Davini said many neighbors felt misled about the scope of the project. “A lot of people have felt duped, and I kind of feel duped as well,” he said.
County planning staff had categorized the project as an outdoor recreation facility—a use permitted in the agricultural district—but acknowledged that “camp” is not defined in county zoning code.
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ELECTION 2026: Oakland candidate formally announces she’s running for mayor in 2026.
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