Point Molate Naval Fuel Depot

The 413-acre former Point Molate Naval Fuel Depot (NFD) contains about 290 acres of land above high tide elevation. Located on Richmond’s shoreline about 1- 1/2 miles north of the Richmond/San Rafael Bridge this unique site contains:
• 1.4 miles of unoccupied shoreline
• a 400 foot high ridge line with sweeping views of two bays, a Victorian island lighthouse, Mt. Tamalpais and Mt. St. Helena
• a 1400 foot long pier providing deep water access
• a 41-acre National Register Historic District
• a Rhineland-style castle that was the largest winery in the U.S. prior to Prohibition
• extensive inter tidal eel grass beds and
• rare coastal prairie and coastal bluff native plant communities.

Once the largest winery in the United States, the 41-acre Winehaven Historic District is recognized under both Federal and State law.

The Navy sold 218 acres of the property to the City of Richmond for one dollar in September 2003. Transfer of the remaining property awaits cleanup to standards set by the Regional Water Quality Control Board.

Natural Environment

Bay Nature magazine featured the natural world of Point Molate in the article "Betting on Point Molate" by Chiori Santiago. In particular, Native Plants are real survivors at Point Molate. The uplands of Point Molate are distinguished by coastal terrace prairie and northern coastal bluff scrub plant communities where the major conservation issue is unmanaged invasive alien plants. The inter tidal zone is distinguished by abundant eelgrass beds and a variety of kelp. It is mostly rocky with the exception of sand/mud flats offshore Point Molate beach.

The October, 1997 “Special-Status Plant Survey And Habitat Assessment” report for Point Molate NFD, which was prepared by Michael Wood of Sycamore Associates and Tetra Tech, states:
• “numerous plant taxa of botanical significance do occur on site;”
• “Coastal terrace prairie and northern coastal bluff scrub habitats are exceedingly rare in the East Bay and represent diminishing habitats throughout their range;”
• “the native perennial grasses .... exhibit very high levels of density and diversity. Native grasslands of comparable quality are extremely uncommon in the East Bay, as well as in more coastal areas in Marin County;”
• “the diversity of wildflowers in the grasslands is also unusual in the region.”

Reuse Plan for Former Naval Fuel Depot

Beginning in 1942, Point Molate served as a U.S. Navy fuel storage and transfer facility. It closed on September 30, 1995 under the U.S. Department of Defense Base Realignment and Closure Act of 1990.

A 45-member Blue Ribbon Advisory Committee developed the Point Molate Reuse Plan, which was approved by the Richmond City Council acting as the Local Reuse Authority (LRA), in 1997. This Plan serves as the guide for the reuse and development of the site. It calls for a mixed use development concept with 191 acres reserved for shoreline park and hillside open space lands as shown on the conceptual land use and open space plans.

Uses proposed for buildings in the Winehaven Historic District include:
1. Winehaven Building - winery, restaurant, museum, retail, meeting rooms, performing arts and a recording studio
2. historic winery cottages - conference center, retreat, B&B, classrooms Existing buildings on a 20-acre site immediately south of Winehaven are proposed for a winery, live/work, warehousing, job training and light industrial uses. Single and multifamily residential development is recommended on about 38 acres of relatively flat land south of the above development areas.

Indian Gambling Casino Proposal

Amidst great controversy, on Nov. 24, 2004 the City of Richmond entered into a Land Disposition Agreement (LDA) with Upstream Point Molate LLC to sell former Naval Fuel Depot Point Molate for $50 million.

Upstream proposes to create new tribal lands for the Guidiville Band of the Pomo Indians in order to develop the Winehaven Historic District as a resort hotel/casino complex. The proposed development would include construction and maintenance of the Bay Trail along the entire 1.4 miles of shoreline with about 33 acres of shoreline park and 150 acres of Hillside Open Space with its public trail system.

The Bay Trail must be completed during the first construction phase. The LDA was amended March 7, 2006 to allow a first phase purchase ($16.7 million) of 30 acres for residential development inland of Western Drive at the southern approach to the property plus 60 acres for shoreline parks and open space without creating tribal lands.

If Upstream exercises this first phase purchase, they would be required to fund construction of the Bay Trail plus shoreline park lands averaging 50 feet wide along the entire 1.4 miles of shoreline. The LDA and amendment are available from the City of Richmond.

In order to expedite cleanup of the remaining lands still in Navy ownership, the City and Upstream have reached agreement with the Navy on an early transfer to the City of remaining contaminated lands with the Navy placing $28,5 million in escrow for the City's use to complete the cleanup . The funds have been placed in escrow, and the City will be able to access the money as soon as the remaining parcels are transferred to the City.

The Richmond City Council is expected to consider certification of a Final Environmental Impact Report and conditional approval of the project in January 2010.