On Tuesday, the Oakley City Council approved the Bridgehead Industrial Project in a 4-1 vote.
In total, the project could bring 3.1 million sf of industrial warehouse and logistic buildings to the City of Oakley. The project would sit on the 164-acre site with 10 buildings ranging from 117,180 sf to 936,680 sf. The exact tenants and operations for the proposed buildings are unknown at this time.
The vote came after midnight during nearly a 5-hour discussion with a packed room with concerns from the public and support from labor seeking job opportunities.
After data centers were removed altogether from the project by the applicant, it put several councilmembers at ease which led to the 4-1 vote with Councilmember George Fuller voting against.
Jason Bennet, a principal with JB2, the project developer and development partner of the Cline family He shared his excitement for the project with the council noting it was an incredible job creation opportunity for the City of Oakley and direct/indirect economic development for the city and surrounding areas.
“We believe we are delivering a significant benefit to the community with a lot of the infrastructure improvements we are making,” said Bennet. “That said, I wanted to clear up some facts and misinformation about the project. When we sat down with the team to prepare the PUP and think through the project itself, this is a large-scale project, one of the key attributes of the project is the flexibility the project offers to attract and accommodate a wide variety of users. When we did that, we thought what were the predominate uses for this type of space out in the market. Our strategy was and remains to build warehouses, light industrial, logistics real estate for a very attractive class A business park in Oakley.”
Bennet added, given the market for data center use in the marketplace they thought it might be interesting to include it in the list of permitted uses.
“We have heard your concerns as a city council and we have certainly heard concerns of the community and in line with the fact that it was never our principal strategy to never develop data centers here, in fact w haven’t fully vetted bringing the infrastructure to the park to accommodate data centers, I respectfully request to modify our application to remove data center from the application in its entirety.”
“I was not in any way ready to support this project with the data center in it. I just think it wasn’t something my constituents were going to support. I know there are other concerns on the project, but the data center was a no-go for me so I really appreciate that. It made this a whole lot easier,” said Councilmember Shannon Shaw.
Councilmember Anissa Williams explained how many people say they need commercial and living wage jobs – but at some point they do have to follow State Law and landowners do have rights.
“I don’t know how many people who are faulting the Clines have been business owners but you do that because you do need to have to pay for things because you are investing in a community and that doesn’t always turn a profit,” said Williams. “I don’t think anyone in here has the Cline’s P and L statement or how much money they are bringing home. I don’t think its fair to punish somebody who purchased that land in 1982 which pre-dates Vintage Parkway, it predates the building.”
Williams then explained how she was 24-years-old when she bought a house and looked at future developments – you have to see what is zoned near your home upon buying it.
“Its not fair for the landowner who predates all of this, who had their existing zoning,” shared Williams. “I am very sorry you feel like they don’t have rights, but they do have rights and we have to respect that. I think people are talking about the boogeyman of what this project is, we are bringing in jobs.”
Williams also said this project will put money into the economy, noting 8 tax measures are coming and believed many people would say “no” to the Oakley Union School District bonds in June and this project could bring money to the schools—while not being on taxpayer backs.
Vice Mayor Aaron Meadows shared shed he ran in 2020 on economic development and this project brings in jobs – short-term and long-term while citing jobs vs. housing imbalance.
“I love this project,” said Meadows. “This is exactly what we need for our families. This allows our families to live and work right here.”
Councilmember George Fuller called this project as bad as it gets for local government claiming the city manager, and the rest of the council are creating an “environmental cesspool” and forcing it onto the residents of Oakley—especially Vintage Parkway. He cited air quality concerns and other environmental concerns such as global warming.
Mayor Hugh Henderson said for years in the community, bringing jobs other than gas stations or fast food or storage units was always a common theme they heard.
“The data center went onto everyone’s radar and there is a lot of unknowns with a data center and now with the applicant saying they were going to pull that, what I would like to see in the resolution is that it says there is no data center on this project period, so it eliminates that use for this project, which then listening to the community tonight, says that was the biggest element that concerned people,” said Henderson noting this will bring jobs, see improvements on Big Break Road and Main Street get cleaned up with a center median. “All of our improvements that people have asked for, but there hasn’t been a way to do it, so I think getting that extra element, getting the jobs into the community is important, that is where I lay on this.”
Council Meeting Tidbits
Councilmember Anissa Williams confirmed the timeline that the Cline Family took ownership of the property for farming/commercial use in 1982 which was heavy industrial, by 2002 it was rezoned to light industrial.
Ken Strelo, community development director, explained the heavy industrial zoning was on the property because it was done while Oakley was part of the county, it changed when Oakley became a city and under the general plan updated the zoning—the zoning did not match.
Williams then noted Big Break Regional Shoreline did not open until 2025, she asked if EBRPD offered comments. Strelo said it was based on the trail and how they wanted it to look.
Councilmember Shannon Shaw asked if saying “no” to this project today mean the vineyard today mandatory has to say – staff said no.
She then asked about the southern parcel had an application if they denied this project, for hypothetically a Walmart, and this EIR was approved, and they built today, would they have to go through another EIR – staff said no.
Strelo explained the River Oak Crossing is an entitled existing zoning that has an approved development plan from 3 big box retails, other smaller retail of approximately 690,000 square feet of big box retail and commercial is considered to have higher peak hour traffic.
“I am asking because everyone just wants to say no and we have to hear everybody, but I just want the public to understand that a no to the project doesn’t mean no development,” explained Shaw. “There is already an approved specific plan on this southern site right now with an accepted EIR.
Strelo confirmed, stating the northern side was designated light industrial.
Williams asked if they had a proposed amendment
Williams Requests Work Session on Data Centers
Just after midnight, Williams requested a future agenda item.
“Based on a lot of the discussion today, I would love to see if we can have a work session on acceptable uses, specifically data centers. Specifically, if there was ever a place we want that so that way we can get ahead of it before we get any other projects,” requested Williams.
The item will return at a future meeting under the title, “if the city should have data centers or not in our zoning.”
The project came before the city council after the project was approved by the planning commission in January in a 3-2 vote. While the project was approved, the commission did recommend adding a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) when it comes to data centers.
During the planning commission meeting, much of the discussion was focused on data centers, however, many Oakley community members expressed other concerns which included:
- Air quality, Environmental removal of trees
- Impact on Big Break Regional Shoreline and Big Break Marina
- Design/eye sore
- Health concerns (multiple)
- Infrastructure – water/energy, Ironhouse Sanitary District & Delta Diablo Water
- Noise/Blight
- Traffic
According to the staff report (see documents below), as a result of the Planning Commission’s recommendation, on February 9, 2026, the applicant (Oxfoot Oakley) agreed to amend their proposed PUD and Staff modified the PUD to require Data Center to require approval of a conditional use permit per the Oakley Municipal Code. The modified version of the PUD is included as the proposed PUD for City Council consideration and attached to this Staff Report. Since the PUD was modified to require a data center to a conditionally permitted use, no such condition of approval is included in the proposed Rezone ordinance that would approve the PUD.
Since the Planning Commission Meeting, the City received two letters of withdrawal of objection to the project were submitted. The first by the Golden State Environmental Justice Alliance saying the developer has addressed their concerns. The second, by the Advocates for the Environment saying they reached an agreement with the developer.
According to the Project Description, as submitted March 25, 2025, The following is a brief description of the entitlement applications submitted to the City Oakley:
- Rezoning the North Development Area from Business Park Low (BPL) to Planned Unit Development (P-1) to allow for uses in compliance with the General Plan designation of Light Industrial (LI).
- Rezoning of the South Development Area from Commercial (C) to Planned Unit Development (P-1).
- General Plan Amendment for the South Development Area from Commercial (CO) to Light Industrial (LI).
- Adoption of a Planned Unit Development (PUD) providing development standards, design guidelines, and implementation details for the development of the 164-acre project with warehouse, logistics, and data center buildings totaling 3.1-million square feet of building area.
- Tentative Subdivision applications to divide the entire project site into 10 lots to create a cohesive master plan for development of the overall property. This would create lots to facilitate phase one development of the Industrial area, as well as road dedications and backbone utility infrastructure.
- Design Review (Development Plan) Application for the development of the entire 164-acre site to include all buildings, site plan including parking and internal circulation, building architecture, civil engineering including grading, storm drainage, utilities, and site details, and preliminary landscape architecture.
- Signage program as included in the PUD.
- Development Agreement
Project Site Details:
The Project site is divided into two distinct development areas, north and south, as described in the PUD. The project envisions the development of approximately 3.1-million square feet of industrial warehouse and logistic buildings and potentially data center uses.
Project construction for the entire development is anticipated to be completed within 6 to 10 years. It will include the construction of approximately 3.1 million SF of warehouse, logistics, and data center buildings, as well as all related on-site improvements, including the associated parking areas, circulation, stormwater features, landscaping, and off-site street improvements.
It is anticipated that the Project facilities will likely function 24 hours a day, seven days a week
According to the Development Agreement (Item 7), WHEREAS, the Project’s Existing Development Approvals set forth in detail on Exhibit “C” and incorporated herein by this reference, the Project generally permits 3.1 million square feet of light industrial warehouse and logistic buildings and potentially data center uses on the Property, as well as utility facilities, associated roadways and other necessary infrastructure; and
However, according to the Economic Impact Analysis (Item 8), at buildout, Bridgehead is estimated to yield a net fiscal surplus for the City’s General Fund ranging from approximately $1.1 million to $1.4 million annually. Meanwhile, the largest General Fund revenues generated by the Project, including $587,000 a year in property taxes and $619,000 annually in property tax in-lieu of vehicle license fees, are directly tied to new assessed value. The Project’s estimated impact on General Fund expenditures for Police ranges from approximately $158,000 per year under a distribution-focused scenario, with relatively fewer on-site employees, to $434,000 per year under a manufacturing- focused scenario.
Within the Proposed Resolution Recommending the Oakley City Council Certify the Project EIR (Item 11), it again highlights the project objective is to construct and operate light industrial and logistics buildings and potentially data centers to provide for an underserved local demand
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends the City Council approve the Project through the following actions:
- Adopt a resolution certifying the Project’s Environmental Impact Report, (SCH No. 2024050471), making certain findings concerning mitigation measures, adopting a Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program, making findings considering alternatives, and adopting a Statement of Overriding Considerations; and
- Adopt a resolution approving the Project’s General Plan Amendment application (GPA 02-23), as conditioned; and
- Waive the first reading and introduce an ordinance approving the Project’s Rezone application (RZ 04-23), as conditioned; and
- Adopt a resolution approving the Project’s Tentative Map, Design Review, and Master Sign Program applications (TM 10-23, DR 11-23, MSP 01-23), as conditioned; and
- Waive the first reading and introduce an ordinance approving the Project’s Development Agreement application(DA 2025-01), as conditioned
Documents:
Staff Report: Click Here
Previous
- March 6, 2026 – Oakley Set to Talk Bridgehead Industrial Project, CUP on Data Centers
- Jan 21, 2026 – Split Vote: Oakley Planning Commission Makes Recommendation on Bridgehead Industrial Project
- Dec 14, 2025 – Oakley Receives 3.2 Million Square Feet Bridgehead Industrial Project Application
