Accusation stalls choice of developer for huge Concord project
Concord officials have delayed a decision on who should develop the sprawling former Concord Naval Weapons Station site after one of the two competing firms accused the other of illegal lobbying and demanded an investigation.
The City Council was scheduled to choose a master developer on Tuesday — either Lennar Urban or Catellus Development Co. But on Thursday, an attorney for Catellus sent a letter to Concord City Manager Valerie Barone, alleging illegal lobbying and demanding an immediate investigation.
In the letter, Catellus attorney Andrew Giacomini alleges that persons connected with Lennar may have violated that agreement by making contributions to Mayor Tim Grayson’s state Assembly campaign and engaging in discussions about the naval weapons station.
“We believe these activities have unfairly influenced the selection process, which by contract was to focus on the merits of the master developer candidates and be free from political influence,” Giacomini wrote.
Protests are not unusual when government agencies award high-stakes contracts, but they typically come after the contract is rewarded.
The city staff report to the council says that both companies are capable of carrying out the development and makes no recommendation.