Accessibility Statement Skip Navigation
  • Why PRWeb
  • How It Works
  • Who Uses It
  • Pricing
  • Login
  • GDPR
  • Create a Free Account
Return to PRWeb homepage
  • News
  • Resources
  • Contact
When typing in this field, a list of search results will appear and be automatically updated as you type.

Searching for your content...

No results found. Please change your search terms and try again.
  • News in Focus
      • Browse News Releases

      • All News Releases
      • Multimedia Gallery

      • All Multimedia
      • All Photos
      • All Videos
  • Business & Money
      • Auto & Transportation

      • Aerospace, Defense
      • Air Freight
      • Airlines & Aviation
      • Automotive
      • Maritime & Shipbuilding
      • Railroads and Intermodal Transportation
      • Supply Chain/Logistics
      • Transportation, Trucking & Railroad
      • Travel
      • Trucking and Road Transportation
      • View All Auto & Transportation

      • Business Technology

      • Blockchain
      • Broadcast Tech
      • Computer & Electronics
      • Computer Hardware
      • Computer Software
      • Data Analytics
      • Electronic Commerce
      • Electronic Components
      • Electronic Design Automation
      • Financial Technology
      • High Tech Security
      • Internet Technology
      • Nanotechnology
      • Networks
      • Peripherals
      • Semiconductors
      • View All Business Technology

      • Entertain­ment & Media

      • Advertising
      • Art
      • Books
      • Entertainment
      • Film and Motion Picture
      • Magazines
      • Music
      • Publishing & Information Services
      • Radio & Podcast
      • Television
      • View All Entertain­ment & Media

      • Financial Services & Investing

      • Accounting News & Issues
      • Acquisitions, Mergers and Takeovers
      • Banking & Financial Services
      • Bankruptcy
      • Bond & Stock Ratings
      • Conference Call Announcements
      • Contracts
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Dividends
      • Earnings
      • Earnings Forecasts & Projections
      • Financing Agreements
      • Insurance
      • Investments Opinions
      • Joint Ventures
      • Mutual Funds
      • Private Placement
      • Real Estate
      • Restructuring & Recapitalization
      • Sales Reports
      • Shareholder Activism
      • Shareholder Meetings
      • Stock Offering
      • Stock Split
      • Venture Capital
      • View All Financial Services & Investing

      • General Business

      • Awards
      • Commercial Real Estate
      • Corporate Expansion
      • Earnings
      • Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
      • Human Resource & Workforce Management
      • Licensing
      • New Products & Services
      • Obituaries
      • Outsourcing Businesses
      • Overseas Real Estate (non-US)
      • Personnel Announcements
      • Real Estate Transactions
      • Residential Real Estate
      • Small Business Services
      • Socially Responsible Investing
      • Surveys, Polls and Research
      • Trade Show News
      • View All General Business

  • Science & Tech
      • Consumer Technology

      • Artificial Intelligence
      • Blockchain
      • Cloud Computing/Internet of Things
      • Computer Electronics
      • Computer Hardware
      • Computer Software
      • Consumer Electronics
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Data Analytics
      • Electronic Commerce
      • Electronic Gaming
      • Financial Technology
      • Mobile Entertainment
      • Multimedia & Internet
      • Peripherals
      • Social Media
      • STEM (Science, Tech, Engineering, Math)
      • Supply Chain/Logistics
      • Wireless Communications
      • View All Consumer Technology

      • Energy & Natural Resources

      • Alternative Energies
      • Chemical
      • Electrical Utilities
      • Gas
      • General Manufacturing
      • Mining
      • Mining & Metals
      • Oil & Energy
      • Oil and Gas Discoveries
      • Utilities
      • Water Utilities
      • View All Energy & Natural Resources

      • Environ­ment

      • Conservation & Recycling
      • Environmental Issues
      • Environmental Policy
      • Environmental Products & Services
      • Green Technology
      • Natural Disasters
      • View All Environ­ment

      • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing

      • Aerospace & Defense
      • Agriculture
      • Chemical
      • Construction & Building
      • General Manufacturing
      • HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning)
      • Machinery
      • Machine Tools, Metalworking and Metallurgy
      • Mining
      • Mining & Metals
      • Paper, Forest Products & Containers
      • Precious Metals
      • Textiles
      • Tobacco
      • View All Heavy Industry & Manufacturing

      • Telecomm­unications

      • Carriers and Services
      • Mobile Entertainment
      • Networks
      • Peripherals
      • Telecommunications Equipment
      • Telecommunications Industry
      • VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)
      • Wireless Communications
      • View All Telecomm­unications

  • Lifestyle & Health
      • Consumer Products & Retail

      • Animals & Pets
      • Beers, Wines and Spirits
      • Beverages
      • Bridal Services
      • Cannabis
      • Cosmetics and Personal Care
      • Fashion
      • Food & Beverages
      • Furniture and Furnishings
      • Home Improvement
      • Household, Consumer & Cosmetics
      • Household Products
      • Jewelry
      • Non-Alcoholic Beverages
      • Office Products
      • Organic Food
      • Product Recalls
      • Restaurants
      • Retail
      • Supermarkets
      • Toys
      • View All Consumer Products & Retail

      • Entertain­ment & Media

      • Advertising
      • Art
      • Books
      • Entertainment
      • Film and Motion Picture
      • Magazines
      • Music
      • Publishing & Information Services
      • Radio & Podcast
      • Television
      • View All Entertain­ment & Media

      • Health

      • Biometrics
      • Biotechnology
      • Clinical Trials & Medical Discoveries
      • Dentistry
      • FDA Approval
      • Fitness/Wellness
      • Health Care & Hospitals
      • Health Insurance
      • Infection Control
      • International Medical Approval
      • Medical Equipment
      • Medical Pharmaceuticals
      • Mental Health
      • Pharmaceuticals
      • Supplementary Medicine
      • View All Health

      • Sports

      • General Sports
      • Outdoors, Camping & Hiking
      • Sporting Events
      • Sports Equipment & Accessories
      • View All Sports

      • Travel

      • Amusement Parks and Tourist Attractions
      • Gambling & Casinos
      • Hotels and Resorts
      • Leisure & Tourism
      • Outdoors, Camping & Hiking
      • Passenger Aviation
      • Travel Industry
      • View All Travel

  • Policy & Public Interest
      • Policy & Public Interest

      • Advocacy Group Opinion
      • Animal Welfare
      • Congressional & Presidential Campaigns
      • Corporate Social Responsibility
      • Domestic Policy
      • Economic News, Trends, Analysis
      • Education
      • Environmental
      • European Government
      • FDA Approval
      • Federal and State Legislation
      • Federal Executive Branch & Agency
      • Foreign Policy & International Affairs
      • Homeland Security
      • Labor & Union
      • Legal Issues
      • Natural Disasters
      • Not For Profit
      • Patent Law
      • Public Safety
      • Trade Policy
      • U.S. State Policy
      • View All Policy & Public Interest

  • People & Culture
      • People & Culture

      • Aboriginal, First Nations & Native American
      • African American
      • Asian American
      • Children
      • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
      • Hispanic
      • Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual
      • Men's Interest
      • People with Disabilities
      • Religion
      • Senior Citizens
      • Veterans
      • Women
      • View All People & Culture

  • Hamburger menu
  • Cision PRWeb provides efficient communication tools to continuously engage with target audiences across multiple online channels
  • Create a Free Account
    • ALL CONTACT INFO
    • Contact Us


      11AM ET Sunday – 8PM ET Friday

  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • News in Focus
    • Browse All News
    • Multimedia Gallery
  • Business & Money
    • Auto & Transportation
    • Business Technology
    • Entertain­ment & Media
    • Financial Services & Investing
    • General Business
  • Science & Tech
    • Consumer Technology
    • Energy & Natural Resources
    • Environ­ment
    • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing
    • Telecomm­unications
  • Lifestyle & Health
    • Consumer Products & Retail
    • Entertain­ment & Media
    • Health
    • Sports
    • Travel
  • Policy & Public Interest
  • People & Culture
    • People & Culture
  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR

SF Bay Marinas for All Files Lawsuit Against SF BCDC Alleging Improper Issuance of Demolition Permit for Smith Slough Marina, formerly Pete’s Harbor in Redwood City
  • USA - English


News provided by

SF Bay Marinas For All

Nov 21, 2013, 03:00 ET

Share this article

Share toX

Share this article

Share toX

Redwood City, CA (PRWEB) November 21, 2013 -- Nonprofit San Francisco Bay Marinas For All, Inc. (SFBMFA) announced today it has filed a lawsuit against the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC). The Verified Complaint, filed in San Francisco Superior Court (Case No CPF-13 513328) last week, seeks to protect the public interest in access to the waters in Smith Slough, part of San Francisco Bay in Redwood City, California. SFBMFA seeks an order stopping all further demolition, building, grading or other construction activities at the former harbor site, and stopping Redwood City permits and approvals until the case is resolved. In addition SFBMFA is seeking monetary damages, which it intends to use to replace the marina in Smith Slough removed by the former owner under the allegedly improperly-issued BCDC permit.

SFBMFA maintains in the suit that the Abbreviated Regionwide Permit (ARP) issued by the BCDC on August 9, 2013 permitting demolition of the entire Smith Slough marina is contrary to the McAteer-Petris Act that established the agency, in that: (a) no environmental review was undertaken; (b) more than fifty percent (50%) of the marina was removed; (c) there was no public hearing before the BCDC, as required by law, and (d) the Commissioners of the BCDC did not act upon the request for the demolition of the entire marina, as required by law.

The marina, a historic icon in Redwood City for over fifty years, was removed by the former harbor owner is less than three full days in late October, 2013, working past midnight with no oversight. Pictures are available online and can be provided on contact to the PR contact below. The former marina owner applied for the ARP demolition permit on or about June 21, 2013 according to documents obtained by SFBMFA in public records act requests to the BCDC, and in unlawful detainer court proceedings evicting the former tenants. The harbor owner also filed on June 21, 2013 for an ARP with the BCDC for its after-the-fact erection of a barbed wire fence surrounding the property, which was also granted until early December 2013.

As background, in the 1980’s, a legislative settlement of a state action against Peter Uccelli alleging trespass onto state public trust lands for building the Smith Slough marina resulted in two leases, PRC Nos. 6856 and 6857, according to Ch 447, Statutes 1983 of the California Legislature, as well as San Mateo County Case No. 251155 (State of California ex rel State Lands Commission (SLC) v. Peter Uccelli dba Pete's Harbor). According to additional public records obtained by SFBMFA from the court file and the SLC, the leases were granted to Peter Uccelli, dba Pete’s Harbor, for the sole purpose of operating a commercial harbor and marina and ancillary facilities open to the public, and fell under ongoing SLC management.

According to records obtained by SFBMFA in public records act requests to the City of Redwood City, in 2012 potential developer The Pauls Corp. of Denver Colorado, applied to the Redwood City Planning Commission for a planned development (PD) permit. That application sought approval for 411 condominium units and to privatize the Smith Slough public marina under the PRC Leases. According to the Redwood City Planning Department's website and the PD Permit application, such privatization would enable only condo owners to have private boat slips on the public trust tide and submerged lands. On October 30, 2013, the Redwood City Planning Commission approved the PD Permit application unanimously (7-0). That decision was later reversed by the City Council after an appeal lodged by SFBMFA members, and after the SLC advised the City it would not agree to privatizing the public trust.

In June 2013, SFBMFA filed a lease application with the SLC for a lease to the marina in Smith Slough. In addition, despite the harbor management and the City of Redwood City treating Uccelli Boulevard as the property of Pete’s Harbor, in July 2013 SFBMFA discovered that the real owner of Uccelli Boulevard was the US Department of Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the federal agency overseeing the adjacent Bair Island portion of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge. SFBMFA discovered this ownership through publicly accessible maps and by calling the Peninsula Open Space Trust in San Mateo County to confirm it had deeded the land to the USFWS in 1999 upon granting other major land holdings for the federal wildlife refuge. After obtaining the deeds, SFBMFA advised the USFWS, which was apparently then unaware it held title to the land.

SFBMFA board member, Secretary and counsel Alison Madden observed: “SFBMFA believes the SLC, BCDC, Pete’s Harbor and potentially the City of Redwood City and the new developer were all involved in communications and planning to remove the existing infrastructure, including 72 pilings and 135 dock slips. In actual fact, the proper process should have involved environmental review, a public hearing and action by the BCDC Commissioners, which was all averted by the harbor’s application for, and eventual action under, an improperly obtained fast-tracked permit.”

SFBMFA seeks a decision that as matter of law, BCDC staff did not have and does not have the authority to issue an ARP for the removal of a complete marina. According to Madden, through a number of public outreach efforts, the nonprofit sought to prevent issuance of the ARP, including lodging a ten page letter from outside land use counsel, speaking in public comment at BCDC public meetings, and circulating a public petition. In addition, counsel and Madden had repeated phone calls and email correspondence in July 2013, without response from BCDC counsel or the Attorney General's office. All levels of staff refused to consider SFBMFA's outreach and authority, and refused to reconsider their action and a lawsuit unfortunately has become the only available recourse to protect the rights of SFBMFA and the people of California, according to Madden.

The BCDC was created by the California Legislature in 1965 by the McAteer-Petris Act in response to broad public concern over the future of San Francisco Bay. Pursuant to the Act, the Commission was established as a temporary state agency charged with preparing a plan for the long-term use of the San Francisco Bay (the Bay Plan). In August 1969, the Act was amended to make the Commission a permanent agency.

SF Bay Marinas for All, Inc. (SFBMFA) is a California public benefit nonprofit seeking to preserve public access to marinas in and around San Francisco Bay. SFBMFA was formed to stop the demolition and privatization of marinas and to support the not-for-profit operation of public commercial and recreational marinas open to all members of the public. Its initial focus is to preserve and develop Smith Slough as a public space accessible to all boaters and visitors in Redwood City. Activities include the construction and maintenance of public piers, docks and boat slips easily accessible to the general public, as well as operation of a Water Trail site and numerous commercial and recreational facilities for boats of all kinds, including human-powered. Please visit our website at http://www.sfbaymarinasforall.org.

Tania Sole, SF Bay Marinas For All, http://www.sfbaymarinasforall.org, +1 415-987-3283, [email protected]

Modal title

Contact PRWeb

  • 11AM ET Sunday – 8PM ET Friday
  • Contact Us

About PRWeb

  • About PRWeb
  • Partners
  • Partnership Programs
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Resources

Why PRWeb

  • Why PRWeb
  • How It Works
  • Who Uses It
  • Pricing

Accounts

  • Create a Free Account
  • Log in
  • Contact Us

Do not sell or share my personal information:

  • Submit via [email protected] 
  • Call Privacy toll-free: 877-297-8921

Contact Cision

Products

About

My Services
  • All News Releases
  • Online Member Center
  • ProfNet
Cision Distribution Helpline
888-776-0942
  • Legal
  • Site Map
  • RSS
  • Cookie Settings
Copyright © 2025 Cision US Inc.