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To view:
Preliminary Draft Report to the Onizuka Air Force Station (AFS) Local Redevelopment Authority (LRA), with Attached Draft Onizuka Redevelopment Plan, and Draft Homeless Assistance Submission
Email Comments to Onizuka BRAC Project staff and Council
Note: If you have difficulty accessing information on these webpages, please email Michelle Zahraie at mzahraie@ci.sunnyvale.ca.us with a description of the problem.
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Since 1960, Onizuka Air Force Station has been a military communication station which also supports mission control for NASA missions. The Department of Defense has slated Onizuka for closure when its military mission in transferred to Vandenberg Air Force Base in 2011.
On April 6, 2006 the Department of Defense, through the Office of Economic Adjustment, formally recognized the City of Sunnyvale as the Local Redevelopment Authority (or LRA) for planning the redevelopment of Onizuka Air Force Station (AFS) and its conversion to civilian use.
Onizuka Air Force Station Site Summary
• The 23-acre site contains 507,457 square feet of space in 33 buildings
· The 1995 defense realignments resulted in a workforce reduction of nearly 3000 jobs so that Onizuka’s closure will affect approximately nine military, 150 federal civilian and 200 contract employees
• Location: Mathilda Avenue just north
of State Route 237 and U.S. 101.
Background
• The Department of Defense (DOD) purchased 11.4 acres of land from Lockheed for $1 in 1960 and built the Air Force Satellite Test Center, which later became Sunnyvale Air Force Station and was later renamed Onizuka Air Force Station.
• Construction on the predominant light blue, windowless, cube-shaped building (often referred to as the “Blue Cube”) started in 1967 and was completed in 1968.
• Operations at Onizuka are classified, but since the 1960s Onizuka has performed satellite monitoring and communications, as well as NASA mission control.
• During the 1995 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) round, DOD relocated the 750th Space Group and Detachment 2 (Space and Missile Systems Center) from Onizuka to Falcon Air Force Base in Colorado, resulting in a workforce reduction of nearly 3,000 jobs. Currently, the 21st Space Operations Squadron hosts Onizuka operations and corporate tenants.
• In 2005, the BRAC Commission recommended the Onizuka closure and the president endorsed the action. The mission currently held by Onizuka units will be transferred to Vandenberg Air Force Base in Santa Barbara County.
Steps in the Reuse Planning Process
· On November 9, 2005, the 2005 BRAC Commission list became law.
· In 2006, DOD formally designated the City of Sunnyvale as the Local
Redevelopment Authority (LRA) for Onizuka. In this role, the City is the primary point of contact for all matters relating to the closure and is responsible for planning the property’s transition from military to civilian use.
• The Department of Veteran Affairs has expressed an interest in acquiring Onizuka’s headquarters offices and parking. Under federal law, other federal agencies have the option of acquiring property declared as surplus by federal agencies. DOD has declared the remainder as surplus.
• Sunnyvale City Council formed a Citizen’s Advisory Committee of 12 community stakeholders to advise Council in the planning for civilian reuse.
• The City initiated a local screening process which requested local public and nonprofit agencies who may want to use the property to file a Notice of Interest.
• In December 2006, two nonprofit housing agencies submitted Notices of Interest for seven acres for construction of 199 housing units.
• In spring 2007, City Council, acting as the LRA, concluded the first phase of planning by adopting five conceptual reuse options for further analysis: corporate offices, hotel/conference center, auto-retail, VA-style offices and homeless residential.
• During summer 2007, the City concluded an analysis of alternate sites for residential construction to address federal mandates to balance community needs for development with the need for homeless housing.
• In fall 2007, DOD agreed to fund further analysis of these options, and the LRA began to recruit a consultant to provide independent technical analysis to assist Council in choosing one or more preferred options for the final plan.
· In spring 2008, the City expects to
select one or more preferred options.
· In summer 2008, the City expects to adopt the final plan for Onizuka’s conversion to civilian use, and to conduct negotiations for implementation.
• During 2009, DOD is expected to issue a formal Record of Decision, which describes the process for Onizuka’s disposition – transfer or sale – and adopt the environmental impact report.
· September 15, 2011, is the statutory deadline for Onizuka’s closure.
Community members are encouraged to join the dialog with both the LRA and CAC to help form a community consensus and vision for the future of the Onizuka property. To find out more about the reuse planning effort, including dates and times of upcoming meetings, e-mail RSwitzer@ci.sunnyvale.ca.us or call (408) 730-7739, TDD (408) 730-7501.
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BRAC/Onizuka AFS resources:
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Last updated: 12/19/07 |