Proposal lacks retail space and grocery store, does not conform to zoning requirements
On September 26, 2025, True Life Companies filed a preliminary permit to redevelop Harbor Bay Landing from a shopping plaza into 305 housing units. According to the project description that was filed, 217 of those units would be for sale and 88 would be available for rent. The development would include 16 very low income (VLI), 12 low income (LI) and 22 moderate income units.
Notably, the development does not have any plans to include retail spaces. Currently, Harbor Bay Landing, located at 867 Island Drive, is the only commercial shopping center on Bay Farm Island. If the redevelopment plans go through as indicated, residents of Bay Farm will have to cross the Bay Farm Island Bridge to get groceries and gas. The Harbor Bay 76 gas station located in the plaza confirmed that it is closing on November 30.
According to Steven Buckley, Planning Services Manager at the Planning, Building, & Transportation Department of Alameda, the preliminary permit that has been filed acts as a notice of intent. “It’s a thanks for the heads up, here are some thoughts,” he explains. He stresses that it is not a formal or approved plan for the project.
In six months, True Life Companies can submit paperwork for their project, which would then need approval from the Planning Board and City Council, especially because their plan would require zoning changes.
It is unclear why True Life Companies submitted a preliminary permit that does not include retail space, especially since the City’s Preliminary Application Review for Harbor Bay Landing states that “current zoning requires inclusion of a grocery store as part of the project.” Requests to True Life for comment went unanswered. The real estate investment and development company has headquarters in Colorado, Utah, and North Carolina in addition to California.
An October 8 article in The Real Deal, a real estate news website, points out that True Life could fast track its development process by including affordable housing and using SB 330, the Housing Crisis Act of 2019 which can, among other provisions, limit “the number of public hearings on a project in an effort to get shovels in dirt faster.”
Buckley said that there is nothing to be done by concerned residents in regards to the current preliminary permit application other than to give feedback to City Council members and the Planning Board. The City will be requesting input from the community via a webpage which will be posted soon. In the meantime, residents can email [email protected] or attend City Council and Planning Board Meetings.
City Council meetings take place every first and third Tuesday at 7 p.m. Planning Board Meetings take place every second and fourth Monday at 7 p.m. Both meetings can be attended in person at City Hall, 2263 Santa Clara Avenue, or via Zoom.
A list of City Council members and contact info can be found online.
Update: on 11/21/25 the City received an email from True Life Director of Land Acquisition & Planning Tim Woloshyn requesting to withdraw the preliminary application for redevelopment of the Harbor Bay Landing commercial center. “Over the past several weeks Staff and the Community have provided helpful feedback on the initial proposal,” the email read. “TTLC continues to work with the current property owner on a plan that reflects this feedback, and looks forward to further opportunities to engage the community.”
Jean Chen is a contributing writer for the Alameda Post. Contact her via [email protected]. Her writing is collected at AlamedaPost.com/Jean-Chen.
