A new draft of plans for the marina has been submitted by Cal Coast, the developer hired by the city, but not everyone is happy with them.

The Mulford Gardens Homeowners’ Association wants more recreation facilities and a member of the Shoreline Citizens’ Advisory Committee believes the developers aren’t listening to the public’s concerns.

The fate of the San Leandro Marina has been debated for years, with ideas ranging from continuing the costly dredging of the channel for boat access, to letting the area naturally silt over and  building a commercial complex.

The latest plans from Cal Coast call for a wide promenade, a 250,000-square-foot office campus, a 200 room hotel with 15,000 square-foot conference center, a two-story retail center, three-story parking garage, new restaurants, and over 100 units of housing.

Many of those units (apartments, town homes and single family detached homes) are set to be built on the existing 9-hole executive golf course.

City Manager Stephen Hollister and Development Specialist Elmer Penaranda both stress that the plans are in the early stages and are not set in stone.

Penaranda said that the current plans are Cal Coast’s sixth draft. He added that the golf course wouldn’t be demolished for the houses and would still be a 9-hole course, but would be redesigned by the original course architect.

Hollister said that any plan will have to be approved by the City Council and probably wouldn’t be on the agenda until early 2011.

“We are reviewing a proposal for the harbor and this is an open process,” said Hollister. “They have come up with some very good ideas to increase public access to the marina and improve the shoreline.”

Hollister added that boat access hasn’t been ruled out, but the city doesn’t have the funds to continue to dredge.

Penaranda said the city is looking to get a consultant to help with making a decision about dredging options for the marina.

The Mulford Gardens Homeowners Association has stared a campaign against the plans, starting up a website www.savethemarina.com, passing out flyers at the marina, and encouraging interested citizens to attend upcoming city meetings. The next time the marina will be discussed is at the Shoreline Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC)  meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 15, at 7 p.m. at the San Leandro Marina Inn, 68 Monarch Bay Drive.

CAC member Audrey Albers said she feels the developers didn’t really listen to the committees suggestions about what to do with the marina.

“There are 33 members and we broke up into three groups,” explained Albers. “We made plans and Cal Coast said they looked at them, but in my opinion, Cal Coast didn’t look at them.”

Albers said that she believes the marina should remain recreation-based, with bike and kayak rentals and restaurants.

“There could and should be businesses there, but it needs to remain for the public,” said Albers, who added that too much office space would make the public less likely to use the marina

Albers said she is concerned that placing homes on the golf course would turn the course into a backyard for the residents, instead of what should be a place for everyone. She wants a series of town-hall meetings called.

“(Cal Coast) says the only way they can be profitable is to have offices and homes, but that’s not for the public” said Albers. “And if it’s not a public marina, why is the city planning to develop it?”