An application for a Specific Plan was filed with the City of Albany in 2002 in conjunction with proposed development on the existing Golden Gate Fields racetrack complex. We have posted a collection of documents on the Website concerning this major development. The application was withdrawn.

February 2004

The City of Albany's Community Concluding Visioning Workshop was held February 3, 2004. (PDF, 49Kb)

A Technical Memorandum entitled "Market Review Of Potential Land Uses for Golden Gate Fields" (as prepared by Economic & Planning Systems, dated January 15, 2004) can be viewed.(PDF, 280Kb)

Ann Chaney, Director of Community Development gave a power point presentation. (PDF, 1986Kb). Walter Kieser of Economics and Planning Systems also gave a Power Point Presentation of the market review of potential land use for Golden Gate Fields at the Concluding Visioning Workshop. (PDF, 114Kb)

April 2003

On April 3, 2003, more than 90 people participated in a second workshop. An overview was presented to the community participants about the range of planning issues and design opportunities the project team had discovered to date. The remainder of the meeting was devoted to small group discussions on the future of Golden Gate Fields.

The results of both workshop discussions can be found here.

  • Summary of Workshop #1 
  • Summary of Workshop #2

January 2003

On January 30, 2003, more than 150 people participated in the first community workshop. Workshop participants were provided with a history and physical characteristics of the site and information about a conceptual development proposal submitted by the landowner in May 2002. The City received comments from the public regarding their thoughts and visions of the future of Golden Gate Fields.

Golden Gate Fields - Rancho San Antonio Proposal

MEC Landholdings, Inc. is the owner of the existing Golden Gate Fields racetrack complex located in the Cities of Albany and Berkeley. An application for a Specific Plan has been filed with the City of Albany, and an application for a Master Development Plan has been filed with the City of Berkeley, in conjunction with proposed development on the land.


City of Albany Specific Plan Application
This application requests that the City of Albany prepare a Specific Plan, initiate an environmental review process, and process related entitlements for the Rancho San Antonio Project. Magna Entertainment Corporation is the Project proponent.

Specific Plan Application, section 1
Specific Plan Application, section 2
Specific Plan Application, section 3
(These documents are in Adobe PDF format and have been divided into sections to facilitate faster downloading.)

Preliminary Environmental Assessment
This Preliminary Environmental Assessment examines the anticipated environmental impacts associated with the preparation of a Specific Plan by the City for Albany to implement the Rancho San Antonio1 Project proposed by Magna Entertainment Corporation on the Golden Gate Fields lands presently owned and operated by MEC as a racetrack complex.

Preliminary Environmental Assessment, section 1
Preliminary Environmental Assessment, section 2
Preliminary Environmental Assessment, section 3

City of Berkley Master Development Plan
The racetrack facilities located in Berkeley include approximately 29 acres immediately south of the racetrack. The areas located in Berkeley are integral components of the current racetrack facility, and concurrent development of all three sub-areas is proposed as a single, integrated Project for environmental and entitlement processing and implementation.

City of Berkley Master Development Plan