Majority of parcel that’s remained vacant for 20 years finally being developed, just not as originally envisioned

By Allen D. Payton

Starting their regular session an unusual 55 minutes late, the Antioch City Council met on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, and approved the new Lone Tree Retail Project on an unusual 3-2 split vote with Councilmembers Don Freitas and Monica Wilson joining in opposition.

The meeting began with a closed-door meeting at 6:00 p.m. before the regular session began at 7:55 p.m.

“We had a closed session before this. So, here we are ready to go,” Mayor Ron Bernal explained for the delay.

Acting City Attorney Derek Cole reported out from Closed Session saying, the Council met to discuss three items. The first was an employee evaluation. No reportable action. Second was conference with real property negotiators on the Sycamore Square police substation. The council gave direction to its negotiators. No reportable action. Third, was a “Qui Tam” including several agencies. No reportable action was taken, he stated.

Lone Tree Retail Project Approved on Split Vote
The Lone Tree Retail project on three parcels totaling 3.22 acres next to the In-Shape Fitness health club at 4099 Lone Tree Way, is part of an 18-acre Master Planned Development, named Antioch Town Center, that had previously been approved in 2004, when Freitas was Mayor, for fitness, grocery and hard and soft retail uses. The health club was built in 2007, but the rest of the site has remained undeveloped.

Following council discussion with both Freitas and Wilson expressing their concerns that the project didn’t fit with what they had envisioned for the site, the Council voted 3-2 on Tuesday night to approve the project.

According to the City staff report, the new project consists of three buildings: a car wash, fast casual restaurant (aka Quick Service Restaurant or QSR), and combination, fast casual restaurant and retail building, along with associated site improvements Tenants with signed leases include Mister Car Wash, Habit Burger & Grill, Chipotle and to be determined retail. It will also include an adjacent multi-family residential project on the nine acres behind the project.

A representative of the project applicant, Architecture Plus, Inc. of Modesto, Paul Rothbard, former CEO and owner of In-Shape Health Clubs, said the larger restaurants suggested by members of the public won’t work at that location as those types of restaurants want freeway visibility.

At the March 11th meeting, he said they also had spoken with multiple grocery stores, but none were interested.

“The rear nine acres are in contract with a developer, a local, Central Valley, to build a residential complex,” Rothbard said. “They’re ready to go…in Q3 of this year.” His father and partner on the project, Morton, was also in attendance at the meeting.

The son said they’re hoping to be under construction with the retail project by this August and have it completed by next July.

Rothbard also mentioned that the Chipotle will have a drive-through for picking up orders made on the app.

The Council then heard opposition from three members of the community during their March 11th meeting, with the main concerns being the fast food uses, no grocery store and no affordable housing included in the adjacent multi-family residential development.

Brian Heron of Fresno-based Commercial Retail Associates, who has been working on the property with the Rothbards since 2005, responded to those concerns, saying, “Under the previous PD..7,000 square-foot, sit down, in-house restaurants were suggested. Back then, we had agreed to get those 7,000 square-foot restaurants. Since COVID, it’s a whole new world. By and large those are obsolete concepts and…not willing to come to this location. And we have tried…many and many a time.”

The brands are “in demand in your community,” he added.

“We have tried getting all the grocers,” Heron continued. “We’ve spoken to Sprouts…to Nugget…from big to small. We went from Food 4 Less, down. We’ve tried Amazon. There isn’t a grocer for this site. We went into the next phase of that development, anchor…in 2008, 2009. The market shifted. Once again, change.”

During Council discussion, Freitas spoke first saying he was “very surprised”, “disappointed” and “very, very saddened.”

“We had a very, very grandiose view of this particular development…and I embraced it,” he continued. “I’m conflicted…because the world has changed, and we all are aware of that.”
Mayor Pro Tem and District 2 Councilman Louie Rocha asked, “Are we really in a position that we can turn away business and revenue?”

District 1 Councilwoman Tamisha Torres-Walker then said, “What the opponents are saying is ‘we don’t want this, bring us something else.’ But this is not our property. We’re talking to the actual owners who are trying to develop it because they lost money on it for 20 years for not being able to get a project completed.”

But then she switched things up and said, “My recommendation was to sell it to someone who wanted to develop more housing.”

Mayor Ron Bernal spoke next saying, “I was also surprised, not at the uses, but the way they’re oriented.” He asked if staff if there was an attempt to place the drive-through on the back side of the building. When you’re looking at 30 cars sitting up there with marginal landscaping, that’s a whole different looking project to me.

City of Antioch Associate Planner Nathan Tinclair responded saying, “One of the things we have to look at on this parcel is it’s already partially developed. There’s already this main entrance drive with the main, kind of circle with the access points to the adjacent parcels.”

He then shared his concerns with the project being presented to council “with a couple days’ notice to look at it on really tiny sets of plans” as well as landscaping, since “Lone Tree is lower and the pads, higher.”

At Freitas’ urging, the council voted 5-0 to continue the item until their meeting last night, March 25th.

A noise study was completed to confirm that noise generated by the new project does not create a significant impact, in excess of the noise levels permitted in the City of Antioch General Plan.

According to Tinclair, the Planning Commission at their February 19, 2025 meeting, with two members (Robert Martin and Christian Hills) absent and one vacancy, voted 4-0 to approve the Addendum to the Adopted Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration. All four members, Chair Kevin Riley, Vice-Chair Seth Webber, and Commissioners Jennifer Perez and Cortney Jones, voted in favor.

The IS/MND was approved by the City Council in 2005. But the motion to adopt the Final Development Plan, Use Permit and Design Review failed on a 3-1 vote, with Webber voting no, as motions require four “yes” votes to pass.

Nevertheless, on Tuesday, the Council majority of Bernal, Rocha and Torres-Walker approved all four requirements for development of the project, while Freitas and Wilson voted “No”.

After 45 years in business and 41 years in Antioch, Delta Vacuum & Sewing Center is going out of business and hosting a great sale! Owner Mike Bates says, “No reasonable offer will be refused.”

Program will empower a Northern California nonprofit with up to $39,000 in grant funding

By Michelle Sabolich, AVP, Corporate Communications, Travis Credit Union

Travis Credit Union Foundation announces the application deadline has been extended for its 2025 Financial Coaching Grants program until March 31. This initiative is an opportunity for one Northern California nonprofit organization to access $30,000 in unrestricted funding and up to $9,000 to train its staff to become financial coaches. Those interested in applying can start here.

“Our hope is that through this grant, we can create a ripple effect of positive financial behaviors that will benefit not only the individuals directly involved but the broader community,” said Damian Alarcon, president of Travis Credit Union Foundation. “Financial stability is a cornerstone of a thriving community, and we are committed to making a lasting impact.”

Eligibility requirements are:
• Organizations benefiting people in Napa, Solano, Yolo, Contra Costa and Merced counties.
• Organizations classified as public charities.
• Organizations with the ability to reach diverse communities, including those that are unbanked/underserved.
• Organizations that do not discriminate by race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or military status.
• Organizations with the capacity to allocate time and resources for two staff members to become financial coaches (self-study) and provide 10 or more one-hour financial coaching sessions to beneficiaries each month.
• Organizations that are willing to promote their participation in the Financial Coaching Grant Program and acknowledge funding received from Travis Credit Union Foundation in traditional and social media.

Those who apply and are selected as coaches will undergo comprehensive, three- to five-month long, self-study training through the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) and/or Financial Counseling for Empowerment Program (FICEP). Upon completing the course, coaches will be equipped to address a wide range of financial topics, from summarizing saving principles to educating community members about credit reports, credit scores and the wise use of tax refunds.

The TCU Foundation is committed to supporting nonprofits throughout the grant’s lifetime, ensuring that financial wellness outcomes are achieved. The foundation will monitor financial coaching goals, metrics and outcomes related to reduced debt, increased savings and established and/or improved credit scores. Renewal preferences are given to nonprofits with a demonstrated record of coaching more beneficiaries.

The grant application will close on March 31 at 11:59 p.m. PDT.

About Travis Credit Union Foundation
The Travis Credit Union Foundation supports financial education and wellness initiatives and is the philanthropic arm of Travis Credit Union. The Foundation is committed to making a positive impact in the communities it serves through financial education, charitable giving, and community support. Travis Credit Union generously funds the administrative costs of the Travis Credit Union Foundation, allowing for 100% of funds raised to go back to the community. To learn more about the Travis Credit Union Foundation’s mission and how to participate in all it’s doing to build financial wellness in the communities it serves, visit tcufund.org.

The Foundation is organized and operated exclusively for charitable and educational purposes under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3). Tax ID #82-4159040

Depending on tier and zone
Lone Tree Retail Project next to In-Shape
Also, creating Sycamore police substation; will study budget

By Allen D. Payton

It will cost you more to take a shower, brush your teeth, do the dishes and laundry, water your yard and flush the toilet if the Antioch City Council approves significant water rate increases during their meeting tonight, Tuesday, March 11, 2025. The mayor and council members will consider raising rates for the first time since 2019, by 45 to 93 percent for different tiers and zones over the next three years. But before the vote the council will hear from members of the public.

They will also consider leasing space in the Sycamore Square shopping center for a Police Substation during a 5:00 p.m. Closed Session and discuss the 2025-27 budget at 6:00 p.m. During the regular session beginning at 7:00 p.m., the Council will also discuss the creation of a Homeless/Unhoused Ad Hoc Committee from the Councilmembers’ 90-Day Request List. Finally, the Council will consider approving the Lone Tree Retail Project next to the In-Shape Fitness health club.

Proposed Water Rate Increases
Under Item 5 on their regular meeting agenda, the Council will hold a public hearing to consider annual water rate increases through July 1, 2028, keeping the current tiered structure. If approved, Non-Single Family Zone 1 rates would be raised from $4.44 to $6.42 per hundred cubic feet (HCU), a 44.6% increase and Zone IV would increase 82.5% from $4.86 to $8.87.

All eight tiers and zones for Single-Family residential rates would also be affected with Tier 2 Zone I given the lowest increase of 45.6%, from $6.22 to $9.06 per HCU. If approved, Tier 1 Zone IV would experience the greatest rate increase of 93%, from $4.20 to $8.11 per HCU over the three years.

Monthly Meter Service for single-family residential customers would also rise from $24.40 to $35.40, a 45% increase.

It will be the first water rate increase in the city since 2019. The first rate increases will begin May 1, 2025.

Lone Tree Retail Project Development
Under Item 6, the Council will consider approving the Final Development Plan, Use Permit and Design Review for development of the Lone Tree Retail project. The location is next to the In-Shape Fitness health club at 4099 Lone Tree Way, and will consist of a Mister Car Wash, Habit Burger & Grill and Chipotle or to be determined retail on 3.22 acres.

Meeting & Public Comments Details
Those in attendance at the meeting can speak during general Public Comments on items not on the agenda at the beginning of the meeting until 7:30 p.m. and again at the end of the meeting. They can also speak on any agendized item for up to three minutes except for public hearings, during which they can speak for up to five minutes.

The meetings are held in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 200 H Street, in Antioch’s historic, downtown Rivertown or can be viewed via livestream on the City’s website or on Comcast local access cable Channel 24 of AT&T U-verse Channel 99.

See the complete Council Meeting Agenda packet.

Lori Ogorchock, Mike Green are 2024 Citizens of the Year

By Allen D. Payton

The Antioch Chamber of Commerce has announced the winners of the annual awards for 2024.

• Citizen of the Year for Lifetime Achievement – Former Councilwoman Lori Ogorchock
• Citizen of the Year for Most Impact- Mike Green
• Small Business of the Year- Mike’s Pastry
• Large Corporate Business of the Year – Travis Credit Union
• Non-Profit of the Year – RCF Connects
• Student of the Year – Mina Aljanaby, Dozier-Libbey Medical High School student

More details on each winner will be provided by the Chamber later.

An additional Citizen of the Year for Lifetime Achievement will be posthumously to the late Jimmy Bean, a former business owner and community leader, who passed away in December. (See obituary, here)

All seven award winners will be honored at the Chamber’s Annual Gala at the Lone Tree Golf & Event Center on Saturday, March 28. Tickets are $85 per person or $680 for a table of eight and are available on the Chamber’s website at www.AntiochChamber.com.

To be honored posthumously with Antioch Citizen of the Year for Lifetime Achievement Award at annual Chamber Gala

Jimmy Gray Bean, born, October 12, 1939, in Pleasant Garden, N.C. passed away December 26, 2024, at age 85 in Antioch, CA. Jimmy is survived by his spouse Jane, children, Laura, Mark, Ken and Regina, plus eight Grandchildren: Danielle, Kris, Carl, Cheyenne, Nicole, Robbie, Brianna and Melissa, and seven Great Grandchildren: Anthony, Alexis, Aubry, Madison, Ashley, Magnum and Jordan. Jimmy dedicated his life to his family as well as his community.

He served in the National Guard in his home state of North Carolina then as a business owner and life-long member of the Antioch Lions Club as well as the Chamber of Commerce and Delta Advocacy. Jimmy owned the A Street Chevron station for many years. He also owned the Bridgehead Chevron Station and the Chevron Station near Somersville Towne Center.

He loved his family, golf, taking photos, wine, Elvis, celebrating accomplishments and assisting anyone in their time of need.

Friend Martha Goralka shared, “Jimmy was a life-long member of the Antioch Chamber of the Antioch Chamber of Commerce. He always paid his bill on time and when we suddenly had to close and volunteers had to make calls to see if members were willing to continue their membership, I was assigned to call Jimmy Bean. He said ‘yes, of course I want to continue,’ and paid immediately! My boss at the Daily Ledger, Bob Smith, always said Jimmy was an amazing man who put community first and was a self-made man. Bob thought very highly of Jimmy Bean.”
She also mentioned that during the annual County Fair, Jimmy volunteered in the Lion’s Club beer booth.

Mike Green of the Delta Advocacy Foundation said, “Jimmy was one of our esteemed Spearhead members, alongside Leo Fontana, Jack Roddy and Gordan Gravelle. He was actively involved during the organization’s early years and played a significant role in its growth, eventually part of the organization becoming a million-dollar donor. His contributions were instrumental in all our major fundraisers. Jimmy ensured we had ice and that the Lion’s Club was available to help serve food and beer.”

“In honor of Jimmy and his dedication to the Lion’s Club, Delta Advocacy is purchasing a $9,000 vision assessment tool. This will enable the Lions of Byron and Brantwood to conduct vision screenings for elementary students in their communities.

“Without question, Jimmy’s life leaves behind a lasting legacy—an example for all of us to follow.”

According to friend George Boring, the Antioch Chamber of Commerce will be honoring Jimmy with the Citizen of the Year for Lifetime Achievement Award at their annual Gala on March 28, 2025.

A celebration of the life and times of Jimmy Bean was held on Feb. 8, 2025, at the VFW Hall in Antioch. In lieu of flowers, donations can go to the Antioch Lions Club, P.O. Box 324, Antioch, CA 94509.

32nd location for Off the Charts in the former Rexall drugstore in historic downtown

By Allen D. Payton

The first and only cannabis retail store in allowed in Antioch’s historic, downtown Rivertown celebrated its Grand Opening on Saturday, Feb. 1st. Owner Norman Yousif, who was there to greet guests and city officials said it’s the 32nd location of his Off the Charts chain, all in California. Mayor Ron Bernal, Mayor Pro Tem Louie Rocha and District 3 Councilman Don Freitas attended the event and participated in the ribbon cutting.

After the Antioch City Council made some exceptions to the city’s cannabis business rules a few years ago, allowing one cannabis retail store in the city’s historic downtown, by waiving the requirements it not be closer than 600 feet from a school, park or church, and amid concerns from Rivertown business owners, downtown building owner Sean McCauley went into action. Wanting to ensure the store would be quality and not negatively impact the other businesses, he decided to control the situation and locate it in one of his buildings.

Yousif said he and his wife, Darline, who was unable to attend the event, started their chain in San Diego where they live.

“I was trying to license in northern California for a takeover of the market,” he stated.

Asked why Antioch, Yousif said, “I heard good things about Antioch. I heard Sean was the landlord and he helped with the buildout.”

“Sean’s the man,” he added.

The new location on the corner of West 3rd and G Streets started with a soft opening about a month-and-a-half ago, Yousif shared. Freitas pointed out the interesting fact that it happens to be in “the former site of the old Rexall drugstore.” In fact, that company’s Rx logo still adorns the entrance.

Before the ribbon cutting Yousif shared his appreciation to the community.

“I thank everyone for coming out, here, man. This couldn’t happen without many of you guys, here,” he said “Antioch is now like my second home, now. I live in Southern California. Sean made this happen. You guys are family, now and having you see the OTC store, it’s your home. Thank you, guys for everything, Sean, Ron for adopting us. So, thank you to the City of Antioch.”

With scissors in his hand preparing to cut the ribbon, Bernal said, “The downtown is up and coming. This is a big part of it. Sean McCauley, here, continues to invest in these properties and we’re making some real positive moves and we’re real excited about the future.”

“The SMI team and I are extremely excited to see this quality business in Rivertown,” McCauley stated. “Although cannabis has been controversial, we’re hoping the community will visit the store and understand it’s more than just recreational cannabis.”

“Many of the customers are seniors in their 60’s and 70’s, buying products for pain relief,” he added.

Deb Blaisure and Toni Lincks, owners of Rivertown Treasure Chest a few doors down, helped organize and work the event.

“I had all of our vendors share the information promoting their grand opening and we sent a news blast to our 400 customers,” Blaisure stated. “Plus, (local entertainer) Les Edwins’ list.”

“We also promoted them at our Mix & Mingle with their Regional Manager, Marissa making an announcement,” she continued. “She asked us to work the event, and we said, ‘Yes’.”

“It’s one big happy family on our block,” Blaisure added.

To the dismay of some in attendance, there were no free samples given out. However, there was food trucks parked outside and bags of candy from Rivertown’s Feral Unicorn Snack Emporium available for guests – who might have had the munchies.