In 2004, the Oakland Chinatown sued the City of Alameda in anticipation of development at Alameda Point and its traffic impacts on Chinatown. The lawsuit ended with an out-of-court settlement on April 19, 2004. The settlement requires cooperation between the parties on future planning and adds an additional requirement to the EIREnvironmental Impact Report process: a review of traffic impacts on the neighboring community of Chinatown. Normally, EIRsEnvironmental Impact Reports do not require evaluation of impacts on neighboring cities.
A joint committee established by the settlement (the Oakland Chinatown Advisory Committee) meets periodically to advise both the Oakland City Council and the Alameda City Council about traffic impacts of development at Alameda Point.
During the Measure BSunCal's ballot measure to redevelop Alameda Point. It was defeated by a vote of 85 to 15 percent on February 2, 2010. campaign, Chinatown challenged the City of Alameda for placing a development initiative on the ballot without an EIR, which the settlement agreement calls for. Since Measure B failed, this challenge is now moot. The settlement agreement, however, is still in force.