Extracted text

ores 2 eee gree Slew rer TO ees th ee eae

Th

Vol. 3 No. 2 Issue No. 26

ee

x ( Special Survey Issue!
 ¢ ae

Inside this month’s Rockridge News is your personal copy of
the Rockridge Resident’s Survey. The survey, funded by a grant
from the City of Oakland, is designed to let us — the Board and
committees of RCPC — know how you feel about College
Avenue today, and what you would like it to become.

This survey, along with similar surveys of merchants and
Avenue property owners, is also the first step toward a new
Specific Plan for Rockridge. The results of the surveys will be
used to develop a draft set of goals and objectives for the Plan.
These draft goals and objectives will then be brought back to you,
at one or more community forums, for your review and critique.
Once we have reached a consensus, the goals and objectives will
be incorporated into a work program to guide the City’s prepa-
ration of the Plan itself.

This survey is the first and the most important step in the
whole process! By taking a few -

~——a ~ae ©

_=—-—- «=

. Rockridge News

Sponsored by * THE ROCKRIDGE COMMUNITY PLANNING COUNCIL ® 5856 COLLEGE AVENUE #130" OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA * 94618
June 11, 1988

Circulation: 4,500 Residences; 200 Businesses

Newsletter Bursting With
Ideas And Returnables

We often use figures of speech for food, nourishment and
strength to enrich descriptions of our ideas and thoughts. We may
have a delicious idea, chew over a concept, and find a proposal

to be food for thought.
In the same way, there are Neighbors who refer to some Rock-

ridge News issues as meaty. (They seem to relish the thought.)
This issue of the News could be said not only to be meaty but

well-fed. Fleshed out. Stuffed, even.

Stuffed, indeed, and not merely with ideas, observations and
Neighborhood news but with a RASP survey form and a donation
envelope, to boot.

Preliminary work and planning for the Rockridge Area Spe-
cific Plan (RASP) has been underway for more than a year. AS
you will read in the article at the left, a major step in the process

of developing a plan is finding out how people feel about the arca.
Get out your pencil or pen while

minutes to complete it and send it
in, you are helping draw the blue-
print for the future of our neigh-
borhood. Just fold it up, seal it,
and drop it in the mailbox. No
stamp is necessary!

If you have any questions on
the survey or other aspects of the
Specific Plan, please phone Mr.
Kerry O’Banion at 658-1608.

—Kerry O’Banion, Chair,
RASP Steering Committee

forms and process.

eg IR REAR 0 DTH RRO STAR EOL TE PAE TIO A RPS RE ATC DONEC RTRs  CED TB S9 TAC SSS TANT SBA
Dates Calendar Events Calendar Dates

w AGENDA FOR THE GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING @
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 1988 7:30 PM

COLLEGE AVENUE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
5951 COLLEGE AVENUE

¢ City Councilmember Wilson Riles, Jr. will discuss the
neighborhood issues and concerns of District 5.

¢ Vice-Mayor Marge Haskell and the North Oakland Task
Force on Rooming House Conversions.

¢ Area Specific Plan Update. Presentation of Survey

you read more about the survey
in the accompanying article,
then take a few minutes to com-
plete and return it.

See Bursting, page 3

Election Bulletin

Prop M Passes Despite
Organized Opposition!

Oakland voters have sent a
message to City Council about
services and cut—backs. Budget
Hearings continue: see schedule
below... attend the hearings.

Call 273-3611 to verify date and time.

Tuesday June 14 2:00 pm City Council Meeting
7:30 pm
Wednesday June 15 1:30 pm Planning Commission Meeting
7:30 pm RCPC General Meeting
Thursday June 16 3:30 pm
7:30 pm
Tuesday June 21 2:00 pm City Council Meeting
7:30 pm
Thursday June 23 7:30 pm
Tuesday June 28 7:30 pm City Council: Budget
Thursday June 30 7:30 pm City Council: Budget Adoption

City Council Budget Hearing, Fire Dept.
City Council Budget Hearing, Police Dept.

| [Ff Note dates for special City Council Budget Hearings. Special meetings have been scheduled for evenings to allow more
citizens to attend and comment on the budget. Attend a meeting. Let the City Council know how you want your money spent!

Council Chambers, City Hall.

City Council Budget Hearing, Public Works Council Chambers, City Hall.

City Hall, Room 115.
See Agenda Box, page 1.

City Council Budget Hearing, Personnel/Finance Council Chambers
City Council Budget Hearing, Community & Economic Development, more Council Ch.

Council Chambers, City Hall.
Council Chambers, City Hall.
Council Chambers, City Hall.
Council Chambers, City Hall.
Council Chambers, City Hall.

CD a Se ae een eee eae

*- oo - eS ws

Sm err Dr a ee Dee eee ee ee Se

Page 2

The Rockridge News

June 11, 1988

i)

It Takes A Heap O’ Livin’ To Make A House A Home

A Look At The Issues: Non-Residential Uses In Residential Zones

Editor’s Note:

Several of the articles in this issue of The
Rockridge News examine different aspects of
a controversy growing in the Rockndge Area
and in other parts of Oakland: the conversion
of single—family residential properties to other
uses.

According to the Oakland Zoning regula-
tions, you can conduct business in your home
if you live there. That's called a “home occu-
pation”. If you don’t live in the house, you
can’t conduct business from there in a residen-
tial zone unless you obtain a Major Variance

from the City.

Recently, Neighbors successfully fought an
attlorney’s attempt to establish an office on
Monroe at Broadway. The attorney did not
live in the house and he had no Vanance.

During that struggle, an accountant operat-
ing his business on Broadway from a house he
does not live in was reported to the City. He
has been in business for four years. He also
does not have a Variance. .

The articles below present a homeowning
couple’s concerns and observations about
offices in residential structures not occupied

by the owners and a statement from the ac-
countant. 7

On pages 6 and 7, Councilmember Marge
Gibson-Haskell and Neighbor Bryan Grun-
wald examine the problems associated with
another type of residential conversion: turning
single-family homes into multiple bedroom
rooming houses. Not regulated by current
zoning law, these conversions compound traf-
fic and density problems in affected Neighbor-
hoods. As Ms. Gibson—Haskell points out in
her article, this is a thomy problem whose
solution is complicated by court decisions.

Unapproved Conversion Of

Residences For Business Use

Over the many years our family has lived in the Rockridge
district of Oakland, we have seen spectacular business growth
along College Avenue. Storefronts that sat empty now house
active businesses. New commercial and office buildings are
being constructed and occupied.

We believe that residents of Rockridge benefit greatly from
being able to shop locally. But the best benefit of living in this
area is the friendliness of the other residents of Rockridge, our
neighbors.

In the last six years there have been several attempts to convert
residential properties for business use. This concerns us and our
neighbors, because we fear the loss of the residential character of
Our immediate neighborhoods.

Oakland Zoning Regulations permit residents who actually live
in a home to run a small business there, under clearly defined
limitations. (The map at the bottom of the next page shows three
such businesses in our immediate neighborhood on Broadway,
between Manila and Taft Avenues.)

However, zoning regulations prohibit use of residences strictly
for business purposes.

There have been several attempts to convert homes along
Broadway to business properties (See map). It is our understand-
ing that without approval from the Oakland Planning Commis-
sion or the City Council such conversions are not legal.

A recent attempt to convert 6000 Monroe (corner of Monroe,
Manila, and Broadway) from a house to a law office was met by
the active and vocal opposition of many residents of the vicinity.
We were very concerned that this conversion would cause us to
lose neighbors. The Planning Commission denied permission to
convert 6000 Monroe to an office building. Appeal to the City
Council produced a unanimous Council vote upholding the
Planning Commission decision, supporting neighbors’ desire that
6000 Monroe remain a home, not a business.

The attorneys arguing for conversion of 6000 Monroe pointed
out that there are already businesses nearby along Broadway. In
particular they cited a dentist’s office and the Shell gasoline
station.

It is our understanding that the property on which the dentist’s
office sits has housed a medical or dental office since before the
current zoning laws took effect. The same is true for the Shell
station and other businesses existing in residential zones along

See Business Use, page 7

Rockridge Accountant Reported

To City Asks For Support

I have been a Rockridge resident for 12 years and for the past
4 years have operated my accounting business out of a residence
located at 5714 Broadway. The neighbors on my block have
known from the start about my business, and they strongly sup-
port me. I conducted my business openly and have always had
a valid City business license. On several occasions, my daytime
visibility has deterred burglars and car thieves. Neighbors have
stopped by to pick up tax forms that they have had problems
getting elsewhere. 5

My business operation was reported to the City by someone
that doesn’t even live on my block. I don’t know whether the in-
dividual did this on behalf of the RCPC or not. Now I am faced
with the dilemma of having to sell my property or trying to get
a variance from the City. I still don’t understand why people
blocks away, maybe even miles away, would want to force me
to sell my property, when neighbors on my block who are most
affected, support me. Also, why would they wait 4 years before
reporting me? I feel that if someone was so concerned about a
neighbor that has been here for years, they should have ap-
proached me personally instead of “turning me in.”

My property is unique since it is surrounded on both sides by
commercially-zoned buildings. The entire next block is all com-
mercial offices, and there is a dentist’s office at the end of my
block. A 24-hour gas station is located directly across the street.
I pose no threat to the residential character of the neighborhood.
In fact, a professional office serves as a perfect buffer from the
commercial to the residential.

The atmosphere regarding businesses in residences was much
different in 1984 when I purchased my property than it is today.
It was before the Dreyer’s issue and before the RCPC started dis-
tributing the monthly newsletter. I would not purchase this
property for business purposes today, but it’s done, and it would
be an undue hardship to force me to sell after all these years. I

am not an outsider trying to come in, but a good neighbor that has
been here for years.

I tried meeting with the President of RCPC because I felt that
if the organization could get the complaint against me withdrawn,
the City would probably not pursue its action against me. I was
told that it would do no good to meet with me because the facts
are that I am operating a business in a residential neighborhood
and even though I may be a good neighbor, I would have to move.

See Accountant page 7

|

June 11, 1988

The Rockridge News

Page 3

Bursting
from page I

The donation envelope is another item
Stuffed into this issue.

As you know, RCPC has no member-
ship dues. Operating expenses are funded
by voluntary donations solicited at Gen-
eral Meetings and through the newsletter.
The newsletter itself takes a big chunk of
RCPC funds to produce and is an impor-
tant part of the strength of the Neighbor-
hood. Some expenses of the newsletter
are covered by merchant advertising
(support College Avenue merchants!) but
voluntary donations provide most of the
funds for printing. While you still have
your pen or pencil handy, take a moment
also to complete the RCPC donation form
below and slip it into the envelope with
your good wishes and your check.

Thank you for your help and support.
—Don Kinkead

Treasurer, RCPC

Recent RCPC Acitvities And Actions

PLANNING COMMISSION:

APPLICATIONS PENDING

5612 College Avenue, The Lobby:

Owner Mike Taggart has applied for a
major conditional use permit to sell hard
liquor (in addition to beer and wine).

RCPC has learned that the Lobby’s
frequent three-piece combos are in viola-
tion of the cabaret permit which allows
piano only. Further, the Lobby’s ABC
license was never transferred when the
premises were expanded in 1981.

The RCPC Board of Directors voted to
recommend denial of the application unt
The Lobby comes into compliance with
all City and State permits and licensing.
In a similar action, the College Avenue
Merchants’ Association voted conditional
support of the application if The Lobby
first corrects all existing noncompliance
with city permits and ABC licensing, and
if a new public hearing is held in six
months to monitor compliance.

The public hearing on the Lobby’s ap-

plication (CM 88-186) will continue be-
fore the Planning Commission on June
15th at 1:30 pm, City Hall, Room 115.
Call (273-3911) or mail your comments to
Mr. Doug Jones, Chair, Planning Com-
mission, 1 City Hall Plaza, Oakland, CA

94612.
A public hearing to review the current

cabaret permit will be held on Friday,
June 24th at 10 am, City Hall, Room 318.

5290 CoLLEGE AVENUE,

ACE ArcuirTeEcTs PROJECT

The RCPC Design Review Committee
is recommending conditional approval of
plans for the two story retail/commercial
structure, including removal of the exist-
ing billboard, use of clear window glass,
retention of street trees, and final review
and approval of the exterior materials.

The project also will require a condi-
tional use permit prior to demolition of the
existing, unoccupied residence on the site.

———

Ves!

Name:

| ROCKRIDGE COMMUNITY PLANNING

Enroll Me as a Supporting Donor to the Rockridge Community Planning Council!
I have enclosed a check payable to RCPC for my tax-deductible donation for a year’s registration

and other support areas I have checked off:

| Address:

City/Zip:
| Phone:

USB SINCE JuNE 1983:
5539, 5610, 5700 Broapway;

5902 TAFT;
6000 MonrRoOE.

PATION REGULATIONS:
5607, 5664, 5714 Broapway.

ZONING IN DIFFERENT ZONES (DOTTED LINES): | ;

R-30 = SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL

PROPERTIES THAT HAVE REQUESTED ZONING VARI-
ANCES TO CHANGE FROM RESIDENTIAL TO COMMERCIAL.

RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES THAT HAVE BUSINESSES
OPERATING ON THE PREMISES UNDER THE HOME OCCU-

<3

s

Suggested minimum; $10 per category

CoUNCIL DONATION FORM |

$ Registration Donation Don Kinkond
5626 Oak Grove Avenue
Oakland, CA 94618
$ Rockridge News Donation

Thank you!

R-~35 = SPECIAL SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL;

R-60/S = MEDIUM-HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL/SCENIC

* AppROVED NON—CONFORMING USES

IN RESIDENTIAL ZONE.

eses

e778

bails

| z
Lvl ——

UVWHIA

TES ELE EPL LEST ONES BLA DA EES EI PARA SN TE IFS SPE OT NTS TR FT FF Pe LEE SPD lS OTP EE ELS FR NL PLAS AY PS ID ASS ot

Page 4 The Rockridge News June 11, 1988
Permit Parking Tug Of War: A Tale Of Two Neighborhoods
Manoa, Mystic, Rockwell Petition Forest, Chabot, Birch Court,
For Permit Parking Locksley Permit Plans Stall

Plans to enact Residential Permit Parking on parts of Forest
Street, Locksley Avenue, Chabot Road and Birch Court are being

During the last year or two, these streets have become filled on reviewed by the City in response to arse he area that
weekdays with cars parked all day while their drivers go to work. — developed after a net ghborhood public hearing held to discuss the

This is very frustrating for Neighborhood residents who find —_— program.

themselves and their visitors unable to park near their own According to Mr. Kevin Cummings, City of Oakland Traffic
homes, Engineer, enough residents 1n favor of Permit Parking on the four

The City of Oakland has developed a Preferential Residential street sections signed petitions to enable a public hearing to
Permit Parking program to alleviate this type of problem. The _ formally consider program details and costs. In the absence of
process is relatively simple, requiring that a majority of residents significant opposition, the Permit Parking program would have
sign petitions in favor of permit parking and agree to purchase been approved for those streets. | )
yearly permits costing $25 each. Manoa, Mystic and Rockwell Subsequent to the meeting, however, the City received peti-
Neighbors are gathering the required petition signatures to de- _ tions signed by a majority of Forest, Chabot and Birch Court
terme whether a majority of residents favor permit parking. residents opposed to the plan. On Chabot Road, according to Mr.

Anyone living on those streets and interested in signing the | Cummings,a“‘very strong letter opposing implementation of the
petition or extending the proposed area to adjacent streets should = program was received from Dreyer’s Corporation. Locksley

call Mr. Ted Bradshaw, 652-1916, or Ms. Marcia Kolb, | Avenue residents have not fully responded. a
655-9720. Mr. Cummings said the issue is not yet resolved. The City is

—Marcia Kolb evaluating the petition results and it is possible the program may
+ not be enacted. “We don’t want to force the program down

Potato Pie people’s throats. We will do what residents want,” he concluded.

Petitions to institute Permit Parking on Manoa, Mystic and
Rockwell streets are being circulated by several residents.

(,

Pre—School/Day Care MELVIN MIKELL Janitorial Service

* Quality Teachers / 6:1 ratio PROFESSIONAL CLEANING SPECIALISTS
* Spacious, Nurturing Home & Play Yard | CLEANING: Floors + Walls « Windows + Carpets

¢ Lightly Structured, Individualized Program COMMERCIAL + INDUSTRIAL « RESIDENTIAL
¢ Multi-Ethnic Enrollment & Learning Materials Reasonably Priced Dependable Service

Licensed + Insured PL & PD
Across from Chabot School E ase parental iapiep |

658-9579

Gardening

Mr. Sae Chao
Gardening & Hauling
Very Reliable

Elementary Arts

Teen Arts Camp Ages 11-15
Day Camp Ages 6-11 Bi Ba

- Cartooning/Animation * Ceramics °

. . oat a Mural Painting * Jewelry making °
Music * Dance Cartooning/Animation Comprehensive Arts Course * Jazz
Art ¢ Swashbuckling (fencing for actors)

. ; , Dance * Modern Dance * Circus *

¢ Drama * Video ¢ Circus * Clowning * D a © Musical Theater © Cl :
Creative Writing * Bookmaking * . anes: eect owning

Mime * Video ¢ Latin Percussion ¢
Storytelling ¢ Puppetry * Musical ;

at, Steel Drums * Woodwinds * Brass °

Instrument Building * Puppet & Mask Choir © Guitar * Jazz E bl
making * Costume & Set Design * nee ee

Swimming and Sports after noon. Location:

Location: St. Mary’s College High a eco me hore nied
School, Albany has 0 ee ee

$8/Hour
232-9680
(Local reference:
Nancy McKay — 654-0649)

Shop With
College Avenue

Sessions: Hours:

June 20 — July 8, July 11 — July 29 Elementary 9:00— 12:00 or 9:00— 5:00
Teen 9:00— 12:00, 1:00~ 4:00

Merchants
East Bay School of the Arts oe
CALL FOR CAMP OR SPRING SEMESTER BROCHURES: 652-3727 Shop Oakland
DIRECTOR: JANET BLAIR ¢ 1501 POWELL ST., EMERYVILLE St ores

June 11, 1988

Page 5

4 CAMA Report |

Harvest Far Date Set

CAMA presents our annual Harvest Festival on Saturday,
October 8, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. We'll have live entertain-
ment, a cable car, and a host of other exciting programs for your

pleasure! Merchants will display their wares and specials on
the sidewalk.

CAMA BrocuurE Out Soon

We're busy working on our new brochure for 1988. CAMA
is looking for an artist or an art student to do the artwork.

Interested? Call Eddie Zeidan at 428-9256 after 3 p.m.
More GARBAGE Cans CoMING |
CAMA wants to place more garbage cans on College Ave-
nue. We requested more frequent pickups of the existing cans,
but the City cannot afford it. We’re planning to purchase a few.
—£ddie Zeidan, President
College Avenue Merchants Association |

ae
> (Of

te fine art +
( allign aph {
eee
Lessons for Beginners - to be held at Verbatim
We will start with the basic Roman, to learn
balance & proportion, then progress into
the familiar Italic.
Materials will be supplied.
Instruction by a professional calligrapher
4 Classes — $60
August 2, 9, 16 & 23
Tuesday mornings 10 - 11:30 or
Tuesday evenings 7 - 8:30

For reservations & information
contact Verbatim - 655-0672
5940 College Avenue, Oakland

Ti Bacio Ristorante

New! Complete Italian Dinner!

Early Bird Special —Daily from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Antipasto

Your choice of fresh homemade soups or
Italian tossed green salad
Your choice of entreés from the menu
with roast potatoes and fresh vegetables

ass ted vy
us
5 $9.95 and coffee or tea $9.95
We will happily prepare this meal To Go!

CALL AHEAD for reservations or

your TO GO ORDER

5301 College Avenue (at Clifton) » Oakland + 428-1703
+ with this coupon + Expires July 31, 1988 (40 T gs {ety

—p

¢

ROCKRIDGE

Rockridge Artists In Pro Arts Studio Tour

If the rich are different from you and me, as Mr. Hemingway
thought, what about the artists? How different can they be?

Find out for yourself by visiting any one or many of the 440
East Bay artists opening their studios and lives to public view for
East Bay Open Studios, the annual art adventure arranged by Pro
Arts of Oakland.

Pro Arts’ Gallery at 1920 Union Street — open Tuesday
through Sunday, 11 am to 5 pm — is exhibiting the work of each
artist hosting an open studio. Before you begin your tour, stop
by and select the artists you would most like to visit.

The Pro Arts tour divides the East Bay into two sections. On
June 18 and 19, Oakland studios located South of Mac Arthur
Boulevard will be open for the South Studios Tour. Rockridge
residents with studios in this part of the tour include:

Sally Weare, Painting, Photography 255 4th Street
Shane Weare, Large Pastels, Prints 255 4th Street

On June 25 and 26, studios located North of Mac Arthur
Boulevard will be open for the North Studios Tour. Rockridge
area artists and their studios in this section of the tour include:

Margaret Black, Painting 6016 Broadway
Patricia Davis, Painting, Drawing 5321 Miles Avenue
Gerta Farber, Painting 5727 Claremont Avenue
Stacia Louise Fields, Watercolor 436 62nd Street

Bobbie Kinkead, Painting, Mixed Media 6452 Hillegass

Liz Maxwell, Painting 5808 Chabot Road

Artists in other cities will also open their studios. For further

information, call Pro Arts at 763-7880.
—Suggested by Liz Maxwell

H@ Readers please note: The Rockridge News is published the week-end before
the third Wednesday of each month except August. Events scheduled before
that week-end should be received not later than the first of the preceding
month. Send to: Margret Elson, 5425 College Avenue, #2, Oakland, CA
94618. While every effort will be made to accommodate all announcements
received, The Rockridge News cannot guarantee space in every issue nor
assume responsibility for errors.

TEPPING ae A EY = Coa;

Residential * Commercial * Income * Group Purchases
“Buy smart! Sell smart!” ™

Available FREE on request:

1) Schedule of Buyers’ and Sellers’ Seminars
2) Buyers’ Kit or Seller’s Kit of “how-to” materials
3) Market Value Assessment of your home

4) Private Consultation to discuss your objectives

Call 843-5353

Ask for: Bill Pelter, Sue Seligsohn or Frederick Mitchell
Rockridge Area Real Estate Specialists

ate o_ts nates

‘h

Page 6 The Rockridge News June 11, 1988 |
Of General Interest: ——
Tenements In North Oakland? Rockridge Avenue/Inman & Doty

Marge Gibson—Haskell
City Council District |

I have had a number of complaints concerning houses in
North Oakland being inhabited by large numbers of unrelated
individuals in single family zones (sharing kitchens, bath-
rooms, etc.). These properties are tenanted with numbers
generally far in excess of the number of people who would be
dwelling there if the property was the home of a single family
in the traditional sense. The neighborhood concern has mani-
fested itself with regard to increased demand for scarce street
parking spaces, many visitors to the property and a generally
greater noise level emanating from these properties. There has
also been concem about life styles and drug use and other
health and safety related issues.

I have been asked: Why doesn’t the City do something
abut the problem? Why is it allowed to go on?

Initially, I thought we could easily solve this problem by

1986. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

INAAAN.

strengthening either our zoning ordinances or our boarding S
house ordinance. Then I was informed of the California Su- ©
preme Court’s holding that an ordinance which makes a dis- gut)
tinction between related and unrelated persons violates the 77 Yj
right of privacy guaranteed by the California Constitution. LM N You HEAR.
(For the lawyers: City of Santa Bar v. Adamson (1980) You'LL CROAK WHE
27 C.3d 123.) Though on the surface this opinion has the aura How MucH THEY WANT FoR. IT.
of philosophical virtue, the Court’s dissenting opinion illus-
trates the error of the majority’s thinking. That dissent ques-
tions whether such ordinances, in so far as they address the —
number of unrelated persons who may live ina single dwelling |
unit, violate any cognizable Constitutional rights. (Ibid. 139). Ge
Nevertheless, this California Supreme Court decision based ® aq
upon purported Constitutional grounds has thus far bound the ( d
hands of your legislators from finding meaningful relief. oncor I
Approaches for dealing with the tenement problem sug- HIGH SCHOOL
gested include enforcement of special health and safety re- ;
quirements, zoning controls such s increased off—street park- nee be “3.12 atory Program
ing requirements related to numbers of bedrooms and for Grades 9-
strengthened fire wall codes, amongst others. Because of the - Accredited by the Western
Santa Barbara decision, however, any of these approaches Association of Schools and Colleges
would have to be applied both to related and unrelated indi- 3 ° °
viduals and for this reason it makes resolution extremely ee S Pore and Fraiteale from
difficult. ° e
I have also been asked why suddenly there appears to be ‘conta a rryacare _ oa
such an increase in congregate housing for unrelated individu- at Con ras : ameda, »..f.,
als in our residential areas. The answer is largely economics. an ontra Costa)
Such housing is cheap and profitable. All that is required IS ‘ Places available for ’88 — ’89 school
to remodel an existing house. It is free from the expensive year
code requirements imposed on boarding houses or apartments. ; we : 2
Also, the Federal tax code has eliminated for developers much Admissions Testing June 21-9 AM
of the profit from building conventional apartment housing.
Hence, the path for the “profit oriented” developer is to build : ein
or convert to congregate housing on the relatively cheaper Preparation for Colleg
land in traditional single family areas. : nt
These are the dimensions of the problem. Your thoughts a Su ortive Environme

and help are needed now. I understand that the next RCPC C
or . ampus located at
t
meeting will consider this issue. If you wish to communicate 6325 Camden St. (near Mills College) Oakland
your ideas directly to me, please call 273-3266. am akl

June 11, 1988

The Rockridge News

Problems In Rockridge, Montclair
Rooming House Conversions
Spreading; Hard To Regulate

Enterprising developers are increasingly converting single
family homes in Rockndge and Montclair to rooming houses.

In numerous reported cases, a single family home is occupied
by six, twelve, or more adults. This results in broad negative
effects on the environment including but not limited to adverse
traffic, worsened parking, more noise, and general diminution of
the neighborhood quality of life. Due to a 1980 California State
Supreme Court decision, these rooming houses become difficult
to regulate our current zoning and health/safety codes.

In response to Rockridge and Montclair community concern
on this issue, Councilmember Marge Gibson-Haskell organized
a task force in April. The task force includes Councilmember
Gibson-Haskell, Director of City Planning Alvin James, Mr.
Tom Webber of the City Attorney’s office, Ms. Carolyn De
Martini of the City Manager’s Office, Ms. Elizabeth Ryan of the
Glen Highlands area near Montclair, and Mr. Bryan Grunwald of
the Rockridge community.

To date, two task force meetings have been held. Draft rec-
ommendations to regulate existing and future rooming units were
presented to the Task Force at a meeting June 8.

Final recommendations will be discussed at the RCPC Gen-

eral Meeting Wednesday, June 15, 7:30 pm, at the College
Avenue Presbyterian Church.

—8ryan Grunwald

Accountant

from page 2

The RCPC’s position does not allow for any exceptions to the
general rule. When a group as powerful as the RCPC loses its
ability to recognize exceptions, it loses its ability to be fair, since
no general rule can cover all circumstances.

I don’t believe that the majority of Rockridge residents, after
seeing my property and understanding my circumstances, would
want me to be forced to sell. The only way I will be able to retain
my property is if the “silent majority” of neighbors that feel that
I am being treated unfairly would send letters of support to me,
so that I can forward them to the City, RCPC, and Marge Gibson-
Haskell.

—Mark Schisler

RCPC Chair Barbara Anderson replies:

To date, there has been no complaint to the Board of RCPC
or request for action by the Board regarding the zoning violation
at 5714 Broadway. The matter has never been considered for-
mally by RCPC, and, therefore, there is no RCPC position regard-
ing Mr. Schisler’s case.

However, as a matter of principle, RCPC supports efforts by
the City to enforce the Zoning Ordinance. Any zoning violation
may be brought, with confidentiality, to the attention of
Oakland’s Housing Conservation Division, Code Enforcement.
According to Housing department manager, Mr. Roy Schweyer,
Mr. Schisler has until July 1st to comply with the zoning code or
to apply for a variance.

If Mr. Schisler decides to seek a variance or a rezoning for his
property, there would be a public hearing before the Planning
Commission. RCPC would consider the application in the usual
manner (Zoning Committee, General Membership meeting,
Board recommendation to the Planning Commission).

Page 7

Business Use
from page 2

Broadway. They have been “grandparented in.” Under current
zoning regulations, proposed conversions from a residence to a
business property would meet with the same opposition encoun-
tered by the owners of 6000 Monroe.

As we understand it, some business people would like to
operate in this neighborhood, but are unwilling to pay the cost of
building, buying, or leasing property in commercial zones.
Instead, they purchase homes, set up their businesses, and oper-
ate without proper zoning approval.

Eventually, some of the business people apply for major vari-
ances, attempting to legitimize business use. In some cases, vari-
ances have been sought before home purchase, but have been
denied. Perhaps some business people are hoping that conversion
of a residence to a business property would result in increased
property value, leading to profit from sale of the property after
conversion.

With great awareness of the loss of valued neighbors caused by
the conversion of residences for business use, as well as traffic
and parking problems, local residents along with the College
Avenue Merchants Association, Oakland Planning Commission,
and the Oakland City Council have made it very clear that resi-
dential properties must be used as homes, and that any business
uses may be only incidental to residential occupation.

This is true in all neighborhoods of Oakland. Attendance at
Planning Commission and City Council meetings shows that
Oakland residents continue to strive to make and keep Oakland
neighborhoods livable, and to prevent use of residences only for
business purposes.

Residents living on or near Broadway are very concerned about
efforts over the years to extend the Broadway business strip from
downtown Oakland all the way to Highway 24. We feel very
strongly that we want to retain the proximity and warmth of our
neighbors, making life in Rockridge pleasant and, indeed, worth
living.

Your help will make it possible to continue fighting to preserve
the residential neighborhoods of Rockridge.

Please drop us a line c/o RCPC, 5856 College Avenue, #130,

Oakland 94618, and we'll give you a call.
—Gary & Catherine Lippman

Donald M. Coelho, Realtor
Coldwell Banker

Specializing in Rockridge real estate
for over 12 years.

Honest, professional service
that you can depend on!

Phone for estimate of value,
without obligation.

339-1174 Office

934-0889 Evenings

Page 8 The Rockridge News <" — la
Kockridge Soccer Sign—Ups Open

Sign—ups for the 1988 soccer season are now being accepted
by the Rockndge Soccer Club.

Soccer season runs from approximately September 1 to De-
cember 1. Games are Saturday momings and practices are during
the week after school. Registration is open to boys and girls born
in 1981 or 1982. Team assignments will be made by the Club.
Preferences may be stated on the registration form.

To register, you need to provide 3 things: a recent wallet size
photo, a copy of your birth certificate (new players only), and a
check for $25 for the registration fee. There will be an additional
cost of approximately $15 for the uniform in September.

Contact Lauren Larsen, 5861 Birch Court, Oakland, CA

94618, 428-0833 for further information and registration forms. | a ———_—— Ne
Please hurry, though — no registrations will be accepted after June
29, 1988.

SpecialSpecialSpecial

Tony’s Pizza 4.95 Save $2.
Vendange S
Chardonnay 4.99 Special 2
| Freixenet
Champagne 5.99 Save $1.
Fletcher &

2.09 750 ml Save $2.19
MAC /IBM/ Laser Printing Oakes Spritzer

FAX & TELEX SERVICES Rent 2 videos
* HIGH QUALITY COPIES + COMPUTER CLASSES ee for the price of 1...
- LASER COPYING & CONSULTING S ¢ plus tax!
- BINDERY SERVICES * COMPUTER/GRAPHIC ee only 98¢ p
- BUSINESS CARDS & DESIGN ee)
STATIONERY * WORD PROCESSING i ee
- UPS SHIPMENTS * BUSINESS, OFFICE & : ES

Specials good through

* PRIVATE MAIL BOXES COMPUTER SUPPLIES = June 30, 1988 .
mane Gnlicce’h py - For your convenience, be
Ppt arena Ed Basi Gorn - Chimes accepts ee
Oakland, CA 94618 a cenepn Be Visa & Mastercard a
(1 Block to Rockridge BART) Sat 9am-7pm gs ; nein 3 ee
FAX: 415-654-1133 Sun 10am-6pm with $5 minimum purchase! i 2

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

7 AM to Midnight 7 Days A Week
5642 College Avenue At Rockridge BART

a ip e q Re — \ 428-9256 fe.
Bees Le ee see scene
RA ° The Rockridge News is published monthly in Oakland
except in August and is sponsored by The Rockridge
BE Ar % Community Planning Council.
r TO |
Got something planned you'd like to have The Rockridge

FEAT URING News tell about? Call Don Kinkead at 655-7474 or write to

GRAFFEO COFFEES 5626 Oak Grove Avenue, Oakland 94618 (of course!) and let

know
¢ Oakland * 658-9622 a : ane
saa “ eae 49. a alg oo July issue deadline is July 6th.

a

oeuae 4

see ee
seers