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; Rockridge News

Sponsored by *, THE RocKRIpDGE COMMUNITY PLANNING COUNCIL ® 5856 COLLEGE AVENUE #130" OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA * 94618

Vol. 3 No. 4 Issue No. 28 *

Special Supplement

Inside your copy of The Rockridge News
is a special supplement reporting the results
of the recent survey of Rockridge residents
and College Avenue property owners. The
survey is the first of many steps in the
production of the Rockridge Area Specific
Plan (RASP) which will guide the future of
this part of Oakland for years to come.

Community meetings in October and
November will give you an opportunity to
discuss the findings and your conclusions
and how they might be applied for the
greatest community benefit.

The Importance of College Avenue

Urban Designer Robert Bruce Anderson
presents a wide-ranging appraisal of College
Avenue today and its future possibilities.

RCPC Activities

Recent development proposals for College
Avenue are presented and discussed, along
with a report of RCPC responses. The
RCPC Parking and Circulation Committee
looks at parking problems and solutions.
Multi-Bedroom Housing Conversions

The Piedmont Planning Commission heard
a request for design review by Mr. Frederick
Morse concerning a house he has expanded
with additional bedrooms. Nearby neighbors
of the project spoke of their concern about
the effect of potential additional traffic and
noise the project could bring to their street.

Inside, Marge Gibson-Haskell discusses
some proposals by the City of Oakland to
meet what many perceive to be a threat to
traditional single-family neighborhoods.

There’s More!

Of course there’s more. Dig in to this
issue of The Rockridge News for the
Rockridge point of view.

Look for The Muse and Brad Inman’s

September 17, 1988

Special Public Meeting

Circulation: 4,500 Residences; 200 Businesses

Planning Commission Seeks,
Finds Citizen Feedback

Nearly 125 people representing neigh-
borhood and merchant groups from all
parts of the City attended a Special Public
Hearing held by The Oakland Planning
Commission on Wednesday, August 3, to
hear comments and complaints about the
Commission’s approach to planning is-
sucs.

Members of the Planning Commission
listened to four hours of testimony about
past decisions and to suggestions for im-
provements in the City Planning process.
Passionate speeches were frequently in-
terrupted by applause from the audience,
as the Commission frequently came under
fire for some of its actions and attitudes.
Commissioner Jones promised to appoint
a committee to consider recommenda-
tions made during the meeting.

Speaking for the Rockridge Commu-
nity Planning Council, Ms. Brooke Levin,
Vice Chair, called for improved commu-
nication and public awareness. She urged
that staff analysis of proposed projects be

prepared and available for review before
the first public hearing, that Planning
Commission meetings be held in late
afternoon or at night, and that planning
staff encourage developers to work with
recognized neighborhood groups before
submitting applications to the City.

Additionally, RCPC urged that Zon-
ing Codes be amended or rewritten to
better respond to the needs of the commu-
nity. This could include a revamping of
parking requirements, establishing a proc-
ess to follow up on Planning Department
conditions stipulated for permit approval,
and improvement of Codes to protect
residential districts from commercial use
encroachment.

The call for evening meetings was
almost universal among attendees at the
meeting, as was the assertion that the
Commission had granted far too many
variances to the zoning codes for develop-
ers, thus damaging commercial districts

See Feedback, page 7

m AGENDA FOR THE GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING @ _
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1988 7:30 PM

COLLEGE AVENUE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
5951 COLLEGE AVENUE

a Multi-Bedroom Housing Conversions
w Keenan Land Co. Variance: 5800 College at Birch Court
= Rockridge Women’s Club: Use Permit

” ~esEryere

cartoon comments, too! Honored Guest: Leo Bazile, Councilmember District 7
ES a I eS RT PTE PO

Dates Calendar Events Calendar Dates
Tuesday Sept 20 7:30 pm City Council Meeting Council Chambers.
Wednesday Sept 21 1:30 pm Planning Commission City Hall, Room 115 Vote on Dreyer’s Use Permit.
Wednesday Sept 21 7:30 pm RCPC General Meeting College Avenue Presbyterian Church. See Agenda Box.
Monday Sept 26 7:30 pm North Oakland Community Golden Gate Recreation Center 1075 62nd Street
Development Committee
Wednesday Oct 19 7:30 pm RCPC General Meeting College Avenue Presbyterian Church.

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The Rockridge News

September 17, 1989

Page 2

COLLEGE AVENUE: A Special Place for People

By Robert Bruce Anderson

akland’s College Avenue, extending from Alcatraz on
the north to Broadway on the south, is the commercial
“spine” of the Rockridge community. It is a friendly
street which bustles with pedestrian and vehicular activity from
mid-morning until late into the evening. It is well served by
public transit. There is much “stop and shop” business conducted
by neighborhood residents simultaneously with longer-term
parking by patrons from far away places who have made a special

billboard or “outdoor advertising display”. Often mounted on
residential properties in an ungainly fashion, these grossly out-
of-scale, off-premise advertising signs clearly are inappropriate
in a neighborhood district such as College Avenue.

A second negative element is the use of College Avenue
frontage for off-street parking lots, especially at corner locations.
Buildings define streets and intersections. The absence of build-

ings, or the presence of voids where off-street parking lots exist,
detracts from and diminishes

trip to College Avenue.
In the view of many
people, College Avenue is

COLLEGE AVENUE:
THE MAIN STEM OF ROCKRIDGE

the cherished character of
street life along College Ave-
nue. Off-street parking lots

becoming more “up scale”
in what it has to offer and
the type of customers it is
attracting. It is an outgoing
Street with a distinctive
character and much prom-
ise,
Affection For A Street
What does it mean to
speak of a street in terms of
affection? Can we actually
grow attached to a public
thoroughfare to the point
that we take a strong, pro-
prietary interest in its fu-
ture?

also require driveways,
which, if located on College
Avenue, often present haz-
ardous situations for pedes-
trians and motorists.
Another wasted opportu-
nity for street life on College
Avenue is the presence of
ground-floor office space.
This type of use offers little,
if any, interest to pedestrian
life and the casual window
shopper; if display windows
exist, they often are blocked
out, mirrored over or contain

Increasingly in America,
it is the exceptional community and the rare street where this is
so. Most streets today are regarded as dirty and rather unfriendly
places, to be used almost exclusively to accommodate through
vehicular movement. More and more local streets, regardless of
scale and function, are being designed to highway standards (e.g.,
wider lanes, traffic signals with mastarms). If a street does enjoy
pedestrian life, we conclude that it stems from accidents of
geography and the marketplace rather than from a deliberate plan
worked out by public and private interests.

Much of what gives College Avenue its distinctive character
is the neighborhood scale of the buildings facing College Ave-
nue, primarily ground-level, pedestrian-oriented storefronts and,
in two- and three-story buildings, residential units and small
offices on the upper floors. Reinforcing this character are adjoin-
ing residential neighborhoods on both sides of College Avenue,
consisting of strongly vernacular bungalows and two-story
shingle and stucco houses. These neighborhoods are pretty much
intact in terms of their intended residential use; this is important
not only to residents living in these neighborhoods, but in provid-
ing an obvious contrast to, and therefore highlighting, the retail
and pedestrian appeal of College Avenue.

Some Design and Use Elements Flaw the Street

All of the positive features notwithstanding, College Avenue
possesses a number of design and use elements which detract
from the potential for full public enjoyment and the “highest and
best use” of this street.

One particularly annoying and anachronistic element is the

views of desks and office
equipment. Such office uses interrupt the flow of sidewalk
shopping and interfere with the greater neighborhood interest of
life on the street.

A fourth and major disruptive element in the daily life and
ultimate character of College Avenue is the imposing presence of
the Highway 24/BART elevated structures. These facilities
reflect a total orientation towards motor vehicles and heavy-rail
transit operations. Life on College Avenue, the relatively delicate
scale of Rockridge buildings and street-level pedestrian ameni-
ties were ignored by Caltrans and BART in the design and
construction of this domineering public works edifice.

Opportunities to Improve College Avenue

Opportunities clearly exist for strengthening the street life and
pedestrian-oriented character of College Avenue. Some are
immediately doable kinds of things, and, on an incremental basis,
tend to take place as College Avenue lives its own life and
“upgrades” itself. Several examples include: the removal of bill-
boards when properties change hands, when there is new con-
struction or as buildings are renovated: the increasing contnibu-
tion of retail activity to life on the street achieved by storefronts
which feature imaginative, well-maintained displays of merchan-
dise and which, in several cases, open out directly onto the
sidewalk; changes in land use, from ground-floor office and
vehicular-oriented uses to pedestrian-oriented retail and service
uses; and new construction on sites which formerly were vacant
or which were occupied by buildings set far back from the front

See “College Avenue”, page 7

CE ES es a Sa

September 17, 1988

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The Rockridge News

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Page 3

a

RCPC Reviews, Comments On
College Avenue Development Projects

A number of applications for new
College Avenue development projects
were submitted to the Planning Depart-
ment in late July and August. These
applications were reviewed by the RCPC
Zoning Committee in August. Since there
was no August General Membership
Meeting, recommendations for action by
RCPC were forwarded directly to the
Board of Directors at their September
meeting. Following is a list of the propos-
als and the action suggested by RCPC.
‘Noble Pies, 5417 College

Restaurant owner Robert Seymoure of
Noble Pies seeks a use permit to put a new
full service restaurant of approximately 2,
OOO square feet across the street from the
existing Noble Pies. The new restaurant
would occupy space to be built by Wilson
Associates on the former “concrete boat”
property. RCPC recommended to the
Planning Commission that the use permit
be granted with these conditions: 1) roof
mount and sound sheild the cold storage
compressor to buffer noise and visual im-
pacts; 2) place another litter container on
College Avenue; 3) no signs advertising
beer or wine sales in or behind the front
window; 4) hours from 11 am to 10 pm;
5) no seating outdoor at rear of building.
The Planning Commission votes on the
application at the September 14th meet-
ing.

eGift Express, 5406 College Avenue
Merchant Carroll White needs a use
permit to sell beer and wine off- premises.
She plans to sell alcoholic beverages as
part of a gift basket service. RCPC agreed
to support the application with the condi-
tion — to which the applicant agreed —
that the beer and wine be sold only as part
of a wrapped gift basket and not sepa-
rately. The Planning Commission will
vote on this application on September
21st.
-Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream, Inc.,
5919-5921 College Avenue

Dreyer’s Vice-President Paul Wood-
land has applied for a major conditional
use permit to legalize the ground level
offices already installed by Dreyer’s.

Approximately six months ago
Dreyer’s converted two retail units to
office use (next to the Ice Cream Shop,

formerly a travel agency and hair parlor).
They blackened the display windows with
vinyl sheeting, and put up signs Stating
“Not an Entrance.”

RCPC and the College Avenue Mer-
chants Association (CAMA) received a
number of complaints about the non-retail
use of the spaces, which is inconsistent
with the pedestrian-oriented, comparison
window-shopping neighborhood com-
mercial character of College Avenue.

RCPC and CAMA recommended
against granting the use permit. RCPC
maintained at the Planning Commission
public hearing on September 7th that this
would be a corporate use of prime retail
space: it does not serve the neighborhood,
nor does it support neighboring retail
businesses.

The current application is completely
separate from Dreyer’s proposed new
64,000 square foot office/retail complex
presently in the Environmental Review
process.

The Planning Commission will vote
on the application at its September 21st
meeting.

«Mark Schisler, CPA, 5714 Broadway

The Board of RCPC recommended
that the Planning Commission deny Mr.
Schisler’s application for a variance to
legalize conversion of a Broadway resi-
dence to a professional office. RCPC’s
long-standing policy against extension of
commercial use into residential (R-35)
zones has been repeatedly upheld in the
past by Planning Commission and City
Council decisions (most recently, the
denial of a conversion of a residence to
law offices at 6000 Monroe).

«Keenan Land Company, 5800 College
Avenue (at Birch Court)

The original application was for a
minor use permit and design review to
construct a 11,591 square foot one-story
retail building with underground parking.

Recently, during further review of the
proposed plans, the City discovered that a
12’ x 30’ off-street loading dock is re-
quired for a building of this size. The
original design was to have a loading zone
on College Avenue. Keenan Land Com-
pany has decided to apply for a variance
to be exempt from the off-street loading

Dealing With Parking
In Rockridge

In the Spring of 1987, graduate stu-
dents in Professor Elizabeth Deakin’s
City Planning Seminar conducted a sur-
vey of two planning issues — land use
and transportation — in Rockridge. Fol-
lowing is the RCPC Parking and Circula-
tion Committee’s abbreviated summary
of the transportation papers.

For details, see the complete report,
available for purchase at Laser Copy and
for reading at the Rockridge Branch Li-
brary.

The parking papers address the issues
of on-street parking on College Avenue
and in residential areas, and off-street
commercial parking for College Avenue
merchants.

Off-street commercial parking is
poorly marked and thus not very acces-
sible to customers, who then use residen-
tial areas. The main parking dilemma for
residential areas is not short-term but
long-term parking.

As Residential Parking Permit (RPP)
areas are implemented, nonresident long-
term parkers (including 450 employees
who drive to work in the area and the
BART parking overflow) parking conges-
tion will ripple outward.

The papers make several recommen-
dations which merit further consideration,
including:

¢ further study on area-wide parking
issues;

¢ reorganization, rerouting of some
AC lines, and encouragement of shoppers
to use public transit;

¢ satellite parking lots with shuttle
service to the commercial area or to
BART;

* easy access off-street parking for
customers, clearly marked and with turn-
around areas.

The Parking and Circulation Commit-
tee welcomes suggestions and assistance,
Contact Mr. David Reinke, 653-5312 or
Mr. Bill Manley, 658-2419.

requirement. Jack Bariteau of the Keenan
Land Company will explain the applica-
tion at the September RCPC General
Membership meeting. A date for a public
hearing before the Planning Commission
has not been set.

Page 4

The Rockridge News

September 17, 1988

RCPC Parking Committee Report:
Preferential Residential Parking Update

Portions of Locksley Avenune and
Chabot Road have been converted into
Preferential Residential Parking areas.
Along with Oak Grove, this brings to
three the number of streets in the Rock-
ridge area that have taken advantage of
the 1986 Oakland city ordinance.

When applications for Locksley and
Chabot first came before the Publics
Works Department, the department de-
ferred action because counter-petitions
were also submitted. The delay surprised
residents, who felt that all requirements
were met. (It was later revealed that at
least one of the petitions was initiated by
a non-resident, who alledgedly uses resi-
dential streets to store autos he is repair-
ing.) The residents persisted, and ap-
peared en masse before the City Council
on July 27. Residents that couldn’t attend
sent letters along with those that could, to
provide further evidence of the wide-
spread support, if needed. As it turned
Out, no Opposition materialized at the
meeting, and the resolutions passed eas-
ily.

Locksley residents quickly purchased
the minimum number of permits required,
and within days, the two-hour maximum
parking signs were posted. Chabot resi-

dents have taken a little longer to buy their
quota, but that requirement was met just a
few days ago. Officials in the Traffic
Engineering Department expect the signs
to be posted within 2-4 weeks.

If you feel that your street is suffering
from high-levels of non-resident parking,
and you are willing to spend about $15 a
year to alleviate the problem (first year
$25.00, $17.50 after June 30) to alleviate
the problem, contact: City of Oakland,
Traffic Engineering and Parking Divi-
sion, One City Hall Plaza, Room 107,
Oakland, CA 94612, phone 273-3466.
You could also contact the RCPC Parking
and Circulation Committee at one of the
following numbers: Mr. David Reinke,

653-5312 or Mr. Bill Manley, 658-2419.
— Bill Manley

A Word From Our Readers

Thank you for The Rockridge News.
You give us news of our area that does not
appear in the newspapers.

Since we are both in our eighties, we
do not get out much. We have lived in this
area over 40 years and have seen many
changes in that time.

Keep up the good work.

— Arthur W. Humphrey

ge Fall Semester Music and Art

Orff—Schulwerk, Choir, Group and Private Instrumental Lessons

Piano, Percussion, Brass, Woodwinds, Recorder, Guitar, Jazz Ensemble

Creative Movement, Pre—Ballet, Modern Dance, Jazz Dance

Painting, Drawing, Clay Work, Sculpture, Collage, Print-Making

Theater, Musical Theater, Swashbuckling (fencing for the stage),

Juggling, Tumbling/Acrobatics, Balancing, Tightrope, Unicycle

Music
DANCE
ArT | Comprehensive Art

Jewelry Making
Cartooning/Animation
Ceramics

DRAMA
Mask Plays, Storytelling

Circus

ARTS
VIDEO

hast Bay School of the Arts

1501 Powell Street « Emeryville « 94608
Just three miles and seven minutes from Rockridge

CaLL 652-3727 For FALL SEMESTER INFORMATION AND SCHEDULE
DIRECTOR: JANET BLAIR

Rockridge Women’s Club
Asks Broader Use Of
Chabot Rd Club House

Organized in 1911, the Rockridge
Women’s Club is a non-profit group of-
fering philanthropic services for Chil-
dren’s and Highland Hospitals and nurs-
ing schools and organizations.

Located on College Avenue since its
inception, the Club moved to its present
Chabot Road location when construction
of BART and the Freeway in 1966 took
their venerable meeting hall.

According to Mrs. Dorothy Mulhol-
land, club member, membership is dwin-
dling and the club is searching for a way
to generate enough income to maintain
the clubhouse and keep the club together.

Their wish is to rent out the clubhouse
to selected small groups for meetings and
presentations. In order to do this, they
must obtain a use permit from the City,

As a first step in this process, Mrs.
Mulholland and the club president con-
tacted neighbors living near the club
house and explained their plan. Finding
support from the neighbors, the women
will present their idea for consideration at
the General Membership meeting of the
Rockridge Community Planning Council
on Wednesday, September 21 at the Col-
lege Avenue Presbyterian Church.

Mason McDuffie Realtor

*& Rockridge Resident
13 Years

* Experience

* Integrity

* Top Producer

Office
526-5143

Home

547-5752

September 17, 1988

The Rockridge News Page ©

+ CAMA Reporr r

CAMA Harvest Festival
Set For October

The College Avenue Merchants Association is sponsoring
its Harvest Festival and Open House on Saturday, October 8,
from 11 AM to 4 PM.

The Festival will take place on College Avenue between
Broadway and Alcatraz Avenues.

The exciting activities that are planned include:
A free cable car shuttle
Live music
Giveaways
Raffles

Clowns and facepainters

CAMA invites all our neighbors to join us for the

festivities! Take a stroll with your friends and neighbors. Fun
for all ages!

For more information, contact Eddie Zeidan at 428-9256.

GARAGE NEEDED!
Rockridge residents seeking

garage to rent for compact car. |

Please call Jeff or Barb at 653-9077.

Your Family Deserves America’s Best!

Maybe your family owned a library when you were
a child— maybe not. Now your family can build its own:
with a set of the Encyclopedia Americana.

Many other fine educational resources, too. All at
family prices from your Amway distributor.

Call 655-8509 Mike & Gloria Rourick

When buying and selling in
the Rockridge District,

it makes good “cents”

to call Rockridge Realtors.

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ROCKRIDGE

MUSE

Ms. Margret Elson, Rockridge resident and Rockridge Muse
editor, is performing Saturday, September 24, 8PM at Trinity
Chamber concerts, 2320 Dana Street, Berkeley.

In an unusual evening of music-theatre, she and her partner
Elizabeth Swarthout recreate the historical fortepiano contest
between Mozart and Clementi before Emperor Josef II of Austria.

This time, YOU, the audience, judge between Mozart and
Clementi.

@ Readers please note: The Rockridge News ts 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.

" AN AMAZING ARRAY OF ORNAMENTAL
RESOURCES FOR DESIGNING PEOPLE

THE OR BWEAVER

5326 COLLEGE AVE
‘OAKLAND. CA. 946/

Shop Oakland

Shop With College Avenue Merchants

ies

ay It's more than
just a great
Crafts Store!

ff Bewnyy MEY

a tt i i i i i i i Oe

Page 6 The Rockridge News September 17, 1988
Of General Interest:

Multi-Bedroom Housing; a !
Tth Simy F :
Proposed Full-Time Mayor re eH NaC aT

Planning Department Acts On Multi-Bedrooms

In prior newsletters I described the latest attempt to com-
mercialize Rockridge neighborhoods — to wit, the addition of
numerous bedrooms and inhabitants to existing dwellings.
Since I last wrote this column, the Desmond Street multi-
bedroom construction was brought to the attention of the Board
of Permit Appeals who ruled that the addition of the bedrooms
was, of itself, not a violation of the housing code, but that if the
property is rented to more than five individuals, then the
boarding house regulations must be met. The difficulty with
this interpretation will be in proving rental to more than five
individuals.

As an alternative, the Planning Department is developing a
proposal to link the construction of any additional bedrooms

(beyond four) to provision of additional appropriately located START PACKING, HARR ers Eee
off-street parking (e.g., not in either a front or back yard and COMES URBAN SPRAWL.

not in violation of side yard requirements). Staff is also cre-
ating a zoning Overlay map so that Rockridge will not be
viewed as trying to change the zoning laws for the whole City.

Q BRADLEY inm~n. FBG. Au VenTs RESERVED

SS

Y
In addition, the Planning Department is reviewing the possibil- G
ity of requiring a use permit for any situation in which there is October 15 - 16, 1988 Y
found to be a number of leases in one dwelling in an R-30 or For ticket information call Y
R-35 zone. These proposals will be submitted for your serious Vera, 652-7404, or Pam, 655-0483 Y
consideration at the next RCPC meeting. Proceeds benefit Y

City Government Changes Proposed St. Augustine School Parent’s Group
On another topic, the next election ballot will have a pro-

posal to restructure the executive level of our City. This
measure has been proposed to help the transition of Oakland’s

MON

YY

government structure from one appropriate to a small city to Potato Pie

one more fitting for an energetic growing metropolitan area. ae

The measure provides for recognizing that the Mayor’s office Pr i. S chool/D ay Car C
is actually a full time job and that it should be compensated ¢ Quality Teachers / 6:1 ratio

accordingly to bring out the best talent. The salary range ° Spacious, Nurturing Home & Play Yard

proposed is between $70,000 and $90,000 with the actual salary - Lightly Structured, Individualized Program
to be set by the City Council.

Th ¢ Multi-Ethnic Enrollment & Learning Materials
e measure also specifically requires the Mayor to prepare

and present a State of the City message indicating priorities for * Across from Chabot School

future development and to direct preparation of the budget. The 658-9579

Council’s powers with regard to budget preparation are also | \t
increased by authorizing them to set the time, manner and form perrere., 6

of budget presentation. Presently, the only budget requirement

in the Charter is that the City Manager must submit the budget | DRYCLEAN-US.A. ———

to the Council by May 30 for adoption by July 1 of the same VQ ie | fF { \
year. With on-line, real-time budget determination capability

about to be in place with the new financial management soft- | | DRYCLEAN USA

ware programs, it makes sense for the Mayor and Council to IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE OPENING
fully participate in budget development. This Charter measure

will authorize this change. | OF A NEW STORE AT
If you wish to discuss these or other issues, please call me 9701 COLLEGE AVENUE!
or my administrative assistant, Bill Lowe, at 273-3266. COME IN AND MEET THE NEW OWNERS...

Marge Gibson—Haskell
City Council District 1 BS

BOB & KATHLEEN LORBEER

—— ee Ee ee ee ee er ee ————————Eo ee

Page 7

September 17, 1988

College Avenue
from page 2.

property line and covering only part of the
site.

These kinds of positive improvements
to the street life of College Avenue do not
happen by themselves, nor do they hap-
pen each lime an Opportunity presents
itself, They only result from leadership
and the commitment to quality of certain
property owners and merchants; day-to-
day interest and assistance, including
enforcement actions, from public officials
and staff at City Hall; and the benevolent
interest in College Avenue as actively
pursued by both the College Avenue Mer-
chants’ Association and RCPC,

Bigger Changes In The Years Ahead

Even bigger changes and opportuni-
ties face College Avenue in the years
ahead. Each one of these changes will
exert a significant impact on the distinc-
tive character and life style of College
Avenue.

Five opportunities immediately come
to mind. First, College Avenue needs a
detailed plan for public improvements,
e.g., Street trees, paving materials, street
furniture, illumination and other types of
appropriate urban landscaping. The in-
tent is not to gussy up the place or even to
suggest changes just for the sake of
change, but rather to review and develop
specific standards to provide guidance to
private property owners for making off-
site improvements and to establish and
coordinate policy with the City of
Oakland.

Second, changes in use and site devel-
opment of large properties with major
frontages along College Avenue, e.g., Art
Stone, Dreyer’s, will dramatically alter
the physical appearance and feeling of
College Avenue and nearby residential
areas, and will send a message far beyond
Rockridge as to future directions and
types of investment opportunities wel-

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The Rockridge News

comed within our community.

Third, design and land use changes to
the Highway 24/Rockridge BART station
property are likely within the next five to
ten years. Recently, several developers
have submitted proposals for residential
and commercial development of BART
property at the Rockridge station. Also,
there have been informal discussions
regarding the possibility of building a
second deck to accommodate even more
parking at this station. A key question in
any future change to this huge public
property is what to do with the extensive
frontage on both sides of College Avenue,
which, due to its present hollow and in-
hospitable character, contributes nega-
tively to life on the street.

Fourth, future decisions regarding on-
and off-street parking facilities will deter-
mine what kind of street life College
Avenue will enjoy. If more and more off-
Street parking spaces are provided for
College Avenue businesses, more and
more automobile traffic will be generated
by the increase in parking capacity. This
additional automobile traffic will produce
additional pollution and require the use of
space that could be put to other uses, and
will add to congestion already present on
College Avenue. With more parking and
more traffic, life on the street for pedestri-
ans will suffer.

And fifth, RCPC initiated preparation
of the Rockridge Area Specific Plan
(RASP) last year. (For background and
more details on this community-based
planning project, see issue no. 13 of The
Rockridge News, April 11, 1987.) When
this plan is completed, it will include
specific recommendations which address
future land uses, site development guide-
lines, traffic circulation, and provisions
for on- and off-street parking. Unques-
tionably many of the plan’s recommenda-
tions will be geared to College Avenue,
the spine and central meeting place of the

Rockridge community.

Feedback

from page 1.

SSO —

and residential areas. Many groups urged
that the meeting agendas should be
printed in the Tribune and Montclarion to
improve public notice.

To this attendee, the most exciting
result of the meeting was the increased
potential for communication between
neighborhoods. Community groups have
now heard issues on their own blocks
defined as common problems with poten-
tial City-wide solutions. A mailing list
informally passed through the audience
drew names and addresses of over 100
neighborhood representatives who want
to stay in touch. As a member of the
Piedmont Avenue Neighborhood Im-
provement League (PANIL), I look for-
ward to increased contact with RCPC and
with groups from other parts of the City.

— Valerie Winemiller

St. Albert’s Priory Holds
Fourth Annual Wine

Tasting And Auction

The fourth annual St. Albert’s Priory
Wine Tasting and Auction will be held on
Sunday, September 25, 1988 from 1:30 to
4:30 PM at the Dominican House of Stud-
ies, 5890 Birch Court, Oakland.

A commemorative glass, entertain-
ment, hors d’oeuvres and winetasting are
yours with each ticket, priced at $15.
Admission and all donations are tax de-
ductible.

Wineries hosting the pouring include
Louis M. Martini, Robert Pepi, Christian
Brothers, Robert Keenan Winery, Cha-
teau Potelle, Plam Vineyards, Quail
Ridge, Gallo, Lolonis, and Korbel Win-
ery. California wines, some rarely offered
for auction, and selections from private
collections will be available for bid.

Mail ticket orders to the Priory at 5890
Birch Court, Oakland, 94618. They will
be held at the door. Tickets will also be
available at the door. More information?
654-5725.

Housecleaning/Gardening
Mrs. Sae Chao — Housecleaning
Mr. Sae Chao — Gardening & Hauling

$7/Hr., Very Reliable 232-9680
(Local reference: Nancy McKay — 654-0649)

Page 8 The Rockridge News September 17, 1988

g New At Chimes a

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Including most new releases: ET, DOA, The Last
Emperor, White Mischief, Broadcast News, Da,

Hairspray, and many more...
Renting for only 1.70 or 2 for 2.50
New Releases and

Adult Titles: 2.50 or 2 for 4.00

Postage Stamps At Face Value
We now sell 25¢ stamps and books of 25¢ stamps

MAC /1BM/ Laser Printing = at face value for your convenience...
| Hot Dogs
FAX & TELEX SERVICES Be Delicious all beef hot dogs now available— $1.00
= Come to the CAMA Sidewalk Sale Saturday, -
- HIGH QUALITY COPIES +» COMPUTER CLASSES | October 8 from 1lam to 4 pm. We’re having our | |
* LASER COPYING & CONSULTING sai ‘ation Day P Ss
- BINDERY SERVICES * COMPUTER/GRAPHIC a 2nd annual Customer Appreciation Jay arly. 2
+ BUSINESS CARDS & DESIGN | This marks our 23rd year at this location! Please 4
Tee eal * WORD PROCESSING oe join us. We'll have free Hot Dogs and RY
* UPS SHI S * BUSINESS, OFFICE & ee :
» PRIVATE MAIL BOXES | COMPUTER SUPPLIES - Popcom for your enjoyment. ~
ae Raffle Drawing Saturday, October 8 at 4 pm. SS
6 5 4 6 50 4 _|Stop by between October 1 and October 8 and fill out an entry}
rr ~|form for our RAFFLE. The grand prize is a VCR; there will | |
ees also be gift certificates, a basketball, and lots of other prizes! |: |
5856 College Avenue M-Th 8am-9pm Ss No purchase necessary. Need not be presentto win. fs
Oakland, CA 94618 Fi Sam-Spm as rc

FAX: 415-654-1133 Sun 10am-6pm ~<| | Present this coupon for a Free small Popcorn with any
See purchase or rent 2 Videos For The Price of One.
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Valid until September 30, 1988

ss «4 ©

oes @ eet

—— - es "]

<< 7 AM to Midnight 7 Days A Week

“sees re

a

~~ \Y 5642 College Avenue At Rockndge BART ye

SS 428-9256 Pass
The Rockridge News is published monthly in Oakland
except in August and is sponsored by The Rockridge
Community Planning Council. |
FEATURING Got something planned you'd like to have The Rockridge
GRA i EO COFFEES News tell about? Call Don Kinkead at 655-7474 or write to
5626 Oak Grove Avenue, Oakland 94618 (of course!) and let
5405 College Ave e Oakland * 658-9622 ae enw
Open M-F 8-6 « Sat & Sun 8-4 ae
P @- October issue deadline is October 6th.

eS —_—AJe @2@& 2] -~* ot af

owe Se Be ee Ort +e GS. 1.2" 4-08 *+ 2?

Prat b> ae See Ss OO

Os ee

Special Supplement To The Rockridge News m September 17, 1988 |

Getting Results:

i
|
'
'
!

This special supplement of The Rock-
ridge News presents the first results from
the survey of Rockridge residents and
College Avenue property owners.

Next month, we plan to publish
the results of the merchants’
survey, just now getting under
way. Before we get into this

believe that if a vision for Rockridge can
be forged that merchants and renters and
property owners can support, that vision
will be the best and most solid foundation

DEMOGRAPHICS:

RESIDENT’S SURVEY
751 RESPONDENTS |

The Survey Of Rockridge Residents
& College Avenue Property Owners

second with how you’d like it to improve

in the future.
The “Today” part focused on the mix

of businesses on the Avenue: as this mix

month’s results, we’d like to

a ns

explain how the results will be
used.

SPECIFIC PLAN
The residents’, merchants’, and
Avenue property owners’ surveys
are the first step toward a new set
of rules and guidelines to manage

TYPE OF RESIDENCY RESPONDENT'S AREA OF RESIDENCE
West of College/South of the Freeway 193 (26 %)
sd ren cot ad West of College/North of the Freeway 167 (22%)
Renters 190 (25 %) East of College/South of the Freeway 205 (27%)
Not Indicated 24 (3 %) East of College/North of the Freeway 162 (22%)
Not Indicated 24 (3%)

the Rockridge Area Specific Plan (RASP).
Your answers to the survey questions will
form the basis for the Plan’s contents.

Based on your input from the surveys,
RCPC will draw up some draft goals and
objectives for the Plan - and we emphasize
the word draft!

The draft goals and objectives will be
presented to you for review and critique at
a series of four community meetings,
planned for late October/early November.
Each meeting will cover a particular
subject: commercial land use; residential
land use; design and open space; parking
and circulation. When we reach a
consensus on the goals and objectives,
they will be incorporated into a work
program to guide the City in its prepara-
tion of the Specific Plan.

Yes, we said “consensus”. The point
of this part of the planning process is to
build a consensus on the future of our
community. The extent to which this can
be achieved remains to be seen: different
people do have different interests. Yet we

the future development of our community: |

upon which to plan for the future.
DEMOGRAPHICS

The surveys were distributed to about
4.500 residents as an insert in the June
Rockridge News, and to about 200
Avenue property owners by mail. We
sorted the residents’ responses by tenancy
(own or rent) and by area of residence.

Response to both surveys was good:

17 % for the residents and 27 % for the
Avenue property owners.

Renters are significantly under-repre-
sented. While 1980 census data suggest
up to 50 % of Rockridge residents are ren-
ters, renters comprise only 25 % of our
respondents. In general, however, renters’
preferences tend to be similar to home-
owners’. The most notable exception is
rental housing, which renters consistently
rank far higher in preference order than do

homeowners.
TODAY AND THE FUTURE

The surveys had two groups of ques-
tions: the first group dealt with your views
of College Avenue as it is today, the

—

Goals & Objectives, was made possible by a

\ —_

Funding for this project, RASP Stage One:
generous donation from Pacific Bell and a substantial grant from the City of Oakland

Community Development Block Grant Fund. RCPC gratefully acknowledges the support and
assistance of the North Oakland Community Development Committee.

tl

has changed over the years, have we
gotten to the point where there are too
many of some things and too few of
others? Are there other activities the
Avenue should include? The “Future”
part then asked you to think in broader
terms about how the Avenue should look,
and what role it should play in the
community. What kinds of new develop-
ment, if any, should we encourage? What
physical form (low-rise, mid-rise) should
it take? What public amenities are most
desirable? How could parking be im-
proved?

Now, the results. At this stage in the
process, we felt it was important to present
only the results, without trying to interpret
them. You will want to form your own
ideas on what they mean... and bring
those ideas to the community meetings!
We first present what you said you'd like
the Avenue to become, and then what you
had to say about the Avenue as it is today.

Included among the tabulations are
quotes of remarks people put on their
survey forms. They have been chosen to
reflect the variety of responses and are not
necessarily indicative of the general
community point of view.

— Kerry O'Banion, Chair
RCPC/RASP Committee
658-1608

- he . y ; mn - . .
: - Vo eae BaP OF, der, Vs U4 2: r rk “Ae rg ell el a?

i a ee ae ee ee ee eee Se ee ee en ee a ne a ee ee en a EE ee
4

D Survey Resutts: Rockridge Residents & College Avenue Property Owners
SE ea

“Keep Rockridge a neighborhood,

“More ‘feeder’ public transit,
not a shopping mall.

If I wanted to live in the suburbs, I would.” specifically s05 5S) a

mini-vans, etc.”

“We love this neighborhood!”

“BART: this is where to put public utilities
like a post office, library, restrooms, notice
boards, and so on.”

COLLEGE AVENUE OF THE FUTURE
RESIDENTS AVENUE PROPERTY OWNERS
TOTAL OwN RENT TOTAL
What would be the 3 MOST desirable public amenities for Rockridge? | |
New library S 63 % 65 % 60 % 47 %
More trees/landscaping 51% 51% 57 % 22 %
Remove billboards 33 % 34 % 29 % 37 %
Underground utility lines 27 % 30 % 18 % 33 %
Recreation facility 26 % 24 % 32 % 4%
More beat cops 25 % 27 % 18 % 21 %
More trash cans 20 % 18 % 23 % 35 %
More seating 15 % 14% 16 % 18 %
Public restrooms 12 % 9% 19 % 4%
More lighting 8 % 8 % 8 % 0 %
More bike racks 6 % 4% 9% 0%
Kiosks/notice boards 5 % 3% 7 % 0 %
Which of these alternative futures for College Avenue would you like BEST?
More local services oriented to residents 54 % 56 % 50 % 21 %
Just the way it is today 18 % 19 % 15 % 31%
More specialty food and retail shops 9% 9 % 9% 19 %
More rental housing along the Avenue/around BART 7 % 5 % 14 % 7 %
More offices including at ground level 1% 1 % 0% 4%
Other 5 % 5 % 6 % 4%
Which of these alternative futures for the BART station would you like BEST?
More BART parking on second deck under freeway 40 % 41 % 34 % 44 %
Second deck with shops/apartments on frontage 25 % 24 % 26 % 15 %
The way it is now (surface parking lot) 22 % 22 % 24 % 24 %
Shops/apartments but no more BART parking 4% 4% 5 % 9%
Other 4% _ 4% 4% 0 %
Which of these “looks” for College Avenue would you prefer? __ ES
The way it is now (1-3 story mix) 78 % 78 % 82 % 60 %
Continuous 2-3 story frontage 11 % 12 % 11 % 15 %
Taller buildings at key points 3% 3 % 3 % 13 %
Other 3 % 3 % 3 % 0 %
What would be the 3 MOST desirable measures to improve parking? |
More BART parking on BART site 57 % 58 % 56 % 53 %
Increase parking requirements for new development 57 % 59 % 52 % 45 %
Parking permits for residents 41 % 41 % 40 % 27 %
Off-street parking lots on College Ave 33 % 33 % 29 % 46 %
Shared use of BART lot 30 % 27 % 35 % 30 %
Peripheral parking lots with shuttle 12 % 12 % 12 % 3 %

SURVEY RESULTS: Rockridge Residents & College Avenue Property Owners 3
LT a TS a FS TE I a

“We want constant changes— that’s what makes life

exciting and unpredictable. You sound like a bunch of

old hippies and social workers. Get ahold of

yourselves!”

“MORE STREET FAIRS,
COMMUNITY CARNIVALS!”

COLLEGE AVENUE TODAY

RESIDENTS AVENUE PROPERTY OWNERS
TYPE OF ACTIVITY
| TOTAL Own RENT TOTAL
What 3 activities would you most like to see LESS of?

Used/antique furniture 15 % 14 % 19 % 16 %
Bars 15 % 14 % 15 % 20 %
Hair stylists 12 % 10 % 18 % 0%
Video stores 10 % 9% 14 % 4%
Restaurants 10 % 10 % 11 % 16 %
Laundries/dry cleaners 9% 10 % 6 % 12 %
Thrift/resale stores 8% 8% 7% 12 %
Fast food 6 % 6 % 6 % 0%
Clothing stores 5 % 4% 6 % 0%

Note: 8 % of Avenue Property Owners indicated real estate/insurance; no other category over 4 %.

What 3 activities would you most like to see MORE of?

Bookstores

Housing: rental

Child care/preschools
Housing: senior
Restaurants

Clothing stores
Housing: low income
Banks

Specialty foods
Professional services

28 %
13 %
11%
10 %
8 %
8 %
8 %
7%
6 %
5 %

28 %
7 %
12 %
10 %
9%
8 %
4%
5%
7%
4%

31%
29 %
10 %
10 %
6 %
7%
17 %
11 %
6 %
6 %

12 %
12 %
12 %
8 %
0 %
16 %
0 %
4%
0 %
8 %

Note: No other Avenue Property Owner category over 4 %.

What other activities would you like to see on College Avenue?

Hardware store

Park/play ground

Library

Pharmacy/drug store
Community center/theater
Sidewalk cafes

Cinema

Art gallery

Fairs

Parking facility

21%
12 %
8 %
8 %
7%
5%
5 %
4%
4%
4%

“For the most part, I like the current
balance of shops/restaurants/etc., but I
think we need more greenery. A small
grassy park would make this an ideal

neighborhood.”

24 %
12 %
9%
9%
8 %
4%
5 %
4%
3%
4%

16 %
14%
S %
S %
7%
7%
3 %
5S %
7%
2 %

8 %
4%
4%
4%
4%
0 %
0 %
0 %
4%
4%

Note: No other Avenue Property Owner category over 4 %.

“Let’s humanize, not commercialize.
Enough! This is not Union Street,
San Francisco.”

Pr -
¥ -
i +
“

See ce ee ee eee eee eer re Fee eerie ee ee I i oe ee eee ee ee ee ee

4 Survey Resutts: Rockridge Residents & College Avenue Property Owners
SA TR TT TE

“We really need a place for our Jr. High kids

and teens to gather. “How about more BART parking

ou
“I like Rockridge as a ‘village’.” underground:

COLLEGE AVENUE Topay (CONTINUED)

For the following list of business types, please say whether there are too many, too few, or just the right amount:

RESIDENTS AVENUE PROPERTY OWNERS

TYPE OF BUSINESS Too ABOUT Too Too ABOUT Too
MANY RIGHT Few MANY RIGHT Few

Banks 2% 73 % 18 % 0 % 65 % 0 %
Bars 19 % 68 % 4% 23 % 62 % 0 %
Book stores 1 % 42 % 50 % 4% 54 % 23 %
Childcare/preschools 3 % 49 % 26 % 0 % 54 % 19 %
Clothing stores 14 % 56 % 23 % 8 % 35 % 27 %
Florists 11 % 75 % 6 % 4% 73 % 8 %
Gas stations 9% 77 % 7 % 4% 81 % 4%
Gift stores 18 % 61 % 12% 0 % 65 % 12 %
Hair stylists 31% 56 % 3 % 27 % 50 % 4%
Housing: rental 12 % 42 % 27 % 0% 46 % 23 %
Housing: senior 2% 33 % 42 % 4% 46 % 23 %
Housing: low income 12 % 36 % 26 % 4% 58 % 23 %
Laundries/dry cleaners 21 % 64 % 5 % 15 % 62 % 0%
Printers/copiers 11% 72 % 9% 0 % 81 % 0 %
Professional services 7 % 64 % 14% 4% 65 % 8 %
Real estate/insurance 18 % 69 % 2 % 12 % 69 % 8 %
Restaurant 22 % 64 % 9% 19 % 54 % 12 %
Specialty foods 12 % 70 % 10 % 4% 62 % 15 %
Supermarkets 3 % 86 % 5 % 0 % 77 % 8 %
Thrift/resale stores 19% 67 % 7 % 19 % 62 % 0%
Travel agencies 8 % 80 % 4% 0 % 77 % 4%
Used/antique furniture 33 % 56 % 3 % 23 % 54 % 0%
Video stores 22 % 67 % 2 % 12 % 65 % 0 %

Thank you for your time and help completing this survey!

Come to the community meetings in October and November to discuss the re-
sults and frame the next steps for the Rockridge Area Specific Plan (RASP).

Read The Rockridge News for dates and times.

— The RASP Committee