Extracted text · highlighting “Property Develop-”

The

Rockridge News

Sponsored by = THE ROCKRIDGE COMMUNITY PLANNING CoUNCIL * 5856 COLLEGE AVENUE #130" OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA" 94618

RCPC Board
Submits 50 Pages
Of Comments

Meeting the May 8 deadline for public
comment on the Dreyer’s Draft Environ-
mental Impact Report (EIR), the Board of
Directors of the Rockridge Community
Planning Council (RCPC) turned in more
than SO pages of written comments detail-
ing inadequacies of the report evaluating
impacts of the office building the
Dreyer’s corporation proposes for the site
of its current College Avenue facility.

Commenting on the neighborhood or-

we ganization’s response to the document,

RCPC Chair Barbara Anderson said, “We
are very disappointed with the Draft EIR.
It is deficient, misleading and incomplete,
especially given the proposed project’s
size and potential impacts on the Rock-
ridge community.”

Because of the shortcomings found in
the EIR analysis, RCPC maintains the
traffic, parking, noise and air pollution
sections of the report must be redone.

According to comments made by the
RCPC Board, the EIR does not ade-
quately address the enormous size and
bulk of the proposed building, relative to
its surroundings, and either fails to iden-
tify or completely ignores other important
impacts.

The Board also contends that the re-
port does not meet legal requirements
because it does not seriously discuss the
growth-inducing effects of the project, the

See RCPC Board, page 2

Rockridge Attacks Dreyer’s Project EIR

Cr

Dreyer’s Today And Tomorrow?

Left panel shows College Avenue frontage
Right panel shows how the same section of College Avenue might look if the building
were built according to current plans.

i T ]

(ep sere Pic a Coe
PCT TT
fi ara FARICHEl ARH

| MOMS oo

of present Dreyer’s headquarters facility.

Board Cites Deficiencies, Miscalculations,
Oversights In Environmental Report

A SUMMARY OF BoaRD COMMENTS

The Dreyer's project has sparked consid-
erable controversy within the Rockridge com-
munity. Many concerned Rockridge residents
have expressed their views about the project at
community-wide meetings, working group
sessions, or in written form. In addition, some
two dozen individuals participated in a de-
tailed review of the draft Environmental Im-
pact Report (EIR) for the project. Under the
direction of the RCPC Board of Directors, the
reviewers’ comments have been consolidated,
for submission to the City of Oakland.

To a substantial degree, these comments
represent a consensus response on the part of
the Rockridge community.

A number of critical deficiencies, miscal-
culations, and oversights recur throughout the
draft EIR. The problems revealed in the EIR

are not merely superficial, but go to the core of
the document. The RCPC reviewers con-
cluded that the current EIR document does not
begin to meet the requirements of the Califor-
nia Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (Cali-
fornia Public Resources Code Section 21000
et seq.).

Tue Drarr EIR IMprorer_y RELIES ON
Data DESCRIPTIVE OF Prior, Not
Current Uses ON THE ProJect SITE

Much of the data and analysis in the draft
EIR show signs of having been prepared for a
previous project proposed by Dreyer’s. The
former project would have involved some
expansion of the office space, and would have
incorporated a then-existing non-conforming
use — the ice cream factory — into the use of
the site.

Largely because of the recent removal of
See Summary Comments, page 2

Dates Calendar Events Calendar Dates

Wednesday Mayl17 1:30pm Planning Commission City Hall, Room 115. Regular meeting.
— Wednesday May17 7:30pm RCPC General Meeting College Avenue Presbyterian Church, 5951 College Avenue.
Dreyer’s EIR; Landscape and Lighting District, Grove Street Campus
Wednesday May24 7:30pm Planning Commission City Hall, Room 115: Public Hearing On Dreyer’s Proposal

>
Summary Comments, from page 1. | —

The Rockridge News

May 13, 1989

the factory use, the existing conditions on the
site have changed from those which prevailed
during the data collection and preparation of
the draft EIR. Much of the data used in the
traffic, noise, and air quality analysis ranges
back two years or more, and reflects the then-
existing factory use on the site. Such informa-
tion does not, however, accurately represent
the current conditions, with which the physical
and related environmental effects of any future
Projects must be compared. This problem is
pervasive in the draft EIR. The report attempts
to smooth over the problem by characterizing
the replacement of the factory as part of the
proposed project; as has already been pointed
out, however, the removal of the factory is an
accomplished fact.

Accordingly, the EIR must address itself to
a new set of existing conditions. Without
proper baseline assumptions, founded on the
actual and current uses at the time the draft EIR
is under public review, the report cannot accu-
rately identify the actual environmental effects
of the proposed actions, the needed mitigation
measures, etc. At a minimum, this means that
the City’s EIR consultants and their sub-con-
sultants, must re-test for data conceming
physical and related environmental effects,
and re-analyze the new data together with such
previously gathered information as is still rele-
vant.

An EIR is nota shell game. It is supposed
to be a candid and honest discussion of envi-
ronmental effects, mitigation measures, and
alternatives. To try to determine the effects of
the Dreyer’s project using a baseline other than
the current mixed office and retail use of the
site is a sham, and makes a mockery of CEQA.

Tue Drart EIR Icnores
Furure FoRESEEABLE Uses

Much of the analysis regarding the impact
of the project is based on an assumption that
there would be 164 employees on site once the
project is completed. This assumption in-
cludes a projected 150 office employees, a
figure which severely underestimates the po-
tential and likely number of office workers.

The proposed office building would be just
under 50,000 square feet. A conventional,
standard ratio for presumed office occupancy
is 200 square feet per employee. Utilizing this
ratio, the office building will easily accommo-
date 250 office employees, as compared with
the 150 projected in the EIR. Dreyer’s own
employee count is only part of the equation,
since the company can lease out any extra
office space and has indicated in past discus-
sions that it will consider doing so.

May 24, 7:30 p.m.
Room 115 Crry HAL
Pusiic Hearinc ON Dreyer’s EIR
AND HEADQUARTERS PROPOSAL

According to recent legal decisions, an
EIR has to take into account future expansion
or action “if it is a reasonably foreseeable
consequence of the initial project.”

The issue of reasonably foreseeable use of
the site is a relevant one. Dreyer’s alleges that
its goal in building the project is to meet its
future as well as current needs, and those
foreseeable future needs must be taken into
account. Moreover, whatever Dreyer’s em-
ployment and leasing plans, the project, once
constructed would be a permanent improve-
ment, marketable to another owner for office
and commercial uses, and would be capable of
an employee occupancy level far above that
specified in the draft EIR.

In terms of foreseeable future develop-
ments, it is also important to acknowledge that
the proposed project incorporates a vast ex-
panse of parking space, which could be devel-
oped for supplemental office or commercial
usage so long as off-street parking require-
ments are met with the addition of a multi-
level parking structure.

Nor is this idle speculation. Dreyer’s
insistence on encroaching onto residential
property lies at the heart of its plans. To do so
to meet parking needs does not suggest a
higher and economically lucrative use.
Rather, it suggests that the transformation in
uses that would be involved is intended to pave
the way for future office and commercial
development on what would then be undevel-
oped space. It irreversibly peels land away
from the residential zone, awaiting the ulti-
mate development. This potential expansion
of the initial project is a foreseeable event that
would have a substantial environmental im-
pact. An EIR which does not seriously con-
sider foreseeable consequences, and which
simply takes as a given the project sponsor’s
description of its present plans is not adequate.
The failure to address these issues compro-
mises the entire EIR, and further attests to its
legal insufficiency.

Tue Drart EIR Fats TO ACCOUNT FOR
THE CUMULATIVE EFFECTS OF RECENT
AND ANTICIPATED PROJECTS IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD OF THE PROJECT SITE

An EIR is not adequate unless it takes into
account the environmental effects of the pro-
posed project in light of the cumulative effects
of other reasonably foreseeable projects within
the relevant area. To meet this requirement, an
adequate EIR needs to include a comprehen-
sive list of all potentially foreseeable projects
which may have related effects, whether or not
they all are eventually construct; a summation
of the effects of the related projects; and a
reasonable analysis of their cumulative im-
pact.

This EIR only haphazardly discusses
cumulative effects. It makes no attempt to list

all relevant projects. Nor does it address in any
systematic fashion the effects of those proj-
ects. Worst of all, it dismisses cumulative
effects as an issue whenever critical levels of
concentration, for example, traffic density or
air pollutants, have been exceeded.

Tue Drart EIR Gives ONLY

Pro Forma ATTENTION TO
GRowTH-INDUCING EFFECTS,
UNAVOIDABLE SIGNIFICANT ADVERSE
IMPACTS, AND PROJECT ALTERNATIVES

A major deficiency of the draft EIR is its
failure to analyze seriously the proposed pro-
ject’s growth inducing effects, unavoidable
significant adverse impacts, and alternatives.
It consistently downplays and dismisses the
importance of these factors. Basically, it
ignores the growth-inducing effects of the
project in terms of generating other develop-
ments favoring large commercial projects and
disfavoring residential uses; discounts severe
adverse impacts which cannot be mitigated;
and sidesteps obvious, and even economically
lucrative alternatives.

In short, the discussion of these critical
requirements of an EIR is as weak and impov-
erished as to be insulting. To the extent that
the project sponsor is responsible for the
approach contained in the draft EIR, it exem-
plifies a form of corporate arrogance that is
disrespectful of Rockridge residents and mer-
chants, and that seeks to take advantage of a
beleaguered and understaffed City Planning
Department. Most importantly, from a legal
standpoint, there is no way that the draft EIR
passes statutory muster. It is not the kind of
document that discloses the information nec-
essary to make informed and reasonable deci-
sions about the proposed project.

— Ed. Note: The above is abstracted from the in-
troduction to the RCPC Comments on the Draft EIR
prepared by Mr. John Gussman and Mr. Mark Aar-
onson.

RCPC Board, from page 1

cumulative impact of this and other nearby
projects, or feasible alternatives to the
Dreyer’s proposal.

Discussing the shortcomings of the EIR,
Mrs. Anderson pointed out that if industry
standards of floor area per employee were
applied to the proposed office building floor
area, the projected number of office workers
should be at least 250 rather than 150 —
66% higher than is assumed in the Draft
EIR.

The Dreyer’s proposal calls for a three-
story, 59,108 square foot office building and
a 132 car parking lot with entrances and ex-
its on Chabot Road and on Claremont Ave-
nue. To build the project, the company

See RCPC Board, page 7

May 13, 1989

The Rockridge News Page 3

City Proposes
Assessment District
~ To Replace City Tax

Representatives of the City Manager’s
office will discuss a City proposal to
create a Landscaping and Lighting As-
sessment District and eliminate the Mu-
nicipal Services Tax at the RCPC General
Meeting, Wednesday, May 17, 7:30 p.m.,
at the College Avenue Presbyterian
Church.

Details of the proposal are also pre-
sented in a brochure to be mailed to prop-
erty owners announcing the Public Hear-
ing on the proposal to be held June 1 at the
Oakland Convention Center.

According to the brochure, the Land-
scaping and Lighting District will provide
funds for specified services including
sidewalk repair, and maintenance of street
lights, recreational facilities, trees, and
parks and grounds, thus freeing money for
other services. For example, under the
proposal the cost of landscaping and light-
ing (approximately $13,000,000 per year)
will no longer be paid from the General
Fund. This would permit current levels of

“— Police, Fire and other vital services to be

maintained.

The RCPC Board of Directors wrote
to the Mayor and City Council to request
that two possibilities for public participa-
tion in the budget process that were cre-
ated by Measure M be included in the
Assessment District: establishment of a
citizens budget advisory commission and
preparation by the City of a 5 year finan-
cial plan. The Mayor completed appoint-
ments to the advisory commission April
25. Rockridge residents Ms. Theresa
Nelson and Mr. Randy Hamilton are
among appointees to the commission.

AC Transit Sees Changes Ahead...

Changes Ahead is the title of a pamphlet published by AC Transit to announce
proposed route and schedule changes for AC Transit busses. About a year ago AC
Transit began developing a new Comprehensive Service Plan (CSP), the first major al-
teration of the system’s routes in 50 years.

AC Transit has prepared a revised version of the CSP, but RCPC only received the
information on April 20, too late for last month’s newsletter.

Using information gathered at workshops, community meetings and other sources
such as letters and petitions, AC Transit will seek Board approval of the first phase of
the CSP, affecting North Oakland significantly. Details of the new routes and sched-
ules have not been finalized, but these are the plans as they now stand:

The 52 line will now run at 15 minute intervals from Montclair to North Berkeley via College
and Telegraph, and the 17 line, will serve the Emeryville shopping areas via College and
Alcatraz. The 17 will no longer serve Chabot and Presley, but will simply loop around the
western half of the BART parking lot. The 51 will continue to run from the Berkeley Marina
to downtown Oakland via University, College, and Broadway; the 51A will no longer exist, but
there will be a new limited stop version of the 51, the 51L. The 65 will no longer run to
Rockridge BART, but its route will be replaced by the 7 bus. Van service will be provided from
Florence Avenue and Broadway Terrace at half-hour intervals to Rockridge. The EX will be

replaced by the 105X, and the E will be discontinued.

The new plan raises several concerns. First, many residents are anxious to maintain
the current 17 service. Supporters have collected more than 170 signatures to keep the
line as itis. Second, the infrequent service to the Broadway Terrace area is a problem.
The RCPC Board has written a letter to AC Transit stating these concerns.

If you are interested in the future of public transit in our area, please make an effort
to investigate and respond to these changes. RCPC has provided the Rockridge Branch
Library with a map of the new Service Plan, and a 17-page document detailing the
reasons for the changes. Please ask the librarian, or visit AC Transit headquarters at 1600
Franklin Street in downtown Oakland for copies.

If you have not been able to attend the Board meetings or the workshops, write your
comments to: Board of Directors, AC Transit, 1600 Franklin Street, Oakland 94612.

— Bill Manley, Co-Chair, RCPC Traffic Committee (658-2419)

Be A Coupon Clipper

Spring is in the air and an envelope is Please take a moment now to fill out

in your newsletter.

This is a part of RCPC’s on-going
intermittant fund-raising drive to help pay
for preparation and publication of the
Rockridge News and to pay for the xer-
oxing, postage, and other expenses neces-
sary to maintain a free flow of information
throughout the Rockridge neighborhood.

the coupon and return it with your check
for an appropriate amount. This is a tax
deductible donation.

Thanks for your help and thanks to all
those who have already donated. It is not
possible to thank you all individually but
your help is important and appreciated.

— Don Kinkead, Treasurer, RCPC

_— i a N

(RockripcE COMMUNITY PLANNING CouNcIL DONATION Form)

Yes!

|

|

| Enroll Me as a Supporting Donor to the Rockridge Community Planning Council!
| Ihave enclosed a check payable to RCPC for my tax-deductible donation for a year’s registration
| and other support areas I have checked off:
|

|

|

|

Suggested minimum; $10 per category

we : Don Kinkead
[| $ Registration Donation 5626 Oak Grove Avenue
Oakland, CA 94618
[ | $ Rockridge News Donation

|
|
|
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|
Mail to: |
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|
|
|

Thank you!

Page 4

The Rockridge News

May 13, 1989

From The
Zoning Counter

DREYER’s GRAND IcE CREAM
ER 88.17/CMD 86-101

The Public Hearing on the Environ-
mental Impact Report (EIR) and the pro-
posed Dreyer’s headquarters office proj-
ect will be held on May 24, 1989, 7:30
P.M., Room 115, City Hall.

Sa Sd Sa

5819 Lawron AVENUE
Fite No. V89-105

The applicant’s request for a variance
to exceed the 30 foot height limit was
denied by the Planning Director. The ap-
plicant’s appeal will be heard at a Plan-
ning Commission Public Hearing on May
10th. The Planning Commission’s deci-
sion is final, as there is no appeal to the
City Council on Minor Variances.

Sa Sg Sd

5801 PresLey Way
Fite No. M89-143
Hearing Date: May 17, 1989,1:30 p.m.,
City Hall, Room 115.

The applicant is requesting a waiver of
the moratorium prohibiting issuance of
building and other permits for the con-
struction of additional bedrooms (sleep-
ing rooms) at an existing single family
residence for a total of five or more sleep-
ing rooms.

The applicant is an owner-occupant
who has resided at the subject property for
the past two years. The owner wants to
place a door between the existing house
and a two-room area not accessible from
the interior of the house. The reason for
the request is that once the door opening
is made, the total number of sleeping
rooms will be five.

The Public Works/Land Use Commit-
tee of the City Council passed on a recom-
mendation to the Council for an ordinance
which would replace the current morato-
rium. The ordinance would exempt
owner occupants of over one year from
regulation.

Sa Sa Sd

a
?

The Great Rockridge Garbage Gig is over for another year. Wave a fond farewell
to truckloads of yard clippings, tree trimmings, and light urban detritus collected under
the auspices of the Clean Oakland Program by a small army of Rockridge volunteers.

Thanks to all who showed up to help load the truck on several lovely Saturdays.
Thanks, too, to the Neighbors who carefully bagged or wrapped their contributions,

then came out to assist with the loading.

Above all and always, thanks to Mrs. Gity Baxter who organized, supervised and
vitalized this important community activity.
A pat on the back and everlasting thanks to these intrepid Saturday volunteers:

Rockridge Representatives from
last year’s garbage trek pictured
at a recogniton ceremony held at
the Lake Merritt Boat House.
LtoR: Doug Olsen, Esther
McFeeley, Nancy Dutcher, Bobbie
Kinkead, Don Kinkead, Bob
Baxter, Gity Baxter, with Mayor
Wilson, DPW Director Terry
Roberts and Clean Oakland
Official Godfrey James.

Gity Baxter Bob Baxter Bill Trawick Sheila Rick Benson

Nancy Dutcher Jan Fougner Damon Olison Nicole Dave Kelley

Greg Young Ty Yuglinich Chris Candell Sarah Picker Blase San Kelley
Marge Gibson Nick Chiaia Barbara Anderson Aram Tondre Chris Kelley”

Bill Duffy Bob Macklin Andréa Walhof Doug Olsen Emily Olsen

Julie Dewey Bill Manley Allison Anderson Stephen Hahn Adelin Duffy

Don Kinkead Bruce Anderson Allegra da Silva = John Neville Greg Walker
West Of College And The Band

7th Annual Chabot
Road Block Sale

Spring is here... can block parties and
garage sales be far behind? Not in this
neck of the woods.

Take advantage of one of the first of
the season’s earliest opportunities to stock
up on those interesting and useful knick-
knacks you’ ve been needing and that your
neighbors have been hoarding.

On Saturday, June 3rd, residents of
Chabot Road between Claremont and
College will band together for their 7th(!)
Annual garage/yard sale.

Stop by to browse for a couple of
hours of sun and fun. See you there!

Zz.

VE

FINE JEWELRY DESIGN

Distinctive Jewelry, Impeccably
Handcrafted In Our Shop
Custom Designing *® Wedding Sets

Fine Diamonds e Colored Gemstones
Estate Jewelry ¢ Appraisals « Repairs

5482 College Ave., Oakland
(Near Rockridge Bart)

Played On...

If you’re in the mood for a wonderful —y

band concert, set your calendar for Mon-
day, June 5, at 7:30 p.M., for a concert
presented by the Contra Costa Commu-
nity College Wind Ensemble under the
direction of Terry Clark.

The concert, to be presented in the
sanctuary of the College Avenue Presby-
terian Church, 5951 College Avenue, will
include selections from “London,” “El-
egy,” “Finale, Symphony No. 5 by
Shostakovich,” “American Overture for
Band,” and “West Side Story.”

Pastor Bill Beatty of the church will
be playing tuba.

547-7181
May 13, 1989

The Rockridge News

Page 5

RASP Update

Consultant To Help With Area Specific Plan

The City of Oakland has approved a
second grant to RCPC for the preparation
of the Rockridge Area Specific Plan
(RASP). The grant will be used to hire a
consultant to provide technical assistance
to the neighborhood in the development
of the RASP.

Specific objectives and policies will
be developed which build on the goals
discussed and refined in the series of
Community Forums held last fall.

The City Council is expected to ap-
prove the contract later this month, after
which we can move on with hiring an
urban planning consultant.

We will contact the people who signed
up at the forums for different work groups
and form a steering committee this month.

To get involved in the RASP work
groups or get answers to your questions,
please give us acall: Michael Peltz — 658-
2713; Andréa Walhof — 420-1593.

Protect Building, Say North Oaklanders

A committee of North Oakland neigh-
bors dedicated to preserving a portion of
the historic old Merritt College Building
on Grove Street as part of a larger pro-
posed development has called for ade-
quate protection from vandals and tran-
sients for the building while its proposal
is considered.

Citing the unsecured and accessible
state of the building, members of the Ad
Hoc Committee to Save the Old Merritt
College Building asked for Fire Depart-
ment assistance in compelling the City to
erect fencing and repair ground floor
doors, gates and windows to prevent fur-
ther damage and deterioration to the

building.

The group also has sponsored public
meetings to discuss development propos-
als and suggest alternatives that would
utilize portions of the existing structure.

The current proposal calls for develop-
ment of a mixed use shopping center/
office building/housing complex with all
new structures on the site. The Ad Hoc
Committee proposal suggests similar uses
in a design incorporating portions of the
existing building.

Further information is available from
Mr. Alfred Crofts and Mr. Robert Brokl at
655-3841, or Mr. John Wagers at 653-
1871.

Waste Not, Want Not:
Polymeric Scatology

A bill requiring cities and counties to
implement a plastics recycling plan has
been approved by the Assembly Natural
Resources Committee and forwarded to
the Ways and Means Committee.

The bill, authored by Assemblyman
Tom Bates, calls for a small fee to be paid
by plastic container manufacturers that
will raise funds to pay for plastics recy-
cling education programs, to reimburse
cities and counties for the costs of their
programs and to provide grants to develop
markets for recycled plastics.

According to Bates’ office, plastic
containers such as milk jugs and packag-
ing materials account for between 15 and
30 per cent of waste volume. Disposable
products and packaging materials are the
fastest growing and largest share of the
plastics market: per capita plastics use
will nearly double by the year 2000.

Support
Local
Merchants

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ell Your Home?

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437 Alcatraz Avenue

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REALTY
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Principal Brokers: Harold (Hal) Feiger and Rockridge resident Brett Weinstein.

—

Page 6 The Rockridge News May 13, 1989

In My View... Update: Library Committee

Comments by Marge Gibson-Haskell The Library Committee is working to determine the specific
City Council, District 1 boundaries of the assessment district proposed to pay for part of
the construction costs of the new Rockridge Branch Library

; planned for the Art Stone property at the intersection of College
I recently had the opportunity to attend two conferences | anq Manila Avenues.

centered around urban issues. At the National Council for
Urban Economic Development Annual Conference and at the
Urban Land Institute Conference, I learned of tactics and
techniques used by other cities to achieve the ends Oakland
also seeks. I want to share some of that information with you.

A combination of factors will determine the actual yearly cost
per parcel: the number of households within the district; total cost
of the project; funding from other sources such as the Library
Department, the City, and grants; and the number of years the
assessment will run.

Urban Economic Development Conference: Part of the work to be undertaken is a poll of the upper
Mayor Kathy Whitmire of Houston attributed that city’s | Rockridge area, to learn if Neighbors there use the Rockridge
economic improvement to: Library and are willing to help support it. Please call Mrs. Nancy
«diversification. She cautioned other cities to avoid reli | Dutcher if you can give some time to this research in the next one
ance on one industry. to two months. ;
* strategic planning. Identify markets with the greatest op Plans are still evolving for theLibrary. Purchase of the corer
portunity for expansion. property will assure a larger library and larger parking area for
* public-private partnerships. These should include the commercial and library use as well as some open space. The City
schools. is currently negotiating this purchase.
edirect business assistance programs. Draw on university The Library Department will atlas hold a Series of meetings
resources to help small businesses grow. with neighborhoods to discus and review the Strategic Plan for the
+ infrastructure improvements. Provide a sound physical | City’s libraries. One of these meetings will be held in Rockridge,
background for the economic improvement. either in the Library itself or at Claremont Middle School.

Community members are invited to attend to offer their sugges-
tions and concerns for the overall functioning and services of
Oakland’s Libraries in general and the Rockridge Branch in
particular. Watch for an announcement of the date of this meeting
in a future issue of the Rockridge News.

Other speakers discussed the importance of education for
youth and of planning for downtown office space with regard
to existing surrounding land uses.

A presentation by Clifton Henry of Hammer, Siler, George
& Associates discussed Building Community Consensus As — Marc Beyeler,
An Economic Development Tool. (Sounds like a familiar Nancy Dutcher (653-6018)
approach, doesn’t it.) Mr. Henry said consensus developed
through public meetings and the use of consultants can in-
crease participation of groups who are important to a city’s
growth but feel they are not included in the process. Consensus ROCKRIDGE MONTESSORI

is a continuing process achieved through regular dialogue fj
among participants. He cautioned that consensus on every- CHILDREN’S HOUSE

thing cannot be achieved and said consensus is not total agree-
ment.
Highlights of the Urban Land Institute Conference:
the office market is in for a “slow growth” period. To
succeed, projects will probably need some special appeal.
although the rest of the country is beginning to look at
comprehensive land use regulations applied on a regional
basis, California appears to be looking at three ares for
regional or subregional coordination. These are transpor-
tation/traffic congestion, facilities construction (sewer,
water, etc.), and environmental issues such as open space

: ‘ Helping your child

and air quality. excel in wane and nurturing
*it has become accepted practice in many cities and states environment

for public officials to travel to other countries to seek e

foreign investments for their areas. Massive concessions NOW ENROLLING

are being given by American states and cities to encour- ie alc ON laa

age foreign manufacturing in the U.S. An example is eo.

Kentucky’s 123 million to Toyota. 652-7021

If you have comments or questions about these or any other
topics, please call me or my administrative assistant Bill Lowe
at 273-3266.

—

—

May 13, 1989

The Rockridge Nees News

Page 7

City Joins Graffiti Battle

Responding to the scourge of graffiti spreading throughout the
City, Oakland officials recently announced formation of a graffiti
abatement program.

According to Mr. Bill Uber, Public Affairs Assistant of the
Oakland Community Development Department, the new program
is gearing up to meet the expected high volume of complaints.

When the program is in full swing, citizens will be able to
report instances of graffiti through a Graffiti Hot Line phone
number.

In the meantime, the coupon below may be used to record
details for City response:

7 lela aeleteeleleelleteniaestontententent

I Grarriti Report Form: I

I City oF OAKLAND I

I ; a I
os Address, Assessor's Parcel Number, or closest street wis)
h li ry:

(CY Private Building (I Bus Stop

(1 Bus Bench (J MailBox

Q) Phone Booth Q Newspaper Rack

1 Other (name of paper)
Optional:
Name:
Address:

Phone:

Phone or write me with the
outcome of my complaint: Ol yes LI No
Send this form to:
Mr. Bill Uber, Public Affairs Assistant
Oakland Community Development

1417 Clay Street, 3rd Floor
I Oakland, CA 94612

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RCPC Board, from page 2

would demolish a number of existing structures, including two
houses on Chabot Road.

While the building would have retail frontage on College
Avenue, its main entrance would face the rear parking lot. The
Proposal also calls for an 8,000 square foot restaurant.

Citing the broad scope of the proposal, Mrs. Anderson stated,
“The project proposed by Dreyer’s would be the largest develop-
ment to occur in Rockridge in a generation. An EIR that does not
fully consider all the impacts of such a proposal serves neither the
City nor the neighborhood.”

May 8th marked the end of the 45-day public review period

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—" on the Draft EIR.

The City has scheduled a public hearing on the project
and the Draft EIR for 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 24, Room
115, Oakland City Hall.

Letters To The News

— Editor’s Note: Rev. Bill Beatty of the College Avenue Presbyte-
rian Church submitted the following letter to the Planning Commission
as his comment on the Dreyer’s Draft EIR. We are printing it here
because of the unique location of the Church in relation to the proposed
project. One other letter received could not be printed because of space
limitations. Its author was not against the project but felt it should be
more in keeping with the neighborhood.

No letters in favor of the project have been received.
Commissioners:

As an adjacent neighbor to the proposed Dreyer’s expansion
plan, having pastored the College Avenue Presbyterian Church
since 1973, and having known Mr. Dreyer himself, I felt that I
should voice the concerns of many in our congregation toward the
project.

Our church has taken no official stand on the Dreyer’s plan
and we consider maintaining a positive relationship with the
Dreyer’s family a high priority. However, we do have serious
concerns about the long-range development of Rockridge should
the proposal be accepted.

In the early 1970s, bright young professionals in our commu-
nity reacted to the assumption that highrise, multi-living units
would be the norm and acted to down-zone the area, introduce
height restrictions, and individualized retailing. This laid the
conceptual groundwork for the current Rockridge renaissance we
all enjoy today. Our church now reflects the stability of the com-
munity rather than the transience of several years ago.

The Dreyer’s story is out of synch with the vision , spirit, and
commitment of the Rockridge residential/retail dynamic.
Dreyer’s would be sold to Ken Cook; Ken Cook would sell to
larger investors; Dreyer’s would be able to expand, becoming
over time a national and international corporation. And that is to
be applauded... a quality and prosperous product on the move!
Our criticism is not with Dreyer’s’ success but with the physical
location of her office complex.

It is a multi-office complex with no relationship to the neigh-
borhood, except in history. In fact, Dreyer’s has no plan to retail
her product — ice cream — to the neighborhood from the admin-
istrative office complex building. For all practical purposes, her
administrative shell is present, but her community rapport and
product are missing.

Now, there is nothing evil about having an administrative
presence in Oakland, even if bereft of retailing the main product.
It is the most appropriate location for the company to do its
administrative work which is at issue. Is it not a fact that the
downtown is the most conducive for administrative office com-
plexes, and that the City produces much advertising of that point?

Our church is committed to maintaining a positive and con-
structive relationship with the Dreyer’s corporate family. But let
it go on record that many of us feel that the “spirit of the law”
would be missing should “expediency” to keep big business in
Oakland take precedence over the hopes and dreams of residents
who are taking the risks to live in Oakland, a most exciting cross-
cultural experience, much in need of support at the long-range
plannig level.

With continued hope and vision for our Rockridge Commu-
nity,

— Rev. Bill Beatty, Pastor
College Avenue Presbyterian Church
Page 8

The Rockridge News

May 13, 1989

Adult Center To Host Radio Guru

On Wednesday, May 17th, Mr. Bob Haulman, weatherman
and traffic guru of radio station KCBS, 74 on your dial, will speak
at the College Avenue Adult Center on “Weather and Traffic —
Both Unpredictable.” Mr. Haulman will relate how he gets his
material, how it is edited, and what preparation is necessary for his
frequent broadcasts during the morning.

Adult Center meetings are held at the College Avenue Presby-
terian Church, 5951 College Avenue. Everyone is invited to the
program which will run from 11 A.M. to 12 Noon. Plan to stay for
a delicious $1 lunch.

— Norma Ashley Proffitt, Program Chair

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The Rockridge News is published monthly in Oakland
except in August and is sponsored by The Rockridge
Community Planning Council.

Got something planned you'd like to have The Rockridge
News tell about? Call Don Kinkead at 655-7474 or write to
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June issue deadline is June 6th. |