Project
RCPC is pressing Safeway/Albertsons to apply a $400,000 settlement fee toward traffic mitigation on streets west of the market. Safeway formally denied the request; RCPC is preparing to escalate to Oakland's Planning and Zoning Director to override Safeway's objections.
Site group: College & Claremont Safeway site
College Avenue area near Safeway (6310 College Ave); potential mini-park at College/Claremont
A $400,000 settlement fund from the College Avenue Safeway development was approaching its five-year spending deadline. Community members proposed four categories of projects: traffic calming on residential cut-through streets, traffic signal improvements, pedestrian crossing enhancements on Alcatraz Ave, and possible purchase of the vacant College/Claremont parcel for a public mini-park. Decision pending.
Further discussion of how to use the $400K Safeway settlement fund. The initial January 2020 deadline was extended three years. Pedestrian safety was identified as the highest priority by the RCPC board. A park at College/Claremont was ruled out as a Safeway settlement use (not caused by the Safeway project per conditions, and quoted at $5 million). A study of cut-through traffic found only Hillegass Ave had significantly increased cut-through traffic.
RCPC representatives and two other community groups reached consensus on how to use the $400,000 Safeway settlement fund for pedestrian and bicyclist safety improvements to address cut-through traffic and access issues created by the Safeway project. Proposed improvements include speed bumps on Hillegass, LED pedestrian-activated beacons at crosswalks on Alcatraz, and bulb-outs — subject to approval by resident petitions. The RCPC board must give final approval before submission to Safeway.
RCPC is working to nail down the cost of improvements intended to mitigate the new Safeway's adverse effects on pedestrians and bicyclists on surrounding streets. Funds are expected from a Safeway settlement, but RCPC has not yet been able to arrange a meeting with OakDOT to discuss specifics.
Safeway allotted $400,000 of settlement money to address community impacts from its College Avenue project. Settling groups including RCPC identified bicycle/pedestrian safety improvements. RCPC has received preliminary pricing estimates from OakDOT and the groups plan to present a formal proposal to Safeway around year end.
Following a 2012 settlement with Safeway over traffic impacts from their development at College and Claremont, RCPC's Transportation Chair reported plans to shepherd the project to completion over 1-2 years, involving disbursement of Safeway funds and Oakland City Council approval for specific traffic safety improvements including rapid-flashing beacons, curb bulb-outs, speed bumps, and new crosswalks.
RCPC is pressing Safeway/Albertsons to apply a $400,000 settlement fee toward traffic mitigation on streets west of the market. Safeway formally denied the request; RCPC is preparing to escalate to Oakland's Planning and Zoning Director to override Safeway's objections.
“the settlement reached by community groups — including RCPC — with Safeway resulted in $400,000 to be made available for 'community enhancements' within five years of the store's opening. The five year deadline is approaching in January, so the choice is, 'use it, or lose it.'”2019_07 - College Avenue Safeway Community Enhancement Funds article
“4) Purchase of the 'point' of the currently-vacant parcel at College/Claremont for a public 'mini-park.'”2019_07 - College Avenue Safeway Community Enhancement Funds article
“Albertson's argument makes no sense as our original request (posted on Rockridge.org with Albertsons' response) explained how the new store brought a 50 percent increase in traffic in both directions along Hillegass between Claremont and the Berkeley border.”2021_07 - RCPC board member Matt Levy
“RCPC's board of directors will be meeting in early July to discuss a strategy, per our settlement agreement, and submit our request to Oakland's Planning and Zoning Director who has the authority to override Safeway's objections and approve the project.”2021_07 - RCPC board update by Matt Levy
“One requirement for the proposed uses of these funds is that they must address a problem created by the Safeway project, yet not already addressed in the City's conditions of approval for the project. Thus, for example, a park at College/Claremont would not be an eligible use (not to mention that it has a quoted price of $5 million).”2019_09 - RCPC Land Use Committee Update September 2019