Sunday, June 22, 2008

Contacts for the Next Zoning Update Committee

For a number of years, it has been apparent to many Oakland residents and Lake-users that building height limits are needed along the edge of Lake Merritt. Because the City of Oakland is currently rezoning the edge of the Lake, now is the time to accomplish this. Tribune Article

On July 16, 2008, the Zoning Update Committee (ZUC) will again discuss rezoning in the Central Business District (CBD). As you know, the Coalition of Advocates for Lake Merritt (CALM) is spear-heading an effort to rezone the edge of Lake Merritt for lower building heights. We are asking for heights to be limited to 55' or 5/6 floors within 300' of Lakeside Drive along the length of Lakeside Drive from 14th Street at the Fire Alarm site to Snow Park. This area is also known as the Gold Coast neighborhood.

WE ARE ASKING EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTS LIMITING BUILDING HEIGHTS AT LAKE MERRITT TO NOW PLEASE EXPRESS THIS TO THE ZONING UPDATE COMMITTEE.

Following are some of the important reasons why CALM is making the proposal for height limits:

-Tall buildings are often out of context with many of the historic buildings in the Gold Coast neighborhood.

-Allowing new tall buildings will encourage the destruction and replacement of lower, historic buildings.

-Views looking toward and away from Lake Merritt are obstructed by tall buildings and create a "wall" at the edge of the Lake.

-Sunlight and solar access are blocked by tall buildings, which also degrade the open space of park lands surrounding the Lake or next to tall buildings.

Below is the contact information for each ZUC member and also for Neil Gray, the City of Oakland planner who works directly on the rezoning.

DOUGLAS BOXER (Chair)
Phone: (510)286-2937, Fax: (510)835-0415
Email: dboxer@gmail.com

MICHAEL COLBRUNO (Vice-Chair)
Phone: (510)835-5900; Fax:(510)663-4662
Email: michaelcolbruno@clearchannel.com

ANNE E. MUDGE
Phone (415) 392-4200; Fax: (415) 392-4250
Email: amudge@coxcastle.com

Neil Gray, Planner III
City of Oakland
Phone: (510)238-3878
Email: NGray@oaklandnet.com

CALM is asking everyone to call, write or email each member of the ZUC and Mr. Gray. This is one of the most important steps to take in getting the height limits: we must let the ZUC and the City know who we are and know what we want for this area of the Lake.

We suggest that you include any or all of the points mentioned above or you may copy from the following short statement (which is from CALM's petition). Of course, feel free to express your own thoughts on the subject to the ZUC as well:

"The Gold Coast is a diverse urban community with an abundance of culturally-significant buildings two to six stories in height which should be preserved and enhanced. High-rise buildings in close proximity to the Lake will have severe and damaging impacts on the character of this community and will also degrade the natural environment and open space of Lake Merritt and its adjacent park lands."

"I/we urge the Zoning Update Committee to adopt CALM's proposal to limit building heights within 300' of Lakeside Drive at Lake Merritt to no more than 55' or 5-6 stories."

Whatever you do in this regard, whether you call, write, or email, will be greatly appreciated.

Finally, CALM is planning a short community meeting on Saturday July 12 in the Lake area to get to know each other and to share information and contacts for the rezoning effort. We will let you know the time and location as soon as possible but please reserve a little time that day, if you can.

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Views of the Current Situation


Looking east toward Lake Merritt from Jackson Street. Although the "wall of buildings" facing the lake on Lakeside Drive is very evident, there are still significant view corridors to be preserved (click on the images for close-up views).


View corridor at the corner of 17th Street & Lakside Drive. Both apartment buildings face Lakeside Park which is immediately across the street.


Looking north along Jackson Street and outward toward Lake Merritt from inside the Gold Coast neighborhood. Note the predominate low-rise character of the area and the row of high-rise structures at the edge which is Lakeside Drive and 19th Street.


Looking east toward Lake Merritt from Madison Street with the Scottish Rite Temple to the far right. Madison Street in this area is comprised almost entirely of low-rise apartment buildings. This picture clearly shows a portion of the "wall of buildings" which block views and access to Lake Merritt.


View corridor along 17th Street looking toward Lake Merritt. Replacing the short, blue building on the lower left of the picture with a 10-12 story structure would create a "street wall" along this section of 17th Street. (See below)


Under the current rezoning proposal for this section of 17th Street, the short pale-blue building on the left (17th & Jackson Streets) could be replaced by a 10-12 story building which is the height of the building immediately behind it. The buildings on this street are all within 300' of Lakeside Drive.


The pictures above and below show view corridors and historic properties which can be preserved by limiting building heights along Lakeside Drive.


Cameron-Stanford House at 14th and Lakeside Drive.


View corridor from Madison Street toward Lake Merritt

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board, June 9, 2008

The Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board (LPAB) will receive an Informational Presentation regarding the current rezoning initiative in the CBD. The meeting will be at 6:00 pm in Hearing Room One at City Hall. The LPAB will consider the rezoning more broadly at a future in order to provide recommendations to the Zoning Update Committee and the Planning Commission on the protection of historic resources.

This will be the first public meeting at which CALM will present the plan for lower building heights within 300' of Lakeside Drive in the Gold Coast neighborhood. We urge everyone who supports the 6 story/300' proposal to either attend the meeting on June 9 or to contact the Community and Economic Development Agency contacts regarding the rezoning. They are: Neil Gray at 510-238-3878, ngray@oaklandnet.com and Eric Angstadt, eangstadt@oaklandnet.com.

Saturday, June 7, 2008

CALM's Rezoning Proposal for the Gold Coast Neighborhood

As part of the City of Oakland's current initiative to rezone the Central Business District, CALM proposes that the City adopt zoning regulations specifically for the Gold Coast neighborhood. The zoning proposed by CALM is to limit building heights to 55' or five to six floors within 300' of the Lakeside Drive along the western edge of Lake Merritt. These limitations will apply to the area beginning at 14th Street & Lakeside Drive (including the Fire Alarm site) and follow Lakeside Drive to Snow Park. From this Lakeside Drive line, the zone extends 300' into the Gold Coast neighborhood. May 21, 2008, ZUC Staff Report

CALM

The Coalition of Advocates for Lake Merritt (CALM) is an all-volunteer group of Oakland residents, professionals, and activists focused on protecting and improving the environs at Lake Merritt and preserving its surrounding parks and historic neighborhoods. CALM has been active in Oakland since 2001 when the City of Oakland offered to sell park land on 12th Street at the south end of Lake Merritt for private development. Cathedral

As an alternative to selling park land, CALM submitted a community-based proposal to remove traffic lanes and reclaim park land at 12th Street. The proposal was eventually accepted by the City and became part of the Lake Merritt Master Plan. Lake Merritt Master Plan Soon after, Measure DD was placed on the ballot by the Oakland City Council and included the CALM plan. Measure DD passed by a margin of 80% - 20% in 2002 and has already funded numerous restoration and reclaimation projects throughout Oakland, and will reclaim park land at Lake Merritt and reconnect it to the Lake. Measure DD

This blog deals with the City of Oakland's 2008 initiative to rezone the Central Business District (CBD). Working within this rezoning process, CALM's membership and supporters are providing specific proposals to preserve the historic buildings, social fabric, park land, and open space of the Gold Coast neighborhood of the CBD. CBD Rezoning Map