A 2003 map of the State of California Seismic Hazard Zones covering  East Oakland, which includes Piedmont, shows areas prone to liquefaction or landslides. As shown on the map below, parts of Blair Park  are specifically indicated  in blue as a potential landslide area.

> Click to read more…

A letter submitted by a Piedmont resident asks for a detailed analysis of costs, as well as parking/traffic:

I’m very disappointed that City Council’s resolution on March 21st did not specifically ask that a detailed cost analysis be provided immediately for the Blair Park project along with a condition that all funds must be ‘banked’ before  any demolition/construction begins in Blair Park.  I am also concerned that the direction given for further traffic study > Click to read more…

A letter from a resident on the history of Moraga road accidents and traffic safety decisions

Having lived in Piedmont for 57 years, I am a first hand witness to the social, political and environmental facts that exist in our little Mayberry-USA.  The latest good deed is a scheme that involves the brilliant discovery of unknown land at Blair Park on Moraga Avenue.

Since the 1950’s, endless land developers have proposed free “gift” projects for this too-narrow strip of green open park space. The original Rockridge Payless Drug Store wanted to build there in the 60’s.  There have been many, many well intentioned proposals for condos, homes, townhouses, senior housing, strip mall stores, etc. at the Blair Park site. > Click to read more…

At 2:30 a.m. on March 22, 2011 the Piedmont City Council voted to move ahead with building a sports complex in Blair Park on Moraga Avenue and adding night lighting and artificial turf on Coaches Field.    On a 4 -1 vote, with Garrett Keating voting no, the project proposed by Piedmont Recreation Facilities Organization (PRFO) will move forward.  Keatting’s objection was over pedestrian and vehicular safety on Moraga Avenue based on his concern insufficient information in the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR).

Dozens of speakers presented the pros and cons of the project.  Con speakers described the environmental impacts, paricularly the destruction of 155 trees, fiscal liability to the City, pedestrian safety crossing busy Moraga Avenue, availability of Laney College fields as an alternate site for the Piedmont Soccer Club, indemnification of the City for potential legal costs, non-compliance with the City General Plan, fiduciary responsibility and litigation costs.  The Sierra Club, the Golden Gate Audubon Society, and many others pressed the Council to reject the project.  Pro speakers pleaded for more recreation space for children, the opportunity to accept private funding for the project, the need to use the space, the need to accept the original plan to avoid further environmental assessments, and a willingness to contribute to the cost of legal challenges. > Click to read more…

Monday, March 21, 2011 at 7:30 pm the Piedmont City Council will once more take up consideration of a proposal to develop Moraga Canyon/Blair Park into a multi-purpose sports complex.  According to the agenda and back up material for the meeting the Council is not scheduled to make a final decision on the project until its April 4, 2011 meeting.  See Public Notice, Agenda, Staff Report and Correspondence.

The Staff Report and correspondence for the upcoming meeting includes an enormous amount of documentation with detailed analysis of the projects.  Numerous letters have been written by residents from Piedmont and surrounding areas.  There is information from attorneys, the Audubon Society, soccer parents, petitioners, architects, proponents, City Commissions, and opponents.  All Moraga Canyon information posted on the City website may be found here.

An opponent of the Blair Park development provides the following 10 minute video clip of excerpts from the Planning Commission hearing of February 24 on Blair Park/Moraga Canyon sports facilities

Video Clip: Planning Commission Hearing Excerpts

Editors’ Note: The following is the email sent with the above video clip.

As you may remember, my neighbors and I have been involved in a long battle with the city over the conversion of Blair Park to a soccer facility. I am aware that some Piedmonters and Oaklanders view the claims of the neighbors as biased. I am, therefore, providing this link to a You Tube video of the Planning Commission reaction registered at last week’s meeting. The Commission unanimously rejected the plan but the City Council appears poised to move ahead with the project at its March 21st meeting.I hope you might take about 10 minutes to watch the video and perhaps pass the link along to any friends who might be interested in the controversy.

Ralph Catalano

Editors Note: The complete video of the February 24, 2011 Planning Commission meeting may be viewed on the City website.

(This letter expresses the personal opinions of the author. All statements made are the opinion of the writer and not necessarily those of the Piedmont Civic Association.)

A Letter Identifying Issues Common to Undergrounding and Blair Park Construction Administration

Dear Council Members,

City staff and the Council have failed to exercise proper due diligence in allowing a private group to control the planning process for the use of public land. The project proponents have sold the citizens of Piedmont a bill of goods, claiming their project is a “gift” and repeatedly claiming it will be built and maintained “at no cost to taxpayers,” yet public records clearly show the City has already spent hundreds of thousands toward the environmental review, > Click to read more…

The Piedmont City Council should be honored by the  extensive campaigns to win their favor and vote.  Given the great polarization on the issue of whether or not to develop Blair Park, perhaps it is time to allow all citizens of Piedmont to express their preference on this consequential project in the privacy of the voting booth rather than leaving the decision to five people, the members of the City Council. > Click to read more…

A letter submitted on Mini-Roundabouts and impact on bicyclists

View proposed Roundabout and Mini-Roundabout

> Click to read more…

Piedmont Civic Association Commentary on the Decision-making Process

The decision on the Blair Park proposal requires careful consideration by the Council as Piedmont’s fiduciaries. Piedmont residents have been unhappy because of  recent debacles costing almost $3 million of City funds.  To date, the Blair Park and Coaches Field proposals have cost the City over $200,000.  And no stable figures have been produced on the fiscal implications of the project for Piedmont taxpayers.

To satisfy the burden of due diligence and fulfill its “fiduciary responsibility” in considering this consequential proposal, the Council must examine all of the costs and independently assess liability risks in a long term plan.  The Council needs to know the risks and the costs before accepting a project in any form.

Piedmont property owners want to be protected from another risky liability situation as occurred in the Piedmont Hills Underground District bailouts, Crest Road collapse, and Hampton-Sea View litigation.