Jan 21 2012

Piedmont Extends Time for Oakland to Study Blair Park Issues

Oakland Postpones Decision to Sue Piedmont – 

According to a report in the Piedmont Patch, The City of Piedmont extended its “tolling” agreement with the City of Oakland late on January 18, 2012, averting an immediate lawsuit and giving Oakland until Feb. 24 to study environmental impact issues of the Blair Park sports field project.

On two occasions at Piedmont City Council public hearings, Oakland City Council member Libby Schaaf addressed the Council requesting that Piedmont work with the City of Oakland to resolve issues.  Official letters from Oakland also voiced concern and objection to the environmental documents.  However, on Dec. 5, 2011, the Piedmont City Council voted to approve the final project and an addendum to the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) in a 4 -1 vote with Council member Garret Keating voting no.

The circumstances involved in the Piedmont Council’s extension agreement with Oakland and the Council’s decision have not been publicly announced.  There is no mention of the extension in the draft minutes of the January 18 meeting, reporting Council actions in Closed Session.

Earlier this month, Piedmont was  served with a lawsuit by Friends of Moraga Canyon (FOMC), which argues that significant changes in the final project approved by the City Council required  a supplemental environmental report and not the simpler addendum to the EIR, which the Council approved.

A Piedmont ordinance requires the proposed project sponsored by Piedmont Recreation Facilities Organization (PRFO) to be reviewed by the Planning Commission.  This review has been scheduled for the Commission meeting on Monday, February 13 at 5 p.m..

 

 

 

 

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