S5 22-0067 Subject: Oakland Waterfront Ballpark District Project EIR And Jurisdictional Ordinance
From: Planning & Building Department
Recommendation: Conduct A Public Hearing And Upon Conclusion Adopt The Following Pieces Of Legislation:
1) A Resolution (A) Certifying The Environmental Impact Report For The Oakland Waterfront Ballpark District Project (ER 18-016), As Recommended By The Planning Commission; (B) Adopting California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Findings On Impacts And Mitigation Measures For The Proposed Project With Grade Separation Alternative (Alternative 3), And Rejection Of Other Alternatives And Certain Mitigation Measures As Infeasible; (C) Adopting A Statement Of Overriding Considerations; And (D) Adopting A Mitigation Monitoring And Reporting Program; And
As an Oakland resident and constituent of D2, I'm writing to encourage the council to approve the FEIR today.
Given the magnitude and complexity of this project, the EIR has naturally highlighted a number of impacts it will have on the surrounding area, while also offering feasible, concrete solutions. No amount of revisions, modifications or concessions will satisfy the broad set of incumbent interests dead set on ensuring no project moves forward, and striving for perfection and meeting everyone's demands only ensures the status quo remains.
Additionally, beyond what is identified in the EIR, please consider the true alternative to building 3,000 new homes in Oakland - accelerated sprawl in places like eastern Alameda and Contra Costa counties, where lower density and less temperate climate mean carbon emissions per household are more than double what they are in Oakland per UCBerkeley's coolclimate.org estimates. Overall green house gas emissions is the most important environmental impact we should be considering, but is absent from the EIR.
Approving the EIR is an important step to keeping the project moving, while also allowing for additional negotiations, changes and mitigations in subsequent stages.
Although I know it is a financial risk to the city to even partially fund a baseball park, I still want Oakland to keep its last major sports team. I was one of the many (but not enough) Raiders fan who purchased a Personal Seat License when the Raiders came back to Oakland so I know first-hand how public funding of sports teams can turn out poorly. But I believe that this deal is different and will work for both the city and A's fans.
Please, vote to certify the final EIR. I live in district 3 and we need a ballpark next jack london square. It will bring life to JLS and be another shining star for Oakland. I have two young children and I can’t wait to ride our bikes down to the water, catch a game and grab some food down there. Oakland deserves nice things!
I'm a resident of District 3. I urge the Council Members to vote YES. The approval of this project will have a large and positive impact on the Town. This is not just a ballpark, but a potential $12 Billion private investment in our community. This will bring jobs, housing, taxable revenue streams, and a sense of pride in our community. Alternatively, a no vote would mean a quick end to major sports in Oakland. More importantly, a no vote would be a missed opportunity for private money to spur needed investment in our waterfront and downtown. An opportunity that I doubt will come again anytime soon. I look forward to many years of walking to games with my son. Let's Go Oakland!
I oppose the FEIR. I already submitted a comment but it seems to have disappeared. The ballpark proposals are all in conflict with the present use of the site for shipping. Proposed means of access to the ballpark for the public are ridiculous. The ballpark should be located somewhere else. Shipping cannot be moved.
As the CEO of a small business, I bring a group to an Oakland A's game every summer. I also attend games with my family and friends. We are looking forward to doing so in a fantastic new facility on Oakland's waterfront. Please vote YES tomorrow to certify the final EIR. You can still negotiate on other items such as the CBA and Development Agreement before giving final approval for shovels hit the ground. Your planning commission has recommended approval and there is no reason to delay this step over other facets of the project that do not involved the EIR. Thank You.
Anyone that is in support of this has clearly never done business at the port and does not understand the implications of putting a stadium etc. there. The port is already congested with trucks and cargo ships. Adding more cars, foot traffic and small boats will create more congestion and, in the case of small boats, a dangerous situation. Updating the current stadium, which already has infrastructure in place, would cost the taxpayers less money and still provide jobs and additional tax revenue. Honor your commitment to those that rely on their maritime jobs. More congestion will mean more cargo going to other ports, which will lead to less job positions needed at the port. The A's have also not proven that they will foot the bill like originally said. The same things you are aiming for can be done at the original location without hurting import/export business.
Council members, Please vote to accept and certify the Final EIR for Howard Terminal. Your City Staff and Planning Commission are recommending a YES! vote. The Planning Commission even stated that this was one of the most complete Draft EIR they had ever seen.
This vote should be considered an essential element of the project as you move forward in this process and work on the Community Benefits and all final considerations before an approval later this year.
This project is a shot in the arm for Jack London Square, the City, the Athletics and the Entire East Bay. You will be bringing in jobs, entertainment, cleaning up the environment and opening up the Port and trails on the shoreline. I forgot to mention...Open Park Space that is so badly needed in West Oakland!
This can be your legacy to the Community by bolstering JLS and leaving a 365 day a year gathering spot for families while adding to Oakland's history and dynamic cultures.
I urge you to vote against Howard Terminal which is a get rich scheme by the owner of the A's. Going ahead with this project will rob Oakland residents of tax payer dollars that would be better spent on public and social services that are urgently needed now!
The lack of services is not the fault of city employees. The real problem is the high vacancy rate in city departments. Funds that are available should be used to fund city departments and upgrade services, not to fund the Howard Terminal and make a wealthy baseball team owner richer!
The disastrous environmental impact is another reason to oppose Howard Terminal. Several environmental organizations such as the Sierra Club have voiced concerns about HT at previous meetings. These environments groups have documented facts on the hazards Howard Terminal would cause. Please check the facts in the Environmental Review!
The port is a thriving Oakland industry. It needs to be preserved!
Oakland residents are tired of paying for the Raiders! We do not want to add the A's! The money needs to go to house the homeless, better healthcare services, public transportation, and more!
I am writing this on behalf of my family, neighbors, and friends. For every voice you hear from there are 100 more who share the same view! End the discussion! Tell the A's owner to locate elsewhere!
We already have a space!!! This is ridiculous. It is in the best interest of both Oakland residents and A's fans for a new, state-of-the-art facility to be constructed at the current site – a site which is already approved for ballpark construction and is supported by existing transportation infrastructure that will create economic opportunities that only a new ballpark and a fully realized affordable housing, retail, and sports complex can bring. Any decision that reduces the waterfront's dedication to maritime jobs undermines the Port of Oakland's success and sets a precedent for shrinking the city's blue-collar population in favor of developers who do not share our commitment to the West Oakland community or the City of Oakland in general.
What up, Council? As a lifelong A's fan, born and raised in Oakland, I would emphatically urge you to certify this EIR, and then do everything in your power to (responsibly) ensure this project comes to fruition. Although I'm no expert, from everything I've read and seen, this project would be a giant boon to the city, at comparatively minimal risk and expense to the GF and the taxpayers of Oakland and Alameda County. The prospect of a walkable waterfront with usable open spaces, connecting the lake and downtown with Jack London Square would be a monumental achievement. It would be transformative for this region the way Petco Park was transformative for San Diego, whose downtown Gas Lamp district has seen an incredible resurgence in the last twenty or so years, and is now a top tier destination to live and work. As distasteful as many of us find the A's ownership, I (perhaps naively) feel in my heart that this project would be a huge win for the city, and certainly for long suffering A's fans. It's an opportunity to outwardly project what we've know all along- that Oakland is truly a world class city.
The Howard Terminal Ballpark is a TERRIBLE idea. Although it is fun to have a sports team in the city, what drives the Oakland economy is the Port. That space is needed to facilitate imports/exports from the Port of Oakland.
Should the waterfront ballpark district project move forward it could bring much needed remediation and affordable housing, but there is also a legacy of these funds and contract positions being assigned to people who are not from the community ultimately draining our tax dollars away from Oakland. While the A's are a great business partner, there are significant staffing shortages across Department of Transportation and other agencies that have negatively impacted the services we can receive as residents of Oakland. Supporting this measure means that we are not prioritizing filling the vacancies in our local agencies (with better pay and more reasonable workloads). $2.25M is allocated to 15 contractors (at $150K each) for this project, and those funds if used to give wage increases to current workers and make vacant positions more financially appealing could make a huge difference in the quality of services and responsiveness of city employees to Oakland residents.
As a long time fan of the A’s, this stadium would be exactly what the JLS area needs to revitalize it. Please vote yes.
As an Oakland resident and constituent of D2, I'm writing to encourage the council to approve the FEIR today.
Given the magnitude and complexity of this project, the EIR has naturally highlighted a number of impacts it will have on the surrounding area, while also offering feasible, concrete solutions. No amount of revisions, modifications or concessions will satisfy the broad set of incumbent interests dead set on ensuring no project moves forward, and striving for perfection and meeting everyone's demands only ensures the status quo remains.
Additionally, beyond what is identified in the EIR, please consider the true alternative to building 3,000 new homes in Oakland - accelerated sprawl in places like eastern Alameda and Contra Costa counties, where lower density and less temperate climate mean carbon emissions per household are more than double what they are in Oakland per UCBerkeley's coolclimate.org estimates. Overall green house gas emissions is the most important environmental impact we should be considering, but is absent from the EIR.
Approving the EIR is an important step to keeping the project moving, while also allowing for additional negotiations, changes and mitigations in subsequent stages.
Thank you for your consideration.
James
Although I know it is a financial risk to the city to even partially fund a baseball park, I still want Oakland to keep its last major sports team. I was one of the many (but not enough) Raiders fan who purchased a Personal Seat License when the Raiders came back to Oakland so I know first-hand how public funding of sports teams can turn out poorly. But I believe that this deal is different and will work for both the city and A's fans.
The waterfront ballpark is what Oakland needs!
Please, vote to certify the final EIR. I live in district 3 and we need a ballpark next jack london square. It will bring life to JLS and be another shining star for Oakland. I have two young children and I can’t wait to ride our bikes down to the water, catch a game and grab some food down there. Oakland deserves nice things!
I'm a resident of District 3. I urge the Council Members to vote YES. The approval of this project will have a large and positive impact on the Town. This is not just a ballpark, but a potential $12 Billion private investment in our community. This will bring jobs, housing, taxable revenue streams, and a sense of pride in our community. Alternatively, a no vote would mean a quick end to major sports in Oakland. More importantly, a no vote would be a missed opportunity for private money to spur needed investment in our waterfront and downtown. An opportunity that I doubt will come again anytime soon. I look forward to many years of walking to games with my son. Let's Go Oakland!
I oppose the FEIR. I already submitted a comment but it seems to have disappeared. The ballpark proposals are all in conflict with the present use of the site for shipping. Proposed means of access to the ballpark for the public are ridiculous. The ballpark should be located somewhere else. Shipping cannot be moved.
As the CEO of a small business, I bring a group to an Oakland A's game every summer. I also attend games with my family and friends. We are looking forward to doing so in a fantastic new facility on Oakland's waterfront. Please vote YES tomorrow to certify the final EIR. You can still negotiate on other items such as the CBA and Development Agreement before giving final approval for shovels hit the ground. Your planning commission has recommended approval and there is no reason to delay this step over other facets of the project that do not involved the EIR. Thank You.
Anyone that is in support of this has clearly never done business at the port and does not understand the implications of putting a stadium etc. there. The port is already congested with trucks and cargo ships. Adding more cars, foot traffic and small boats will create more congestion and, in the case of small boats, a dangerous situation. Updating the current stadium, which already has infrastructure in place, would cost the taxpayers less money and still provide jobs and additional tax revenue. Honor your commitment to those that rely on their maritime jobs. More congestion will mean more cargo going to other ports, which will lead to less job positions needed at the port. The A's have also not proven that they will foot the bill like originally said. The same things you are aiming for can be done at the original location without hurting import/export business.
Council members, Please vote to accept and certify the Final EIR for Howard Terminal. Your City Staff and Planning Commission are recommending a YES! vote. The Planning Commission even stated that this was one of the most complete Draft EIR they had ever seen.
This vote should be considered an essential element of the project as you move forward in this process and work on the Community Benefits and all final considerations before an approval later this year.
This project is a shot in the arm for Jack London Square, the City, the Athletics and the Entire East Bay. You will be bringing in jobs, entertainment, cleaning up the environment and opening up the Port and trails on the shoreline. I forgot to mention...Open Park Space that is so badly needed in West Oakland!
This can be your legacy to the Community by bolstering JLS and leaving a 365 day a year gathering spot for families while adding to Oakland's history and dynamic cultures.
I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO VOTE, YES!
I urge you to vote against Howard Terminal which is a get rich scheme by the owner of the A's. Going ahead with this project will rob Oakland residents of tax payer dollars that would be better spent on public and social services that are urgently needed now!
The lack of services is not the fault of city employees. The real problem is the high vacancy rate in city departments. Funds that are available should be used to fund city departments and upgrade services, not to fund the Howard Terminal and make a wealthy baseball team owner richer!
The disastrous environmental impact is another reason to oppose Howard Terminal. Several environmental organizations such as the Sierra Club have voiced concerns about HT at previous meetings. These environments groups have documented facts on the hazards Howard Terminal would cause. Please check the facts in the Environmental Review!
The port is a thriving Oakland industry. It needs to be preserved!
Oakland residents are tired of paying for the Raiders! We do not want to add the A's! The money needs to go to house the homeless, better healthcare services, public transportation, and more!
I am writing this on behalf of my family, neighbors, and friends. For every voice you hear from there are 100 more who share the same view! End the discussion! Tell the A's owner to locate elsewhere!
Respectfully,
Ms. Joaninha
We already have a space!!! This is ridiculous. It is in the best interest of both Oakland residents and A's fans for a new, state-of-the-art facility to be constructed at the current site – a site which is already approved for ballpark construction and is supported by existing transportation infrastructure that will create economic opportunities that only a new ballpark and a fully realized affordable housing, retail, and sports complex can bring. Any decision that reduces the waterfront's dedication to maritime jobs undermines the Port of Oakland's success and sets a precedent for shrinking the city's blue-collar population in favor of developers who do not share our commitment to the West Oakland community or the City of Oakland in general.
What up, Council? As a lifelong A's fan, born and raised in Oakland, I would emphatically urge you to certify this EIR, and then do everything in your power to (responsibly) ensure this project comes to fruition. Although I'm no expert, from everything I've read and seen, this project would be a giant boon to the city, at comparatively minimal risk and expense to the GF and the taxpayers of Oakland and Alameda County. The prospect of a walkable waterfront with usable open spaces, connecting the lake and downtown with Jack London Square would be a monumental achievement. It would be transformative for this region the way Petco Park was transformative for San Diego, whose downtown Gas Lamp district has seen an incredible resurgence in the last twenty or so years, and is now a top tier destination to live and work. As distasteful as many of us find the A's ownership, I (perhaps naively) feel in my heart that this project would be a huge win for the city, and certainly for long suffering A's fans. It's an opportunity to outwardly project what we've know all along- that Oakland is truly a world class city.
The Howard Terminal Ballpark is a TERRIBLE idea. Although it is fun to have a sports team in the city, what drives the Oakland economy is the Port. That space is needed to facilitate imports/exports from the Port of Oakland.
I am a resident of Oakland's District 4 and strongly support approving the EIR and the A's Howard Terminal plan.
Oakland resident and lifelong A's fan in strong support of adopting the EIR and moving forward with the Howard Terminal project.
Should the waterfront ballpark district project move forward it could bring much needed remediation and affordable housing, but there is also a legacy of these funds and contract positions being assigned to people who are not from the community ultimately draining our tax dollars away from Oakland. While the A's are a great business partner, there are significant staffing shortages across Department of Transportation and other agencies that have negatively impacted the services we can receive as residents of Oakland. Supporting this measure means that we are not prioritizing filling the vacancies in our local agencies (with better pay and more reasonable workloads). $2.25M is allocated to 15 contractors (at $150K each) for this project, and those funds if used to give wage increases to current workers and make vacant positions more financially appealing could make a huge difference in the quality of services and responsiveness of city employees to Oakland residents.
Oakland D4 resident here in SUPPORT of adopting the EIR and moving the Howard Terminal forward.
Please approve the EIR and support the new project. This will bring much needed community benefits and a beautiful ballpark to Oakland. Thank you.
Go to Vegas, Oakland has nothing to offer anymore