{"id":111,"date":"2008-11-21T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2008-11-21T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/terragrafix.com\/blog\/?p=111"},"modified":"2008-11-21T17:00:00","modified_gmt":"2008-11-21T17:00:00","slug":"emeryville-city-council-to-developers-the-laws-we-make-well-break-for-you","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.thesecretnewsonline.com\/?p=111","title":{"rendered":"Emeryville City Council to Developers: The Laws We Make, We’ll Break for You"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>
\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span>
<\/span><\/span>
<\/span><\/span>
<\/span><\/span>
<\/span><\/span>
Developers Get to Make Noise, Chop Down Trees, Demolish Historic Buildings, and Exceed Height Limits – Despite Laws That Say They Can’t<\/p>\n

<\/span>Here’s a list of the laws recently ignored by the City Council majority (edited excerpt from Nov. 19 email to residents from Council Member John Fricke):<\/p>\n

Significant commercial structures shall be preserved<\/span>
Ordinance adopted by the City Council in 2007. However, each time a developer has sought to demolish a significant commercial structure, the Council majority has said yes. At last night\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s meeting, this happened with two structures (pictured above)<\/span>, one at Doyle & Powell Streets (above, left) <\/span>and the second at Adeline & 39th Streets (above, right).<\/span><\/p>\n

Strict Height Limits on New Buildings<\/span>
The City’s zoning ordinance places strict limits on the height of new buildings to be constructed. However, in addition to allowing the demolition of the historic brick building now located at Adeline & 39th Streets, the Council approved the new project proposed for the site, even though it exceeds the maximum building height allowed.<\/p>\n

Limits on Density (residential units per acre) allowed in certain neighborhoods<\/span>
The Council last night approved the project at Doyle & Powell even though the project exceeds the density allowed, and significantly exceeds the residential density at the nearby Elevation 22 and Doyle Street condominium projects.<\/p>\n

Street trees must be preserved<\/span>
At last night\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s meeting, the Council postponed a decision on the developer\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s request to remove 12 mature street trees at Doyle & Powell until an arborist\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s report is prepared.<\/p>\n

Construction noise is strictly limited to weekdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.<\/span>
At last night\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s meeting, the Council voted to allow construction at the Bay Street shopping mall on 10 Saturdays (7 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and 10 Sundays (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) through the holiday shopping season. These 10 Saturdays and Sundays are in addition to 10 Saturdays already granted and that the contractor has used. The second waiver granted last night was to the City’s public works department to dredge the marina boating channel on Saturdays (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.) through December, and to work 24 hours a day<\/span> <\/span>on weekdays until completion of the project.
______________________________<\/p>\n

No wonder developers propose projects in flagrant violation of the City’s zoning laws. They know those laws are meaningless.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n