{"id":151,"date":"2009-10-09T04:17:00","date_gmt":"2009-10-09T04:17:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/terragrafix.com\/blog\/?p=151"},"modified":"2009-10-09T04:17:00","modified_gmt":"2009-10-09T04:17:00","slug":"the-skys-the-limit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.thesecretnewsonline.com\/?p=151","title":{"rendered":"The Sky&#8217;s the Limit!"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><meta name=\"Title\" content=\"\"> <meta name=\"Keywords\" content=\"\"> <meta equiv=\"Content-Type\" content=\"text\/html; charset=utf-8\"> <meta name=\"ProgId\" content=\"Word.Document\"> <meta name=\"Generator\" content=\"Microsoft Word 2008\"> <meta name=\"Originator\" content=\"Microsoft Word 2008\"> <link rel=\"File-List\" href=\"file:\/\/localhost\/Users\/tracyschroth\/Library\/Caches\/TemporaryItems\/msoclip\/0clip_filelist.xml\"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>  <o:officedocumentsettings>   <o:allowpng\/>  <\/o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <\/xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>  <w:worddocument>   <w:zoom>0<\/w:Zoom>   <w:trackmoves>false<\/w:TrackMoves>   <w:trackformatting\/>   <w:punctuationkerning\/>   <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt<\/w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>   <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt<\/w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>   <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0<\/w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>   <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0<\/w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>   <w:validateagainstschemas\/>   <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false<\/w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>   <w:ignoremixedcontent>false<\/w:IgnoreMixedContent>   <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false<\/w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>   <w:compatibility>    <w:breakwrappedtables\/>    <w:dontgrowautofit\/>    <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables\/>    <w:dontvertalignintxbx\/>   <\/w:Compatibility>  <\/w:WordDocument> <\/xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>  <w:latentstyles deflockedstate=\"false\" latentstylecount=\"276\">  <\/w:LatentStyles> <\/xml><![endif]--> <\/p>\n<style> <!--  \/* Font Definitions *\/ @font-face \t{font-family:Times; \tpanose-1:2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; \tmso-font-charset:0; \tmso-generic-font-family:auto; \tmso-font-pitch:variable; \tmso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;}  \/* Style Definitions *\/ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal \t{mso-style-parent:\"\"; \tmargin:0in; \tmargin-bottom:.0001pt; \tmso-pagination:widow-orphan; \tfont-size:12.0pt; \tmso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; \tfont-family:\"Times New Roman\"; \tmso-ascii-font-family:Times; \tmso-fareast-font-family:Times; \tmso-hansi-font-family:Times; \tmso-bidi-font-family:\"Times New Roman\";} @page Section1 \t{size:8.5in 11.0in; \tmargin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; \tmso-header-margin:.5in; \tmso-footer-margin:.5in; \tmso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 \t{page:Section1;} --> <\/style>\n<p> <!--[if gte mso 10]> \n\n<style>  \/* Style Definitions *\/ table.MsoNormalTable \t{mso-style-name:\"Table Normal\"; \tmso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; \tmso-tstyle-colband-size:0; \tmso-style-noshow:yes; \tmso-style-parent:\"\"; \tmso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; \tmso-para-margin:0in; \tmso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; \tmso-pagination:widow-orphan; \tfont-size:12.0pt; \tfont-family:\"Times New Roman\"; \tmso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; \tmso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; \tmso-fareast-font-family:\"Times New Roman\"; \tmso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; \tmso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; \tmso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; \tmso-bidi-font-family:\"Times New Roman\"; \tmso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} <\/style>\n\n <![endif]-->  <!--StartFragment-->  <span style=\"font-weight: bold;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size:130%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\"><br \/>\n<br \/><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-size:130%;\"><span style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Council Majority Gives Tallest Finger to City&#8217;s  General Plan Committee and Residents; Grants Developer Unlimited Building Height <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">by Brian Donahue, Marc Albert, and Tracy Schroth<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Profound changes are ahead in Emeryville after the City Council majority gave  initial approval last Tuesday to a new General Plan, taking just a few seconds to dismantle five years of effort that  included input from hundreds of citizens. <\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">The 3-2 vote was among the most shameless displays of the Council&#8217;s eagerness  to grant lucrative exceptions to certain developers. John Nady, founder\/CEO of audio supplier Nady Systems, Inc. in Emeryville, wants to build a mixed-use development on a large parcel of land at the extreme northwest corner of the city (west of Shellmound, directly south of the Ashby interchange). He complained to Council members that building height restriction in that area of the City, designated by the new General Plan (to a maximum of 75 feet), was too low for him to make a profit on his planned development. The Council majority, obviously touched by Nady&#8217;s plight,  voted 3-2 (with Ruth Atkin and <span class=\"yshortcuts\" id=\"lw_1255055435_0\">John Fricke<\/span> dissenting) to cast aside the new building heights and allow Nady to build as high as he wants. <span style=\"\"> <\/span><span style=\"\"> <\/span><span style=\"\"><br \/>\n<br \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">The General Plan Committee, which spent five years redrafting the City&#8217;s General Plan, and held more than 50 public meetings, had finally settled on an Urban Design Policy which stipulates the following:  a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153central core\u00e2\u20ac\u009d of tall development (100 feet+), stepping down to mid-rise, then smaller buildings as they radiate away from the central core. After much debate and consideration, the General Plan Committee voted to restrict mid-rise buildings to a maximum of 55 feet with a bonus height of up to 75 feet under certain conditions.<span style=\"\"> Currently, the maximum height in the area where Nady&#8217;s parcel is located is <\/span>40 feet, up to 55 feet with a use permit, according to Council Member John Fricke.<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"\"><\/span>The General Plan Committee  spent hundreds of hours  debating the merits of creating a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153central core.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d City Planning Director Charlie Bryant said at Tuesday&#8217;s meeting that there was some  disagreement within the Committee about what the allowable heights should be.<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"> \u00e2\u20ac\u0153There was a sizable minority of Committee members who wanted to see taller buildings&#8221; in the area outside the central core, Bryant said. But, he  added, that during a joint meeting of the City Council and General P<span style=\"border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-origin: padding; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous;\" class=\"yshortcuts\" id=\"lw_1255055435_2\">lan Committee<\/span>, the only votes for taller building allowances came from the three Council members attending (Mayor Dick Kassis, and Council Members Nora Davis and Ken Bukowski).\u00e2\u20ac\u009d<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">After Tuesday&#8217;s vote,  Council Member Fricke said his colleagues once again chose the interests of one developer seeking profits over the  interests of Emeryville residents, disregarding the five years of hard work and struggle that went into  formulating a General Plan.<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"> \u00e2\u20ac\u0153In the  blink of an eye, the City Council conferred upon this developer and property owner an increase of millions of dollars in value, giving nothing to the residents in return,&#8221; Fricke said.<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">The Council&#8217;s vote prompted Planning Director Bryant to remind Council members that an unlimited building height allowance necessitates  a change to the <span style=\"border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;\" class=\"yshortcuts\" id=\"lw_1255055435_3\">Floor Area Ratio<\/span> (FAR).<span style=\"\">  <\/span>The FAR describes what percentage of a land parcel\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s total area can be covered by a building. Council Member (and Vice Mayor) Ken Bukowski replied that the FAR should  be whatever the developer needs it to be to accommodate the development proposal.<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">A day after Tuesday&#8217;s meeting,  Bryant sent a notice to members of the General Plan Committee and City Council  stating that &#8220;various citizens sent letters of support for the  75-foot maximum building height&#8221; in the area where Nady&#8217;s parcel is located.<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">The Council&#8217;s vote Tuesday is preliminary. A final vote is scheduled for this coming Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 6 p.m. at City Hall.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">\n<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">\n<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><o:p> <\/o:p><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">\n<\/p>\n<p><!--EndFragment--><\/p>\n<div id=\"wp_fb_like_button\" style=\"margin:5px 0;float:none;height:100px;\"><script src=\"http:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/all.js#xfbml=1\"><\/script><fb:like href=\"http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thesecretnewsonline.com%2F%3Fp%3D151\" send=\"true\" layout=\"standard\" width=\"450\" show_faces=\"true\" font=\"arial\" action=\"like\" colorscheme=\"light\"><\/fb:like><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Council Majority Gives Tallest Finger to City&#8217;s General Plan Committee and Residents; Grants Developer Unlimited Building Height by Brian Donahue, Marc Albert, and Tracy Schroth Profound changes are ahead in Emeryville after the City Council majority gave initial approval last &hellip; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thesecretnewsonline.com\/?p=151\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.thesecretnewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/151"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.thesecretnewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.thesecretnewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.thesecretnewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.thesecretnewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=151"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.thesecretnewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/151\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.thesecretnewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=151"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.thesecretnewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=151"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.thesecretnewsonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=151"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}