City of Oakland California

In November 2011, the City published a Draft Preferred Plan that begins to articulate the policies and projects which will become the basis for the more specific proposals to be included in the future Station Area Plan. Staff is now requesting preliminary input from public advisory boards on the Draft Preferred Plan to make sure that initial concepts are generally acceptable. Upon completion of this “check-in” phase, significant public process remains during the upcoming Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) and Draft Station Area Plan preparation phases.

On March 1, 2012, the City released a Notice of Preparation to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Report to study the potential environmental impacts of the Lake Merritt Station Area Plan. Public hearings to discuss the scope of the DEIR will be held before the Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board and the Planning Commission on March 12 and March 21, respectively. Public comments regarding the scope of the DEIR must be received no later than 4:00 pm on April 1st, 2012.

Details for these and other future meetings are available below in the Workshops & Meetings. You may contact us with comments or questions. 

The City of Oakland, BART and the Peralta Community College District, through a grant from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, have come together to prepare a Station Area Plan for the area around the Lake Merritt BART Station. The Plan will consider land use, buildings, design, circulation, BART improvements, streetscape improvements, parks and public spaces. It will identify actions the City and the other public agencies should take to improve the area, and it will establish regulations for development projects on private property. The project also involves the preparation of an Environmental Impact Report for the Station Area Plan.

For a high resolution version of this map, click here to download a PDF.

The planning area is a one-half mile radius around the Lake Merritt BART Station, which encompasses Chinatown, Laney College, civic buildings of Alameda County and Oakland and the channel connecting Lake Merritt to the estuary. Many diverse residents, businesses and students make up the community of this area, and Chinatown functions as a citywide center for the Asian community. The Station Area Plan must address the needs of the community, as well as the needs of BART related to ridership, and the needs of the College District related to education and maximizing the use of their land. 

Some of the key objectives of the Lake Merritt Station Area Plan, which will continue to be developed and refined throughout the planning process, include:

• Increase use of non-automobile modes of transportation, including walking, bicycling, bus, BART, carpooling, ridesharing and other options; and reduce auto use.
• Increase the housing supply, especially affordable housing for low-income residents. Specifically increase the amount of housing around the BART station.
• Increase jobs and improve access to jobs along the transit corridor.
• Provide services and retail options in the station area.
• Identify additional recreation and open space opportunities

Finally, the Lake Merritt Station Area Plan must provide an impetus for real development projects and specific public improvements. The plan should generate interest, enthusiasm and consensus about new development in the area and establish priorities for public improvement projects.

The Lake Merritt Station Area Plan is being developed over approximately a three-year period from November 2009 to the end of 2012. A major part of the planning process is to engage the community in discussions about the future of the area. There will be opportunities to get involved at all stages of the process, from the initial visioning and exploration of plan alternatives to the refinement of an emerging plan.  The Landmarks Advisory Board, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission, the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee and the Oakland Planning Commission will review the Draft Station Area Plan, as well as the boards of the Peralta Community College District and BART. The Oakland City Council is the body responsible for final review and approval of the Plan as well as the accompanying Environmental Impact Report.

The Station Area Plan will only be successful if it reflects the goals and values of the community. While elected officials will adopt the final Station Area Plan, Council members and City staff are committed to soliciting the input of residents throughout the development of the document. So, we need to hear your voice. What do you like about the Lake Merritt Station Area? What needs improvement? How can the City better meet the needs of residents, businesses, schools, and visitors?

There are several ways to participate in the Lake Merritt Station Area Plan process:

• Sign up for the Lake Merritt Plan e-mail distribution list. To be notified of all public hearings and workshops, please e-mail your contact information to the Lake Merritt BART Station Area Plan Project e-mail.

• Check back for Web updates. Notices, agendas, minutes and documents will be posted regularly on this page.
• Call the Project Message Line at 510.238.7904. 
• Join us at the public meetings and workshops. Many public workshops and meetings will be held throughout the development of the Lake Merritt Station Area Plan. Information about the dates/times/locations of these meetings is provided below. 

Notice of Preparation (March 1, 2012)

Draft Preferred Plan (November 2011)

Emerging Plan Report (September 2011)

Summary of Community Feedback (April 2011)
        Highlights (summary maps and lists of key community feedback)

Existing Conditions Report (June 2010)

• Cover Page, Table of Contents
• Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3
• Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6
• Chapter 7, Chapter 8, Chapter 9
• Chapter 10, Chapter 11

Market Opportunity Report (June 2010)

Stakeholder Interviews Report (May 2010)

Affordable Housing Technical Memo (February 2010)

1.  What is a Station Area Plan?

A station area plan is a set of policies and programs about future development within one half mile of a transit station. The plan will address land use, buildings, housing, design, circulation, BART and AC Transit improvements, streetscape improvements, parks and public spaces. It will identify actions the City and the other public agencies should take to improve the area and increase transit ridership, and it will establish regulations for development projects on private property. It is a long-term document consisting of written text and diagrams that expresses how a community should develop, and is a key tool for influencing the quality of life. The plan is a basis for development project review and other decision-making by policymakers such as the Planning Commission and the City Council.  

2.  Will the Lake Merritt Station Area Plan be a Specific Plan?

Specific plans cover land use, development density, circulation and infrastructure, and have legal authority as a regulatory document. The Lake Merritt Station Area Plan will be a hybrid plan, combining a detailed specific plan approach for some areas with a more conceptual approach to others, depending on the key issues for each part of the Planning Area and community feedback.
 
3.  Why is a Station Area Plan being completed for the Lake Merritt BART Station?

The City of Oakland, BART, Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and the Peralta Community College District have come together to prepare a Station Area Plan for the area around the Lake Merritt BART Station in order to improve the quality of life in the Station Area, meet ridership goals, and pursue Transit Oriented Development (TOD) as part of a regional strategy for growth.
 
4.  What is an Environmental Impact Report?

An environmental impact report is a detailed analysis of the environmental effects of a plan or development project. The EIR identifies alternatives to the proposed project and presents ways to reduce or avoid environmental damage. The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), establishes the requirements for the EIR’s contents and public review process. Community members can provide input throughout the EIR process. There will be opportunities for the public to submit comments both in response to the Notice of Preparation (NOP) regarding the scope of issues the EIR should evaluate, and later, during the public comment period on the Draft EIR itself. In addition, there will be noticed public meetings to consider the EIR and the Station Area Plan, during which community members and agency decision makers will be able to comment.  
 
5.  How can I get involved?

We are soliciting citizen participation in all phases of the Lake Merritt Station Area Plan development. Please visit the Workshops and Meetings section for details on upcoming events or contact us directly with your thoughts.
 

Many public agencies and non-profit groups have prepared studies, reports, and/or websites about issues and projects in the Lake Merritt Station Area. Below are links to those sources of information.