City of Oakland California

The Draft Lake Merritt Station Area Plan and Design Guidelines are now available (see the Reports section below).  The Zoning Update Committee of the Planning Commission will meet on May 15, 2013 at 4 p.m to discuss proposed General Plan and Zoning Code amendments. See additional details for past and upcoming meetings in the Workshops and Meetings section below.   

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 between 2010 and 2013, in collaboration with the City of Oakland, BART, the Peralta Community College District and other community stakeholders.  Stakeholders continue to be involved at all stages of the process, from the initial visioning and exploration of plan concepts to the refinement of a Station Area Plan. The Landmarks Advisory Board, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission, 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.  See details on specific upcoming meetings in the section below.

NEXT STEPS:
Public Hearings - Draft Plan, Zoning Concepts, Design Guidelines (Zoning Update Committee, Design Review Committee, Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission)
January to April 2013
Public Hearings and Release of Public Review Draft EIR (Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board, Planning Commission)
April to summer 2013
Final EIR and Final Plan (Planning Commission, City Council)
Fall to December 2013

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.
• Join us at the public meetings. Information about the dates/times/locations of these meetings is provided below. 

Hard copies of these reports are also available at Oakland Asian Cultural Center (388 9th Street, 2nd floor), the Lincoln Recreation Center (250 10th Street) and the City of Oakland Planning Department (250 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Suite 3315).

Public Review Draft  -  Lake Merritt Station Area Plan (December 2012)
Public Review Draft - Lake Merritt Station Area Design Guidelines (December 2012)

Administrative Draft - Lake Merritt Station Area Plan (June 2012)

Notice of Preparation of an Environmental Impact Report (March 1, 2012)

Draft Preferred Plan Report (November 2011)

Emerging Plan Report (September 2011)

Summary of Community Feedback Report (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?

The Lake Merritt Station Area Plan will include policies and programs about future development within an area generally within one half mile of the Lake Merritt BART 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.  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.
 
3.  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.  
 
4.  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.