Jan 24, 2011
Jim Semitekol, president of Friends of Moraga Canyon, has written the following letter urging those who want to help us stop the Moraga Canyon Sports Fields project to make a donation. FOMC is now a non-profit, so your donation is tax deductible. Read on for information:
Dear Neighbors,
The Piedmont City Council is nearing a decision on approving the construction of sports fields on the current site of Blair Park in Moraga Canyon. The proposed project is massive in size and scope requiring massive cuts into the hillside below Scenic Avenue and construction of large berms along almost 500 feet of Moraga Avenue destroying one of the last open spaces in the Piedmont/Oakland Hills area.
Friends of Moraga Canyon needs your help to save the open space of Blair Park! Friends of Moraga Canyon is now officially a 510(c)3 organization and your donations are tax deductible. A donation of $50 or more would make a significant impact. Please make your checks payable to
Friends of Moraga Canyon
PO Box 70127
Oakland, CA 94612
Your help is urgently needed to make sure everyone affected by this development is aware of the size and scope of this proposed project. Please help us save this open space.
Thanks,
Jim Semitekol
President, Friends of Moraga Canyon
Jan 24, 2011
UPDATE: The following rally is now rescheduled for February 12. See this post for details.
RALLY TO SAVE MORAGA CANYON (BLAIR PARK)
SATURDAY, JAN 29, 1:00 pm – 1:45 pm
At Blair Park (across from Coaches Field)
Come show your opposition to the PRFO proposed sports complex and your support for saving the last open space in Piedmont. Story poles will be erected to show the massiveness of this project, the height of the tall “berm” along Moraga Ave. and the 325-foot long retaining wall along the hillside, up to 35 feet high, required by the deep cuts into the hill. Caution tape will mark the 155 trees that would be destroyed.
Bring your family, friends, dogs and hand-made signs!
Help us point out the many objections to this project:
- safety hazards for children attempting to cross busy Moraga Ave;
- fiscal liabilities for Piedmont taxpayers if promised private donations do not cover full construction and maintenance costs of this $6 million project;
- lack of sidewalk on the Blair Park side of Moraga Ave;
- permanent destruction of natural habitat for birds and other wildlife;
- potential danger of landslides caused by deep excavation into the hillside and construction of a retaining wall.
After a short rally, we will stand single file along Moraga Ave. and hold a large banner and our signs. We will provide a few signs if you don’t have one. If possible, carpool, walk or bicycle to Blair Park. (Some parking is available at Coaches Field parking lot.)
Join us for a fun event! Sponsored by Friends of Moraga Canyon, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Jan 24, 2011
The City Council certified the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) in Dec. 2010 and referred the proposed project to three city commissions for their review and recommendations. The Recreation Commission has already met and recommended that the PRFO proposed project be approved by the Council. The remaining two Commission meetings are coming up soon: (UPDATE: Dates and times have been updated)
Park Commission: Thursday, Feb. 17, 5:30 p.m.
Planning Commission: Thursday, Feb. 24, 6:30 p.m.
Both meetings will be held in the City Council chambers, Piedmont City Hall, 120 Vista Ave.
PLEASE EMAIL OR WRITE A LETTER TO THE COMMISSIONS EXPRESSING YOUR VIEWS ON THE PROPOSED PROJECT OR SPEAK AT THE HEARINGS.
Comments may be submitted by email to the staff for distribution to Commissioners:
Suggestions on points to make before the Park Commission and more information on alternatives are after the jump: (more…)
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