The unanimous opposition of Piedmont’s own Planning Commission to PRFO’s plan was brushed aside as inconsequential by City Council. Councilmember Jeff Wieler dismissed Blair Park as ”a dumping ground” and suggested that the Planning Commission was unqualified to review this project. 

The City appears to be rushing to get this analysis done in time for a meeting on April 4, when we expect they will vote on final approval.

Please continue to spread the word about this dangerous, destructive, and costly project, and stay tuned for FOMC’s next move. 

The Piedmont City Council will hear a final presentation on the revised Blair Park sports complex plan, as well as new presentations on alternative plans to enlarge Coaches Field into a full-size soccer field at a fraction of the cost of developing Blair Park.  At this meeting, the Council will attempt to define the project they want. This is a critical step! They will also be giving direction to City staff for any further study or analysis of the proposals.  It is possible a supplemental EIR may be required due to insufficiencies in the original document and the introduction of new features to the original project plan.

 

 

• If at all possible, please attend the meeting on March 21st at 7:30 pm in person.
• If you can’t attend, it’s critical that you email your comments to the Piedmont City Council to jtulloch@ci.piedmont.ca.us or by mail to Piedmont City Hall, 120 Vista Ave., Piedmont, CA 94611. Comments received by noon on Friday, March 18, will get in the Council Members’ meeting packets.

The Piedmont Planning Commission voted 5-0 AGAINST the proposed project, citing many flaws in the design regarding its size, safety, traffic, city liability, and aesthetics, as well as conflicts with Piedmont’s General Plan. Both the Sierra Club and the Golden Gate Audubon Society oppose the project.  The Parks Commission, the Recreation Commission and the Planning Commission ALL agree that pedestrian and safety issues need to be adequately addressed before any project approval can take place for Blair Park.  This is a critical issue to voice to City Council members. No traffic mitigations have been produced that are feasible and all must be analyzed by an qualified, independent traffic consultant.

 

• Pedestrian safety and traffic issues have not been resolved. Safety of pedestrians crossing busy Moraga Ave. is the City’s responsibility.
• The City should be required to conduct a thorough, independent traffic study before ANY project is approved at Blair Park.
• To walk or bike to the park, youngsters would have to cross speeding traffic on Moraga Ave. and climb a long trail with 10 switchbacks up to the elevated sports fields.
• There is no sidewalk or bike path at street level along the entire length of the proposed sports complex.
• Two mini roundabouts — in the latest proposal — are highly inappropriate on narrow, sloping, traffic-heavy Moraga Ave. and would pose grave danger to pedestrians, bicyclists & vehicles.
• The sports complex would add even more traffic to Moraga, especially during weekday evening commute hours.

• The city has never done a fiscal analysis of the proposed project.
• Cutting deeply into the hillside and drilling to construct a 320-foot long, 35-foot high retaining wall could cause cracks and movement of homes above the park, an enormous liability to the City.
• The Blair Park project is not “free.” The City may be responsible for unallocated costs, such as expensive turf replacement, park maintenance and sewer line and water pipeline relocation especially any potential cost over-runs or future liabilities.
• Main sewer line plus 25 lateral sewer lines, each about 300 feet long, and a 20-inch diameter water pipeline that traverses the middle of the park, would have to be relocated —  a project similar to the size and contract liabilities of another undergrounding district!

• The proposed Blair Park project is too massive for the narrow strip of land.
• The “reduced” plan has even more unattractive hardscape, due to enlarged parking lots which will remove additional trees and possibly add another retaining wall.
• The proposed “grassy glade” in the “reduced” plan is actually a sports field with the edges rounded.  Since it has no fence along Moraga Ave., balls, chased by kids, will end up on the street.  It will not reduce impacts to traffic, noise or the oak woodland.
• The view from Moraga Avenue will be of a 38-foot high “berm” and steel fence. Because of its steepness, nothing will grow on the ‘mechanically stabilized-earth’ berm. The kind of retaining wall planned along the hillside is what you see along a freeway.
• Much of Blair Park, in the shadow of the hillside, is chilly and damp and unsuitable for sports fields.

• The proposed sports complex would clear-cut 155 trees, including 55 coast live oaks.
• Blair Park provides a natural habitat to 22 species of birds, plus deer, fox and other creatures.
• Once the park is destroyed, it will be gone forever.
• The project would ruin the views, peace and quiet of dozens of canyon homes overlooking the site.
• Blair Park is a gateway to Piedmont that could be a lovely, landscaped entrance to the city.  Trees are not maintained and in general there has been a ‘hands off’ approach by the City.
• The proposed project violates many policies in Piedmont’s newly adopted General Plan, including: Protection of Open Space–Protect environmentally sensitive open space in Piedmont to the greatest extent feasible.  Recognize open space as an important aesthetic and ecological resource in the city, and a defining element of Piedmont’s character.

• Go to moragacanyon.org for more information.
• Watch two new videos on the Blair Park story poles and excerpts from the Planning Commission meeting.
• Sign the Friends of Moraga petition, if you haven’t already, and join more than 700 other community members who have registered their opposition.
• Tell your friends and neighbors! Send them to moragacanyon.org, and if they’re on Facebook, have them “Like” facebook.com/moragacanyon.

 

As always, thank you for your continued support through this long process.

Friends of Moraga Canyon

An invitation from the Friends of Moraga Canyon to join us for a

Saturday, March 12, 2:00 pm

Each of the 155 trees that would be destroyed (if the ill advised Blair Park sports

complex is approved by the Piedmont City Council on March 21st)

will be up for “adoption” & “ribboned” by supporters, new & old, who value…

Open space over development

Pedestrian & traffic safety over increased Canyon traffic

A tranquil respite in an urban environment

The legacy of precious oaks which can live 100 – 500 years beyond our own lifespan

A natural habitat for over 22 species of birds, deer, fox & other creatures

Come and “Tie A Yellow Ribbon ‘Round the Old Oak Tree” and get your picture taken

with it for our photo collage.  Bring the whole family!

Free-will donations are appreciated for the “adoptions.”

NOTE: In the event of light showers, bring an umbrella. For heavy rain,

the “adoption” will be postponed to this Sunday, March 13 at 2:00 pm.