On December 20, 2011, the Oakland City Council voted unanimously to file a lawsuit against Piedmont unless Oakland’s objections to the Moraga Canyon Sports Field project (aka Blair Park) can be resolved. The Oakland City Council expressed its continued commitment to resolving their differences with Piedmont and continues to seek a “tolling agreement” with Piedmont (which would extend the 30-day deadline to file a lawsuit). If that does not occur by January 6, 2012, Oakland will file suit against Piedmont to challenge the project’s Environmental Impact Report (EIR).

Meanwhile, what action does Friends of Moraga Canyon plan to take? We strongly believe the Addendum to the Blair Park EIR was incomplete and did not analyze the many changes made to the project in the “final” plan approved by the Piedmont City Council on Dec. 5, 2011. Similarly to Oakland, we want the City of Piedmont to conduct a supplemental environmental review, particularly to analyze the new traffic plan (building a roundabout and two pedestrian crosswalks on Moraga Ave.) and new hydrology plan (a “bioswale,” which would affect drainage all the way to Lake Merritt), among other significant changes, including PRFO’s last-minute deletion of the bicycle lane on Moraga Ave. at 4 p.m. on Dec. 5th!

Just like Oakland, FOMC has 30 days (until January 6, 2012) to file a lawsuit to require the City of Piedmont to conduct a Supplemental EIR. We are seriously considering this option in consultation with our attorney and will make a decision before Jan. 6. While Oakland’s objections to the project are similar to FOMC’s, there are differences in our interests, and our decision will not rest on what Oakland decides to do.

Our ongoing legal costs are heavy, and the only way we can continue this fight is with your help. Please make a tax-deductible donation now.

You can donate online by clicking here or by sending a check made out to “Friends of Moraga Canyon” to:

Friends of Moraga Canyon
P.O. Box 70127
Oakland, CA 94612-0127

At 2:30 am on Tuesday, the City Council voted 4-1 (with Garrett Keating opposed) to approve the Blair Park sports field project. Despite many speakers and letters who pointed out significant problems with the latest version of the project (particularly the roundabout on Moraga Avenue at Maxwelton) and others who urged the Council to conduct a Supplemental Environmental Impact Report, they voted to proceed with a simple Addendum.

This outcome—the culmination of a deeply flawed process in which the City Council and its staff repeatedly handed over the reins to the project’s advocates and abdicated their basic responsibility to perform due diligence—was, sadly, not unexpected. FOMC has been preparing for the possibility of legal action for some time, and our Board of Directors is weighing the options. We will let you know as soon as a decision is made, and when we might once again need to ask for your help.

We know this has been a tiring and frustrating process for all of you, as you have donated money, written many letters and emails, and spoke against the project at City Council meetings. But without the support you’ve all shown us, we would not be in as strong a position as we are now to continue the fight.

We’ve said it many times, but once again—a heartfelt THANK YOU from all of us at FOMC. Please stay tuned for our next report.