Piedmont City Council:

I am writing in regards to the Draft EIR for the Blair Park Project.  I am a former resident of Piedmont and I understand the need for additional recreation space in Piedmont, however as a current resident of Oakland and one that will be impacted adversely by the project cannot support.

Having said that I will hold my further comments to the EIR.

In the EIR the consultant states ‘Policies relevant to the traffic, circulation, and parking on site are drawn from the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the City of Piedmont General Plan (2009).

Specifically they mention, Policy 8.3of the General Plan which reads; Discourage development projects which would significantly increase congestion on Piedmont streets or create substantially increased road maintenance requirements.

According to the EIR this project would increase congestion on Piedmont Streets;

Potentially Significant Traffic and Circulation Impacts. Implementation of the proposed project could result in the following significant impacts to traffic and circulation.

(1) Exceed the Capacity of Existing Circulation System. The project has the potential to

Generate additional vehicle trips that could exceed the capacity of the existing circulation system.

According to the EIR this project is contrary to the Piedmont General Plan.

The Piedmont General plan also calls for traffic planning with the City of Oakland;

Policy 8.8: Traffic Planning With Oakland. Work collaboratively with the City of Oakland to address projected 25 year increases in congestion on Grand, Moraga, and Oakland Avenues, and to coordinate any planned improvements or changes to these streets.

However the EIR does not offer mitigation for two intersections in Oakland, Harbord Dr and Moraga Ave and the intersection Moraga Ave and Estates Dr.  Both of which would be adversely effected by the project according to EIR.  Was the City of Oakland consulted regarding traffic for this EIR?

If not, that is contrary to the Master Plan.

I would imagine that there are other aspects of this project that are contrary to the Piedmont Master Plan and that the Plan would need to be modified.  How many modifications are you willing to make to your Master Plan?

Thank you.