New rules for recycling facilities
December 5, 2008 by V Smoothe · 14 Comments
Last Summer, as part of the ongoing (yet slow-moving) Citywide zoning update process (an effort to get our zoning into compliance with our General Plan before the Plan expires), the City approved a new zoning code governing industrial areas. During the public discussions on the zoning, there were two major points of debate - live/work (which I wrote about a little bit here) and recycling facilities (which I never got around to covering). They adopted the new code back in June, which prohibits recycling centers within 300 feet of a residentially zoned area, and requires them to obtain a conditional use permit within 600 feet of residential. But they were not able to agree on how the recyclers should be regulated, and directed staff to hold public meetings on the subject to get stakeholder input, and then come back with a proposal to amend the new code based on the discussions there.
Celebrating the holiday season in Oakland
December 4, 2008 by V Smoothe · 7 Comments
I love the winter holiday season! I love Christmas lights, Christmas trees, and Christmas music. (In fact, I’m listening to my new Christmas station on Pandora as I type this. I love Christmas parties and I love giving Christmas presents. And in Oakland, the best part of the holiday season is that we get a flurry of great events and community celebrations.
My hands down favorite of all the seasonal Oakland events is the Holiday Parade.
Why Oakland needs a Transportation Commission
December 3, 2008 by V Smoothe · 42 Comments
In September, the Planning Commission’s lengthy hearing on Kaiser’s proposed new hospital plans drew a substantial number of public speakers. Complaints about the project focused largely on objections to signage and fears about compromising the historical integrity of Mosswood Park with promised improvements. The Commissioners disagreed with the comments on the signage issue, agreed to change the language in the conditions of the approval to accommodate the park people, and focused their discussion primarily on the building’s physical appearance. Lost in all the worries about the park and the signs were the three speakers who came to address the comparatively mundane issue of bicycle and pedestrian access.
Me, Alex Gronke, Rebecca Kaplan, and Ignacio De La Fuente!
December 2, 2008 by V Smoothe · 3 Comments
Tomorrow night, the Oakland Builders Alliance (OBA) will be hosting a party celebrating the holiday season and also their one year anniversary. The event will feature snacks and cocktails, and attendees will have a chance to hear from both Oakland City Council President Ignacio De La Fuente and newly elected At-Large City Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan about their visions for Oakland’s future. Alex Gronke, publisher of the Oakbook will be speaking as well. And me!
What I learned on my Thanksgiving vacation
December 1, 2008 by V Smoothe · 7 Comments
Eighteen years ago, my family moved from southern Louisiana to a quaint little town of less than 30,000 people just north of Houston. Back then, the big controversy in those parts was about whether the soon to open McDonald’s would suck all the charm out of this homey little community. A number of vocal residents felt that this was just not the sort of business we wanted in town, and that if it were allowed to open, it would mark the first step on the road to becoming just another corporate hellhole suburb.
