Community Environmental Advisory Commission

City of Berkeley June 1999

Recommendation: Regarding 1301 Oxford St., Temple Beth El Development and Impacts on Codornices Creek and Environ

1.CEAC recommends an Environmental Impact Report be required for this project, as per neighborhood and community requests, and as necessitated by the fragile and unique qualities of this parcel adjacent to live Oak Park and incorporating Codornices Creek and the Codornices Creek Community Garden within its boundaries;

2.That the developer be required to consider design changes in consultation with the neighborhood and community, altering the proposed design so as to ensure the maintainence of the green corridor that currently exists, which serves as a unique and essential biological and aesthetic link for native plants, wildlife, and the residents of Berkeley;

3.That developers be required to allow, support, and ensure the preservation of both creek habitat and existing community gardens, and to establish community gardens (set-asides) on sites where this may be appropriate; and in the case of 1301 Oxford ensure the future survival of both the creek habitat and the Community Garden with a purchase of conservation easement or outright purchase of the creek corridor by an entity interested in creek preservation, this being particularly significant for this site as one of Berkeley's first farms and a Berkeley Historic Landmark;

4.That finally, the City of Berkeley should not permit nor approve a development that runs contrary to both city intent (Creek Ordinance, "Preservation and Restoration of Natural Waterways," as well as the joint Watershed Goals Statement with the cities of Albany, El Cerrito, Richmond, and Berkeley in 1995 which states the goal of "restoring our creeks by removing culverts, underground pipes, and obstructions to fish and animal migration, putting creeks in restored channels up in the sunshine where they can be enjoyed by people and wildlife"... and "restoring creek corridors as natural transportation routes with pedestrian and bicycle paths along creekside greenways"...

5.Further, over 160 neighbors of the property have signed a statement that includes the following: "Please know that it is the consensus of this neighborhood that the proposed drive between Berryman Path and Codornices Creek is unacceptable. The drive is inconsistent with the Core Values agreed upon by neighbors at the inception of this project in 1996 and given to the leadership of the Congregation. The creek corridor is too precious a piece of nature in Berkeley to relinquish for car accommodations ... The banks of the creek are delicate, yet the proposed site plan would run a drive along it, pushing aside the vegetation that holds the bank and sustains the wildlife. The drive and parking would accelerate tainted runoff and compact soils that have been restored to life by the effort of many community gardeners. Putting a drive over the creek corridor would rend its vitality and mock creek restoration values of the adopted Joint Watershed Goals Statement Berkeley signed with Albany, El Cerrito, and Richmond ... Placing traffic between the creek and the path which leads to Live Oak Park, schools, and other destinations compromises bike and pedestrian access. The proposed drive brings hazards, noise and air pollution to the very heart of the site."