March 10, 2001
Zoning Adjustments Board
2120 Milvia St.
Berkeley, CA 94704
Re: Proposed Congregation Beth El synagogue, 1301 Oxford
Board Members:
Berkeley Path Wanderers Association urges that you not adopt either of the two alternate parking schemes offered at your last meeting. These designs aim at leaving an unpaved corridor over the culverted portion of Codornices Creek. However, the corridor is almost certainly too narrow to allow the creek to be uncovered (see WRI report on alternatives for the creek).
In exchange for this dubious gain, these alternatives do the following:
- Both place parking very close to Berryman Path. Buffering would be almost impossible.
- Both appear to require removal of the huge specimen bay tree, worsening views from the path.
- Both place parking immediately north of the daylighted creek canyon. From Berryman Path and the proposed creek viewpoint on Oxford, one would see parked cars rather than the green canyon.
These two parking spaces would make it impossible to move Beth ElŐs gate farther east to create a public-access area including the specimen oak trees between Berryman Path and the existing canyon.
We repeat our earlier statements that
- Increased traffic will make it more dangerous and difficult to cross Spruce to reach the path, the bus stops, and Beth El itself, creating a hazard and discouraging walking. A safe crosswalk is essential.
- No solid fence should deprive path walkers of views of open greenery or lessen visibility needed for safety.
- No sound wall should be built on Berryman Path itself (i.e. the north side, as the EIR proposed).
Berryman Path between Oxford and Spruce should be wheelchair accessible, like the path farther west.
We are pleased that the Board and Beth El are interested in a viewpoint for the canyon, that the Oxford gate has been inset somewhat (though it should be inset more), and that Beth El is interested in working with community groups on a historic memorial and on the Oxford Street entrance and Berryman Path. We are working with Friends of Five Creeks, the Berkeley Plaque Project, and other groups to create a Codornices Creek urban trail from the ridge to the Bay Trail, including marking the many points of fascinating human and natural history along the route. We hope to have the opportunity to work with Beth El on this as well.
Sincerely,
Jacque Ensign, Chair
Berkeley Path Wanderers
cc: Congregation Beth El
