[Copied from a document prepared by Planning and Development Department Current Planning Division]

About this Notice of Preparation

The purpose of this Notice of Preparation (NOP) is to inform agencies and the public that an environmental impact report (EIR) is being prepared for the City of Berkeley, and to seek comments on the information and analysis which should be included in the EIR. This NOP includes the following:

A brief description of the proposed project (the relocation of a synagogue and school into larger facilities on a new site),

A description of the location of the project and its setting,

A list of those environmental issues which are currently intended to be discussed in the EIR, including the technical studies which will be used to assess the project's potential impacts.

You are invited to review this information and send any comments or concerns to the City of Berkeley. In particular, if there are any environmental issues which are not already included on the list of items to be examined in the EIR, please inform the City prior to the end of the comment period.

As provided by State law, this Notice of Preparation will circulate for a period of 30 (thirty) calendar days. Your comments must be received by the end of the 30-day review period in order to be considered.

Lead Agency: City of Berkeley

2120 Milvia Street

Berkeley, CA 94704

web:www.ci.berkeley.ca.us

Contact: Steve Solomon, Senior Planner

Phone: (510) 705-8116

Email: ssolomon@ci.berkeley.ca.us

Project Title: Congregation Beth El Synagogue and School

The City of Berkeley (City) is the Lead Agency for the preparation and review of a Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the proposed relocation of Congregation Beth El Synagugue and School. In accordance with procedures set forth in the California

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Notice of Preparation of an Environmental Impact Report Congregation Beth El Synagogue and School, Berkeley California

Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the City has determined that an EIR is required for the Project. This Notice of Preparation (NOP) has been prepared to solicit the views of interested persons and agencies as to the scope and content of the environmental information that is relevant to the agencies' statutory responsibilities in connection with the proposed Project. A summary of the location, project description and the probable environmental effects are provided below.

Due to the time limits mandated by state law, response to this NOP must be sent within 30 days of receipt of this notice. The written public comment period begins February 11, 2000 and extends through March 13, 2000. Please send written responses to Steve Solomon of the City of Berkeley Planning Department at the above address.

I. PROJECT LOCATION AND SETTING

Location

The site of the proposed synagogue and school is located in the northeastern portion of Berkeley, approximately 2-3 blocks northwest of the U.C. Berkeley campus. The map below shows the proposed project in relation to the downtown area and other areas in Berkeley.

[MAP OF CITY WITH PROJECT SITE MARKED--1301 OXFORD PARCEL]

Local landmarks Include:

Live Oak Park, located west of the site across Oxford Street,

The Berkeley Rose Garden, two blocks east of the site,

Oxford School, two blocks north of the site on Oxford Street, and

Martin Luther King Junior High School, nine blocks west on Rose Street.

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Project Setting

The project site is a 2.16-acre (94,000 gross square feet) parcel which currently contains a church structure (no longer used for worship), several small buildings (including a caretaker's house), a reach of Codornices Creek (which drains a portion of the Berkeley hills into the San Francisco Bay), and a number of large, mature trees. The site also currently contains a community garden, which is operating on the site under a lease which expires in March 2000.

The project site is shown in further detail in this excerpt (below) from the U.S. Geological Survey's map of the area (source: "Oakland West" quadrangle, rev. 1980).

[PROJECT SITE--TOPOGRAPHIC MAP]

The project site formerly included the Napoleon Byrne House (built in 1868), a local historic landmark which burned down in separate fires in 1984 and 1985. Based on an initial review of the site and consultation with City staff, it appears that no remains of the Byrne House exist on the site; however, the City's Landmarks Preservation Commission reviewed the site after the loss of the home and reaffirmed the site's historic value. It remains listed as a historical resource by the City of Berkeley, although the site was removed from the National Landmarks Registry in 1990.

The project site is located at an elevation of approximately 320 feet above sea level. Both the site and the general vicinity slope upward to the east; water drains downhill across the site from east to west toward the San Francisco Bay. Photos and a topographic map of the site (which also shows the proposed demolition of onsite structures) are shown on the following pages.

The former occupant of the site, the Chinese Alliance Church, obtained a Use Permit from the City of Berkeley in 1993 to construct a new, 11-classroom school on the site, along with a total of 25 parking spaces. Although approved by the City, the school was not built.

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The project site is zoned R-1-H, a single-family zoning district The "H" suffix indicates that the site is subject to the City's Hillside Overlay zoning district requirements.

Because the site contains a portion of Codornices Creek, it is also subject to the requirements of "Preservation and Protection of Natural Watercourses" (Chapter 17.08 of the Berkeley Municipal Code),

[Photo -- Interior of the site, showing the former location of the Byrne House (in the grass area in the foreground)]

[Photo -- View of the site looking - west toward Oxford Street. The proposed Synagogue/School building would be located in the area tto the left in this photo.]

[Photo --The existing church building, which is proposed to be demolished. The new sanctuary is proposed to be located approximately in the same location (at the southeast comer of the site).]

[Photo -- shows a portion of Codornices Creek, which is underground in a culvert across approximately 213 of the site. Shown is the cculvert opening; the creek f7ows out of this culvert into a steeply banked channel before entering another culvert under Oxford Street. The culvert opening (the inverted "U" shape) is approximately five feet high.]

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The area around the project site is a well-established residential neighborhood, which contains many homes dating from 1940s and earlier. Reflecting the area's age, most local streets are relatively narrow and tend to follow the contours of the land. The photos below show typical streetscapes in the vicinity of the site.

[Photo -- Home on Spruce Street adjacent to the project site.]

[Photo -- Oxford Street, adjacent to the project site.]

[Photo -- Spruce Street homes.]

II. PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Proposed Uses

The applicants propose to construct the following facilities on the project site:

A sanctuary, chapel and social hall

14 classrooms

A nursery school

Administrative offices

The total floor area of the proposed structure is 34,891 square feet; because a portion of the building (near Spruce Street) would be two stories tall, the total footprint of the structure is somewhat less, totaling 24,100 square feet.

The proposed project also includes a total of 35 on-site parking spaces connected to a one-way internal circulation roadway. As part of the overall development of the site, the exposed portion of

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Codornices Creek is also proposed to be stabilized (the steep banks will be made less steep and reinforced to prevent erosion). The banks of the creek will be replanted with appropriate native plants.

The proposed site plan is shown on the following page.

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Project Objectives

The following objectives have been identified by the applicant for the new Synagogue and School. These objectives are quoted from the applicant's information as submitted to the City of Berkeley.

1. Relocation within the North Berkeley Community from its existing synagogue, designed for a congregation of 250 families, to a new synagogue which it will build to accommodate the existing congregation of approximately 600 families, with room for modest, foreseeable growth of new members.

2. Provision at a single location of adequate space for the congregation's ongoing religious, educational and social programs. The physical requirements of these programs include:

A spiritually significant sanctuary accommodating up to 250 congregants with the capability (in conjunction with adjacent spaces) to accommodate up to 750 persons at one time during the annual Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services,

A social hall accommodating up to 180 persons with an associated kitchen, used for congregant celebrations and meetings,

Three nursery school classrooms meeting state requirements for Beth El's 60student nursery school program,

Eleven religious school classrooms, used for after school and weekend classes,

A library, chapel, and staff offices,

Offices, storage, and gathering space for Camp Kee Tov (congregation sponsored 8-week summer camp) and Midrasha (a Sunday morning spiritual, educational, and community service program for teenagers), and

Outdoor spaces for services, quiet contemplation, children's play, and social gatherings.

3. A project which is within the financial means of the congregation. This objective will be achieved by several means, including using the income realized from the disposition of the existing facility to finance the new synagogue, and avoiding costly design features where feasible alternatives exist.

4. A design for the facilities and grounds which: Reduces circulation and parking impacts on our closest neighbors by providing an internal one-way driveway used for drop-off and pick-up (including nursery and religious school students and seniors) and by providing 35 on-site parking spaces, Provides space for safe circulation of pedestrians, automobiles, and school buses by separating vehicular traffic from actively used outdoor spaces. Allows sufficient and safe on-site play space for nursery school children, and Improves the current deteriorated physical condition of the site through sensitive architectural and landscape design.

5. Developing our new synagogue in a manner consistent with City of Berkeley standards, neighborhood scale and design, while accommodating our congregational and community programs.

6. In addition, Congregation Beth El hopes to accomplish the following:

Cooperate with other neighborhood institutions such as the Berkeley Art Center and Live Oak Park to alleviate parking problems on major event days.

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Cooperate with neighborhood groups and the City of Berkeley to help alleviate problem intersections such as Glen and Spruce and work jointly toward the goal of safe streets.

Be in concert with the Berkeley General Plan's goal of retaining open space and green environment.

Work toward peaceful coexistence with neighbors emphasizing wherever possible similarities between neighbor core values and Beth El's.

Required Discretionary Approvals

The proposed project will require approval of the following discretionary permits:

A Use Permit for the demolition of the existing on-site structures (per §23C.08.050 of the Berkeley Municipal Code) (this application will be considered by the Berkeley Zoning Adjustments Board),

A Use Permit for the operation of the synagogue and school, (this application will be considered by the Berkeley Zoning Adjustments Board), and

Approval of the project by the City's Landmarks Preservation Commission (per Chapter 3.24 of the Berkeley Municipal Code).

Construction of new buildings on the site will also require the approval of building permits; these permits are not discretionary (issuance of building permits is mandatory if the requirements of the applicable Building Code standards are met).

Because the site includes a portion of Codornices Creek, the provisions of the City of Berkeley creek protection ordinance (Preservation and Protection of Natural Watercourses, Chapter 17.08 of the Berkeley Municipal Code) will apply to any proposed alteration of the creek channel.

Ill. POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

The following environmental issues have been identified by the City of Berkeley Planning Department as part of their initial review of the proposed project, and will be addressed in the environmental impact report.

The EIR will address the full range of environmental issues; the issues below will be examined in more detail. If there is a specific environmental issue you feel should be addressed, you must submit a written comment on this Notice of Preparation to the City of Berkeley before the close of the public review period for this Notice, Please refer to page 1 of this Notice for information on the closing date and the address to send your comments.

Biology/Coast Live Oaks-The EIR will examine the potential effects of site development on the existing on-site Coast Live Oak trees, as well as the effects of removing several existing mature trees. To determine the potential impact of the project on trees on the site, the following studies (submitted to the City by the applicant) will be reviewed by an independent consultant (Foothill Associates):

A Tree Survey at the Congregation Beth El Land at 1301 Oxford Street, Barrie D. Coats and Associates

An Addendum (to the above report), Barhe D. Coates and Associates

Foothill Associates will also perform a new evaluation of the existing site, and produce a new analysis of potential project-related impacts and appropriate mitigation measures.

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Biology/Codornices Creek-The EIR Ml examine the potential for use of the reach of Codornices Creek within the project site by Steelhead salmon, including a discussion of other improvements to the creek downstream of the site which would be necessary to provide suitable habitat for this species. The EIR will also discuss the applicant's proposal as it relates to the City of Berkeley's creek preservation ordinance (Chapter 17.08 BMC) and suggest alternative designs if necessary to achieve conformance with this ordinance. To determine the potential impacts of the project on Codornices Creek, the following studies (submitted to the City by the applicant) will be reviewed by an independent consultant (fisheries biologist Alice Rich):

1301 Oxford Street Fish Survey, Hagar Environmental Services

Codornices Creek, 1301 Oxford Street, Channel Assessment and Concept Design Study, Waterways Restoration Institute

In addition, Alice Rich will also conduct a new evaluation of the portion of Codornices Creek within the project site and determine potential impacts and appropriate mitigation measures

Parking/Traffic- The EIR will examine the project's potential parking demand and make recommendations for additional parking, parking controls, or other measures as necessary to ensure that parking can be accommodated in conformance with the Berkeley Zoning Code. The EIR will include specific information for approval of parking by the Zoning Adjustments Board. The EIR will also examine the potential traffic impacts resulting from operation of the new synagogue/school. This will include "standard" operations and summertime day camp or special events such as the Hanukkah Festival.

An independent consultant (CCS Engineers) will review the following study, which was submitted to the City by the applicant:

Transportation Impact Study for the Congregation Beth Ei Project at 1301 Oxford Street, Fehr & Peers Associates

CCS Engineers will also conduct new surveys of traffic, parking, and available parking in the vicinity of the new site and develop an independent assessment of the project's potential impacts and appropriate mitigation measures.

Historic Resources-The EIR will examine the impacts of the proposed project on the historic status of the project site and make recommendations for mitigation before, during, and after construction of the proposed buildings. An independent consultant, Historian Don Napoli, will review the site and existing information related to the former Byrne House, and will prepare an assessment of the project's potential impacts on the historic character of the site and appropriate measures to address these impacts.

Noise-The proposed project's potential noise impacts will be addressed in a new technical study prepared by an independent firm, Bollard and Brennan. The noise analysis will include measurements of existing noise in the project area and a projection of future noise created by traffic on local streets, traffic related to the proposed project, and on-site activities (such as the proposed outdoor play areas).

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Geology/Hydrology-The EIR will examine the existing and proposed treatments for Codornices Creek, focusing on the applicant's proposed plans for stabilizing the currently eroding creek banks and ensuring the safety of those portions of the site to be located atop the culverted section of the creek. The following studies will be reviewed by an independent consultant, Questa Engineering:

Preliminary Geotechnical Investigation, 1301 Oxford Street, Earth Science Consultants

Codornices Creek, 1301 Oxford Street, Channel Assessment and Concept Design Study, Waterways Restoration Institute.

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Photos did not scan well enough to be worth posting on this page; we'll try again.

BELOW: Site plan for proposed development; shading added by LOCCNA for clarity. Blue shows approximate location of Codornices Creek, including culverted portion (dotted). Gray shows area proposed for pavement; Pink shows building.