OAKLAND (CBS SF/BCN). The time has finally arrived: Officials at Oakland expect to release Friday’s final environmental impact report regarding the proposed new stadium for Oakland As at Howard Terminal.
The report is expected be released at 8 AM on Monday. The city’s website. The Oakland Planning Commission will recommend that the city officials certify the report and submit it to the City Council.
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The Planning Commission will review the recommendation on Jan. 19, while the City Council might approve the report on February 2.
The release of the final Environmental Impact Report is a significant milestone in our journey to build a new waterfront baseball park district. It will create up to 18 acres worth of beautiful public parks, affordable housing, and good job opportunities for Oaklanders, said Libby Schaaf, Oakland Mayor.
The Oakland As released renderings for their proposed new ballpark at Howard Terminal, near Jack London Square in Oakland (Courty of Bjarke Ingels Group).
Schaaf stated that the 3,500 page document is detailed and comprehensive. It also ensures that this project is sustainable and environmentally safe. The EIR helps us keep the project on track for a final vote at the City Council in 2022. It also makes us one step closer in keeping our beloved As rooted here in Oakland.
The final EIR doesn’t contain any new information that is significant. It will therefore not be required to be recirculated and delay a vote.
The As proposal does not include a new stadium for 35,000 people but also housing, a hotel, a 3,500-seat performance space, and commercial space.
The Jack London Square area would be home to the entire development, which would cover approximately 55 acres.
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Approval of the entire project requires a project review, an environmental review and agreement. Both the city and As are at the beginning of the approval process. However, the As have been considering moving team members to Las Vegas.
President Dave Kaval stated that the Howard Terminal for the As is closing and they are moving out Oakland.
The final EIR would be approved by the City Council, closing the environmental review process.
Officials from the city are waiting for As to revise the plans and submit them to the city as part the project review process. Both are currently negotiating the financial aspects of the project agreements.
A lawsuit could delay the project for a short time, but only for a limited period. Assembly Bill 734 imposes a time limit for a lawsuit regarding the project.
The draft EIR raised common questions regarding rail safety, parking, bridges across railroad tracks, and why a ballpark could not be built on the Oakland Coliseum site. Each question or concern was addressed by city staff.
These questions were not answered on Thursday, but they will be included in the final EIR that will be released Friday. More than 400 comments were made to the draft EIR.
The Oakland As did NOT immediately respond to a request Thursday afternoon for comment on the release EIR.
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