I just received a note from the Leslie Mendez, the planner for the Berkeley Iceland project, letting me know that staff will be requesting a continuance for the Sports Basement permit to the May 24 meeting (same time and place). The notice of the meeting was not sent out as required by the regulation so the delay will ensure proper notice. We will continue to prepare for this meeting which I hope everyone will watch for.

Thanks - Tom K.

     Thanks to everyone who has written to us and to the ZAB in support of Berkeley Iceland. Some folks have asked for more information on issues to raise and suggestions on what to write. I've attached a sample letter which can be modified as you like. First, the details for the meeting:

Where: Berkeley City Council Chamber, 2134 MLK Jr. Way.
When: Thursday, May 24, 2012 7:00 pm

Items:

Zoning Ordinance Section 23E.52.090 includes:
B. A proposed use or structure must:
1. Be compatible with the purposes of the District;
2. Be compatible in design and character with the District and the adjacent residential neighborhoods;

The Sports Basement plan would create a 71,000 sq. ft. discount sporting goods store - roughly twice the size of Berkeley REI (which is on a major traffic route with over 100 parking space). Is there any doubt that a store this size replacing the historic community recreation ice center changes the character of this neighborhood. Instead of families spending time together having fun, shoppers stopping by to pick up bargain shoes.  Instead of early morning skaters working on their programs, delivery trucks dropping off stock for the shelves.  Instead of a real public community center where the Berkeley mixes, sales and the occasional nonprofit meeting.  It is hard to think of a bigger change in the character and culture of the neighborhood - and of Berkeley.

 This Thursday, May 3rd, Berkeley Iceland once again goes before the Berkeley Landmark Preservation Commission (LPC). This time, instead of providing for protection of the building, the LPC will be evaluating Sports Basement's "Structural Alteration Permit". In this case, the alteration is the replacement of the berms on the North and South sites of Berkeley Iceland with a parking lot. The Zoning Adjustments Board (ZAB) certified the Sports Basement EIR, the first step to "rehabilitating" Berkeley Iceland, which provided for removal of the berms with mitigation actions that are woefully insufficient - pictures and a "green" wall that won't do anything to modify significant impact of the mass of the building in its neighborhood.

While the LPC will be taking comments from the public on this, the City staff is recommending approval of the permit based on the conditions in the EIR. At a minimum, we need to push the LPC to hold out for significant mitigations which the LPC recommended in their comments to the EIR. Sports Basement needs to ensure that the significant impact they are having on the neighborhood is reduced as much as feasible, and that goes beyond just pictures and wall treatments.

When: Thursday, May 3 2012
Where: North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst Avenue
Link: LPC May 3, 2012 Agenda

    I've gone over the Final EIR document from Sports Basement (available at http://www.cityofberkeley.info/ContentDisplay.aspx?id=65488 near the bottom of the page) with a pretty cursory review (it is 170 pages with lots of new pictures and diagrams). I've put together my observations on the document as I went though it which I've attached. I know I've probably missed a bunch, but I think these are the key points.