Breaking: Oakland Planning Commission unanimously moves forward A's ballpark project
Next up: Oakland City Council
The proposed Howard Terminal Ballpark plan cleared its biggest hurdle to date Wednesday evening after the Oakland Planning Commission unanimously moved forward the project’s Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The $11 billion project and certification of the EIR now heads next to the Oakland City Council.
In a positive sign for the project’s chances at the Oakland City Council, several planning commissioners lauded the EIR for how thorough it appeared to be.
Planning Commissioner Sahar Shirazi, who worked previously for the state office that deals with the California Environemental Quality Act (CEQA), said the ballpark EIR is one of the most thorough she has ever seen. “I don’t see a reason not to advance this to the city council,” she said.
“This final EIR shows that CEQA does work.” Planning Commissioner Jennifer Renk added.
The project’s centerpiece is a 35,000-seat ballpark for the Oakland Athletics, along with up to 3,000 housing units, retail, hotels, and a total of 18 acres of public space. Adjacent to downtown Oakland, Jack London Square, and Brooklyn Basin, the ballpark project is viewed as a potential redefining moment for the city.