Land Use (News)
Richmond council OKs Chevron refinery plan
Dateline:
07/18/2008The council voted 5-4 to approve a conditional use permit for Chevron to replace a hydrogen plant, install new hydrogen-purifying equipment, build a new cogeneration power plant and replace other antiquated machinery.
"We're pleased with the vote and look forward to moving ahead with construction," said Dean O'Hair, a Chevron spokesman. "This project will make us more efficient and reliable than we already are."
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Richmond City Council approves Chevron's plan to upgrade refinery by 5-4 vote
Dateline:
07/17/2008A divided Richmond City Council early Thursday morning approved Chevron's contentious plan to replace decades-old equipment at the local refinery, as well as a separate agreement for the oil company to provide $61.6 million for public safety, low-income healthcare and other services.
Environmental activists, who say Chevron's plans pose a public health risk that has not been fully studied, immediately shouted 'Shame on you!' from the audience and vowed to vote councilmembers out of office.
Councilwoman Ludmyrna Lopez defended the decision, saying a series of measures will require Chevron to cut emissions and other impacts.
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Opponents of Chevron Upgrade Promise Lawsuit
Dateline:
07/17/2008After an emotional city council meeting that lasted until 2 a.m., the council on Thursday voted 5 – 4 in favor of an upgrade that Chevron officials said would allow them to generate less pollution and refine a wider range of oil.
Jessica Tovar of Communities for a Better Environment asserted that the environmental impact report submitted to the city was incomplete.
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Planning Commission Leaps Tall Buildings
Dateline:
07/17/2008Berkeley planning commissioners continued their march through the Downtown Area Plan last week with a side excursion through a controversial economic study.
During its two-year term the Downtown Area Plan Advisory Committee (DAPAC) has struggled to decide how many buildings should be built in Berkeley’s downtown area and how high they should be.
Buildings of seven stories or higher have long been a focus of controversy in the city, pitting “smart growth” advocates against preservationists and neighborhood activists.
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Oakland Council OKs Four Finalists for Army Base Development
Dateline:
07/17/2008The Oakland City Council voted late Tuesday night to approve four finalist developers to bid on its 108-acre Oakland Army Base Gateway Development project. The four finalists—pared down from an original list of eight developers who bid on the job—will now be invited to submit requests for proposals within the next four to six months.
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Press Release: Chevron Offers Richmond $61 Million to Approve Refinery Expansion
Dateline:
07/16/2008Related stories:
Richmond council to resume Chevron deliberations tonight
Dateline:
07/16/2008Deliberation on Chevron's contentious bid to upgrade decades-old equipment at its Richmond refinery continues tonight.
The Richmond City Council recessed its decision-making hearing at about 12:05 a.m. today and will resume at 7 p.m. at Kennedy High School's multipurpose room.
The council must decide whether Chevron's plan to replace its power plant, hydrogen plant and reformer will move forward. The Planning Commission last month approved a permit along with about 70 provisions, but neither Chevron nor environmental activists are satisfied. Both are appealing that ruling to the council.
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Bio-Rad fills up business park
Dateline:
07/16/2008RICHMOND — A big new lease by Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc. has completely filled up an industrial park here and spurred the developers of the complex to launch a major expansion of the project.
Bio-Rad has rented 116,000 square feet of industrial warehouse and distribution space in Pinole Point Business Park in Richmond. The life sciences equipment company is moving to the business park in northern Richmond from a site at the south end of the same city.
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Chinatown more pedestrian-friendly
Dateline:
07/16/2008WITH steady drumbeats keeping rhythm and neon-vested police volunteers keeping traffic at bay, Dragon Lion Dance performers turned Webster and Ninth streets into their own stage Wednesday to celebrate the completion of a $2.2 million project to make Oakland Chinatown more pedestrian-friendly and safe.
The project, which brought patterned crosswalks, bilingual signage, special lighting and pedestrian countdown signals to four intersections in the heart of Chinatown, was a collaboration among the city of Oakland, Asian Health Services and the Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce.
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