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The Rockridge Community Planning Council and Berkeleyans for Pedestrian-Oriented Development (BPOD), the two groups who appealed the Planning Commission's approval of the College Avenue Safeway Project, along with FANS (who was not an appellant) have reached a tentative settlement with Safeway.

The settlement reduces the size of the project by 8,000 sq. ft. It also moves the Safeway store down to ground level, with screened rooftop parking, and opens up a pedestrian plaza east of 63rd St. between College & Claremont. Safeway has agreed to eliminate the project’s parking deficit, as well as to pay for residential permit parking within the surrounding two-block area. There are numerous other benefits included in the settlement. They will be spelled out at tonight’s hearing. The settlement was reached as a result of a mediation effort undertaken by District One Council Member Jane Brunner. 

The public hearing on RCPC’s and BPOD’s appeals will be heard by the City Council tonight, November 13th. The hearing will start some time after 6:30 PM. You can sign up on-line to speak at the hearing at this link: 

Please come to the hearing and voice your support for this settlement. 

Assuming the settlement is finalized, the revised project will be considered for final approval by the City Council on December 18th. 

Many thanks to all FANS who tirelessly spent time, energy and money over the past 5 years. 

FANS www.fansco.org