City of Oakland Lawsuit over Blair Park Still an Option

Oakland City Council members Tuesday discussed possible litigation against the City of Piedmont over a plan to develop sports fields in Blair Park but took no final action.

That means "litigation continues to be authorized," according to an aide to to Oakland City Council member Libby Schaaf, who represents District 4, including the Montclair area. 

Discussion took place during a closed session of the Oakland council Tuesday afternoon. Council members will continue the discussion with Oakland City Attorney Barbara Parker at another closed session on Dec. 20.

The Piedmont City Council voted 4-1 early Tuesday morning to adopt the Blair Park element of the Moraga Canyon Sports Field Project, a crucial step in moving forward the plan to build privately financed playing fields in the oak-studded park on Moraga Avenue.

Moraga, a winding and hilly street on the Piedmont-Oakland border, is often used as a shortcut between Pleasant Valley Road and Montclair, especially during commute hours.

Schaaf was one of dozens of speakers at the Piedmont City Council's Dec. 5 public hearing on the Blair Park project. She said Oakland continues to feel that its concerns have not been addressed by the City of Piedmont. Those concerns include adequate access for emergency vehicles on Moraga Avenue.

The Blair Park master plan includes a traffic roundabout at the intersection of Moraga and Maxwelton Road, designed to slow vehicles to about 15 miles per hour at that point. An environmental consultant on the Blair Park project said Monday that fire engines would be able to drive across the roundabout, adding only a few seconds to a journey.

Read more about Monday's Piedmont City Council meeting here.