From the city of Oakland:

A community workshop will be held on Sept. 13 at the West Oakland Senior Center, 1724 Adeline St. Onsite registration begins at 5:45 p.m. and the workshop will run from 6 to 8 p.m.

The planning process will result in the West Oakland Specific Plan - a comprehensive, multi-faceted strategy for attracting, supporting and facilitating development that meets residents’ economic needs and provides jobs and services for West Oakland.

The plan’s intent is to increase the area’s economic vitality and quality of life. Public participation is key to the success of the planning process.

“This is an exciting opportunity for West Oakland residents to shape the future of their neighborhoods," Councilwoman Nancy Nadel said. "The West Oakland Specific Plan will define the character of our community over the next decade and enhance economic development opportunities.”

The Sept. 13 workshop is the first in a series of meetings to solicit community input and provide important project information. The emphasis of this first workshop will be to introduce the project and planning process as well as affirm community goals regarding citywide and West Oakland development preferences.

During the highly interactive meeting, participants will learn how a specific plan and its opportunity sites can benefit a neighborhood, review West Oakland’s assets and develop a draft vision statement for the area's opportunity sites. Four sites of particular interest (‘Opportunity Areas’) are:

• Third and Seventh Street Corridors within the West Oakland district
• Pine Street area from approximately Seventh to 12th Street
• Mandela Parkway, Grand Avenue and Peralta and Market streets
• San Pablo Avenue corridor from approximately 27th to I-580.

The multi-year process for the West Oakland Specific Plan will be completed by April 2013.

The completed plan will integrate ideas and recommendations into a strategy that ultimately will serve to attract businesses and developers to the key sites within the project’s opportunity areas.

Individuals requiring special arrangements, must call (510) 238-3322 or email ujonsson@oaklandnet.com five days in advance of the meeting.

To learn more about the West Oakland Specific Plan, see the link at the city site -  Planning and Zoning, City of Oakland and/or check out these links:

1. Oakland Land Use and Transportation Element (1998)
2. West Oakland Infrastructure Report (2011)
3. West Oakland Vision and Strategies (1994)
4. 7th Street Revitalization Plan (1989)
5. Neighborhood Knowledge for Change: Environmental Indicators Project (2002)
6. West Oakland Transit Village Action Report
7. Redevelopment Plan for Oakland Army Base Project (2005)
8. Redevelopment Plan for West Oakland Project (2003, updated 2010)
9. Draft West Oakland Opportunity Areas map
10. Draft West Oakland General Plan map
11. Draft West Oakland Zoning and Height map
12. Draft West Oakland Historic Resources map