PlanningDevelopmt_2015-04-29_APP_PCKT_2777

Stantec Consulting Services Inc.
1340 Treat Boulevard Suite 300, Walnut Creek CA 94597-7966
April 22, 2015
Attention: Mr. Tim Beinke
2627 Shattuck Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94704
By email only – [email protected]
Reference:
Street
Trip Generation Study for Berkeley Honda at 2777 Shattuck Avenue and 2747 Adeline
Dear Tim,
In response to your request, this letter report presents Stantec’s trip generation analysis for the
proposed Berkeley Honda, a full-service auto dealership with service and parts departments, at
2777 Shattuck Avenue and 2747 Adeline Street in the City of Berkeley. The proposed project
would convert the existing “Any Mountain” sporting goods store to the proposed Berkeley Honda
car dealership. The existing “Any Mountain” sporting goods store has approximately 16,720 square
feet of retail and 2,500 square feet of office use on the second floor of the store. The proposed
Berkeley Honda car dealership is proposed to be approximately 20,020 square feet, including an
addition of 3,300 square feet on the south parking lot of 2777 Shattuck Avenue. This trip
generation report calculates the expected net new trips from the proposed project.
Trip Generation for the proposed project and the existing sporting goods store was estimated
based on rates provided in the Trip Generation, 9th Edition, published by the Institute of
Transportation Engineers (ITE). Table I shows the proposed project trip generation during the
weekday daily, a.m. and p.m. peak hours.
Table 1: Trip Generation
Land Use (ITE
Code)
Proposed Land Use
Automobile Sales
(841) *
Existing Land Use
Shopping Center
(820) **
Office (710)
Daily
Rate/
Total
Equ
Size
A.M. Peak Hour
P.M. Peak Hour
Rate
Rate/
In
Out Total
In Out Total
/Equ
Equ
20.020 ksf
32.3
647
1.92
29
10
39
2.62
21
31
52
16.720 ksf
42.7
714
0.96
9
7
16
3.71
30
32
62
EquA
80
EquB
9
1
10
1.49
1
3
4
-
-147
-
11
2
13
-
-10
-4
-14
2.500
Net Trip Generation
ksf
Note: ksf = 1,000 square feet; Equ A: Ln (T) = 0.76 Ln (X) + 3.68; Equ B: Ln (T) = 0.80 Ln (X) + 1.57
*ITE Land Use 841 (Automobile Sales) includes full-service auto dealership
** ITE Land Use 820 (Shopping Center) includes general retail stores and neighborhood retail stores
Source: ITE Trip Generation, 9th Edition; Stantec, April 2015
April 22, 2015
Mr. Tim Beinke
Page 2 of 2
Reference:
Trip Generation Study for Berkeley Honda at 2777 Shattuck Avenue and 2747 Adeline
Street
The proposed project is expected to generate 647 daily trips including 39 trips during the a.m.
peak hour and 52 trips during the p.m. peak hour. The existing “Any Mountain” sporting goods
store and its offices are estimated to generate 794 daily trips including 26 trips during the a.m.
peak hour and 66 trips during the p.m. peak hour. These trips were deducted from the proposed
project generated trips to determine the net new trips from the project site. As shown in Table I,
the project is expected to generate 13 net new project trips (11 inbound and 2 outbound) during
the a.m. peak hour and -14 net new project trips (-10 inbound and -4 outbound) during the p.m.
peak hour.
Per our conversation with the project sponsor, 13 employees come to the current Honda
dealership located at 2600 Shattuck Avenue during the a.m. peak period, and seven (7) of them
do not drive to work but use other transportation modes, including public transit, motorcycle,
bicycle, and walk. After relocating, it is expected that the same number of employee trips will
come to the dealership using other transportation modes. This would reduce the net new project
trips during the a.m. peak hour to approximately six (6) trips. In addition, due to the proximity of
the proposed project and the existing Honda dealership on Shattuck Avenue, it is expected that
these six (6) net new project trips are currently using Shattuck Avenue and will continue to use
Shattuck Avenue to access the Honda dealership. Therefore, no additional vehicular trips are
anticipated at intersections adjacent to the project site.
Therefore, the proposed project is not expected to cause any significant increase to traffic
volumes on the roadway network adjacent to the project site.
Thank you for the opportunity to provide this analysis. Please call me with your comments and/or
questions.
Regards,
STANTEC CONSULTING SERVICES INC.
Joy Bhattacharya, P.E., PTOE
Principal
Phone: (925) 296-2107
Fax: (925) 941-1401
[email protected]
Berkeley Honda
2777 Shattuck Ave; 2747 Adeline Street
Applicant Statement
Background:
After operating a full-service auto dealership with service and parts departments at 2598-2600
Shattuck Avenue in a 44,000 square foot building and a 16,000 square foot lot, for over 40 years,
Berkeley Honda lost its lease and was forced to vacate their building in November 2014. Between
2008 and 2014, Berkeley Honda diligently looked for a future home in Berkeley, and in April 2014
entered into an agreement to move its dealership to 1500 San Pablo Avenue. Unfortunately, due to
circumstances out of their control, Berkeley Honda lost that site to a multi-national developer.
During their eight-year search for a new permanent location, Berkeley Honda came close to leasing
and/or acquiring several sites in West Berkeley near I-80. However, franchise encroachment
agreements were used by El Cerrito Honda for sites in North West Berkeley, and by Oakland Honda,
for sites in South West Berkeley that prevented Berkeley Honda from relocating to West Berkeley.
Determined to find a permanent home in Berkeley, Berkeley Honda entered into a short-term lease
with Mr. Valiyee for a temporary relocation at 2627 Shattuck, while they continued their search for a
permanent location in Berkeley. They are currently providing maintenance and repair services at
1500 San Pablo and sales at 2627 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, both on short-term leases.
Fortunately, Berkeley Honda was able to secure a long-term lease for 2777 Shattuck Ave; 2747
Adeline Street, both owned by Mr. Glenn Yasuda, and further, they were able to convince Honda
USA to approve this “inferior” urban site, despite its small size and distance from the freeway. The
new location includes a 16,720 square foot building and an 11,619 square foot lot- a major downsizing from their historical operations.
Project Introduction:
Berkeley Honda proposes to convert the existing structure at 2777 Shattuck Avenue and the
conjoined two parking lots on Ward Street and Stuart Street, currently occupied by Any Mountain, a
building that is on the State Historic Resources Inventory, to its full service dealership with sales,
service and parts inventory. Additionally, Berkeley Honda will re-stripe and install site
improvements to the existing parking lot at 2747 Adeline Street for its auto display, inventory and
parking.
2777 Shattuck Ave
The approximately 19,120 square-foot building is currently occupied by Any Mountain sporting
goods (16,720) and Sconehenge bakery and café (2,400 square feet). The building was originally
constructed more than 40 years ago as a bowling alley and is on the list of State Historic Resources
Berkeley Honda
2777 Shattuck/2747 Adeline
Applicant Statement
April 29, 2015
pg. 2
Inventory. Berkeley Bowl grocery store operated out of this space from 1976, and in 1999, the
building was upgraded and renovated for use as a sporting retail for Any Mountain sporting goods.
A Phase I Environmental Assessment report is being prepared and will be submitted forthwith. The
property has two parking lots on north and south with access/egress on Ward and Stuart Streets,
respectively.
2747 Adeline Street
Berkeley Honda has leased this unimproved parking lot to use for its dealership uses including
parking, car display and inventory. The lot is approximately 11,619 square-feet surface parking and
currently accommodates 31 parking spaces, including disabled accessible parking. Berkeley Honda
plans no excavation, or installation of improvements other than signage, re-sealing and re-striping
the existing parking lot.
Proposed Use
Berkeley Honda has entered into a long-term lease for both parcels to use the space occupied by
Any Mountain and the parking lot at 2747 Adeline Street for its full-service dealership operations
including sales, service, display, parts and inventory. Sconehenge will continue its operations as a
café uninterrupted.
The proposed use complies with all existing applicable zoning for both parcels and includes a small
3,300 square foot addition on the south parking lot of 2777 Shattuck, off Stuart Street. No exterior
alterations are proposed to the existing building, only interior modifications to adapt the building for
an auto show-room, auto service and parts inventory. The existing 2,500 square foot second floor
offices/storage will be used for filing and storage by Berkeley Honda.
Required parking for the new use is provided at the parking lot at 2747 Adeline, in addition to spaces
available on the existing lot on Ward Street.
Community Outreach:
Below, please see a chronology of Berkeley Honda’s community outreach:
•
On February 25, 2015, Berkeley Honda hand-delivered and mailed the enclosed flyer (Exhibit
1: flyer and copy of labels used for mailing) to all properties within 300 foot radius of the
sites. The flyer informs that Berkeley Honda has made a pre-application to the City of
Berkeley and invites citizens to contact the owner or owner’s consultant. Several phone and
email inquiries were made.
Berkeley Honda
2777 Shattuck/2747 Adeline
Applicant Statement
April 29, 2015
pg. 3
•
On March 18, 2015, Tim Beinke, Berkeley Honda Principal, and Mauricio de La Pena, Project
Architect, attended the LeConte Neighbohood Association’s monthly meeting, and presented
the plans and attempted to answer questions;
•
On April 01, 2015, Berkeley Honda organized a community open house at 2615 Shattuck, in
which approximately 100 people attended. Mr. Beinke, Mr. De la Pena, Mr. Trachtenberg
and Mr. Kashani introduced the proposed project and answered questions. The meeting was
very lively and Berkeleyside reporter wrote an apt report on the meeting. Please see Exhibit
2 that includes the flyer, and the article, along with in excess of 191 comments, most of
which are supportive of the proposed project).
There existed a great deal of misperception about the nature of Berkeley Honda’s business and
activities; the sponsor attempted to address questions as best they could. The following includes
issues raised and addressed in the meeting and in subsequent conversations with the neighbors.
Traffic:
Full service auto dealerships have a lower trip-generation rate than general retail; this is based on
empirical studies and supported by the Manual of Institute of Transportation Engineers. Berkeley
Honda’s proposed use is expected to generate less traffic than either the former Berkeley Bowl full
service grocery, or Any Mountain Sporting Goods.
Berkeley Honda’s former location was very similar to the proposed new location: it abutted
residential neighbors both on Parker Street and Carleton Street. As a good neighbor, Berkeley
Honda made sure that its car-buying customers did not adversely impact its residential neighbors,
nor did it allow them to test-drive on those streets. Additionally, Berkeley Honda’s service
customers will drive their vehicles into the service entrance on Stuart Street, leave their vehicles for
the day and get driven by Berkeley Honda’s shuttle to BART or other destinations. Once the cars are
serviced, they are either left in the building, or driven to the dealership’s parking lots on Adeline or
Ward Street, until customers will pick them up.
The overall impacts of both car sales and service on the residential neighborhoods on Ward and
Stuart Streets will be significantly less than Any Mountain, or other general retail.
Noise:
The service component of the business will be inside the concrete masonry walls and the level of
noise it generates will be contained within the building. The air compressor is carefully located away
from the residential neighbors to the East. A Noise Study was completed to insure that Berkeley
Honda’s business practices are compliant with the City of Berkeley’s Noise Ordinance.
Berkeley Honda
2777 Shattuck/2747 Adeline
Applicant Statement
April 29, 2015
pg. 4
Deliveries:
Berkeley Honda’s car deliveries will be to the lot at 2747 Adeline, accessible from Adeline Street; so
there will not be any impact on the residential neighbors on Ward and Stuart Streets. For parts
deliveries, Berkeley Honda proposes that all parts deliveries to be made to 2747 Adeline Street and
the employees will carry the parts into the service department via Shattuck Avenue, just in the same
manner as they did at 2600 Shattuck Avenue. This will reduce any potential impact of parts delivery
vehicles to the residential neighborhood.
Hazardous Chemicals:
The 21st century automation and computerization has significantly changed the way cars are
serviced. The mechanics generally don’t touch any oils whether engine or transmission oils, as all
these are stored in regularly inspected double-steeled tanks and provided to the car lifts through
pressurized hoses. Used oil is suctioned off into a tank that is regularly taken away by
environmentally controlled trucks designed for this specific purpose.
Upon approval of its entitlements, as part of its Certificate of Occupancy, Berkeley Honda will submit
a plan detailing how it will handle all chemicals such as oils, batteries, coolants, etc. so as to
responsibly address any concerns the City might have.
Le Conte and Willard Students:
Berkeley Honda’s move to this neighborhood will likely reduce the threat of car accidents to the
children. This is based on an overall significant reduction in trip generation by the new uses.
Additionally, Berkeley Honda’s owner, Tim Beinke is at the dealership seven days/week and all of his
neighbors at 2600 Shattuck had his personal cell phone number. Berkeley Honda has been part of
this community for a long time and has a great reputation as a local small business.
Existing Land Use Agreements:
The City of Berkeley has issued use permits that involve the subject properties over the years. These
include the following:
1. Use Permit #A1379 dated May 09, 1988 for 2100 Ward Street; Kirala Restaurant
2. Use Permit #A1937 dated April 09, 1998 amending use permit #A1379;
3. Use Permit #07-10000040/#08-70000019; 1911 Russell Street.
Below, we address how Berkeley Honda’s proposed new use of the two properties maintains and
protects the existing conditions and agreements with the City of Berkeley and the local businesses.
Berkeley Honda
2777 Shattuck/2747 Adeline
Applicant Statement
April 29, 2015
pg. 5
Kirala and Sconehenge:
As provided in Use Permit #A1379 and the subsequent modification #A1937, there are a total of 69
parking spaces in the shopping center of which only 55 were required by Berkeley Bowl, Sconehenge
and Kirala. Berkeley Honda’s proposal eliminates 13 spaces on the parking lot on Stuart Street,
leaving a total of 56 parking spaces. This still meets the existing conditions, however, total required
parking is half of general retail, or 20 spaces. Berkeley Honda will maintain all 56 parking spaces and
use the excess 14 spaces for auto display/inventory on Adeline Street lot.
Berkeley Honda’s new use, will maintain all conditions contained in Modification of #A1937, except
that Kirala’s customers would be directed to park on the parking lot East of Kirala on Ward Street.
Sconehenge currently uses three parking spaces on Stuart Street and five on Ward Street. The
owner of Sconehenge has agreed to move her three spaces on the parking lot on Ward Street.
Thai Temple; 1911 Russell:
On December 1, 1992, Mr. Dan Kataoka, the then General Manager of Berkeley Bowl issued a letter
to the City stating that “Berkeley Bowl is willing to allow church participants the use of our parking
lot located on Shattuck Avenue (2747 Adeline) during non-business hours on Sundays.” Berkeley
Bowl is open on Saturdays 9AM-8 PM and on Sundays, 10 AM-7 PM, thus providing access to the
Thai Temple patrons from Saturdays after 8 PM to Sunday 10 AM, and on Sundays, from 7 PM to
Monday at 9 AM.
On September 22, 2009, the City issued a new use permit to the Thai Temple and under Sunday
Food Service required that the Thai Temple “reinstate” the off-site parking agreement with Berkeley
Bowl
Based on our extensive research, we have found no evidence that the Thai Temple “reinstated” the
parking agreement. This is largely due to the fact that they did not complete the construction of the
buildings they had envisioned, or expanded their Sunday food service to the extent they had
represented in their application.
Once the City issued the new use permit in September 2009, requiring the reinstatement of the
former agreement, and by virtue of it not being renewed, the commitment of the parking spaces to
the Thai Temple was nullified. Berkeley Honda’s use of the parking lot for its display/inventory does
not violate any land use agreements with the City of Berkeley.
Berkeley Honda
2777 Shattuck/2747 Adeline
Applicant Statement
April 29, 2015
pg. 6
On April 15, 2015, Ms. Shannon Allen, Principal Planner informed us that the City of Berkeley has
now released 2747 Adeline Street lot from its obligation to the Thai Temple and this is no longer an
outstanding issue.
Any Mountain and Le Conte Neighborhood Association Agreement:
At the Community Open House on April 01, 2015, several neighbors informed us that there existed a
use restriction in the form of an agreement signed by Mr. Glenn Yasuda and LCNA on the Ward
Street Parking Lot. Mr. Yasuda informed us that he had no recollection of entering into such an
agreement with LCNA.
Exhibit 3 includes a copy of the Use Permit issued to Any Mountain by the City of Berkeley on March
18, 1999 along with a letter signed by Mark Rhoades. The City’s files also include a Letter of
Understanding executed between Any Mountain and LCNA dated March 12, 1999 that includes a
provision that restricts the use of the Ward Street parking lot to the Any Mountain employees,
among other provisions. Additionally, on April 02, 1999, the then Deputy Planning Director, Ms.
Wendy Cosin sent a letter to LCNA stating that the Agreement between Any Mountain and LCNA
was voluntary and not required by the City. Ms. Cosin’s letter clarifies that the agreement is not a
use restriction, nor Mr. Yasuda is a party to that agreement.
Landmark Building
As 2777 Shattuck is on the State Historic Resources Inventory, Berkeley Honda’s proposal does not
contemplate any modifications of the façade or the building exterior. Since, Berkeley Honda needs
to install a small 3,300 square foot addition on the south side of the building, it has commissioned an
analysis of the addition and its potential impact on a historic resource. The design of the exterior of
the new addition will be consistent with the recommendation of the historical architect and will
follow Secretary of Interior Guidelines.
Environmental History:
Our preliminary review of documents at the City’s Toxics Management Division reveal no known
environmental conditions at either property. A Phase I Environmental Assessment is being prepared
and will be submitted to the City forthwith. Enclosed please find a letter from Department of Toxic
Substances Control dated March 25, 2015 stating: “After thorough review of our files, we have
found no such records exist at this office pertaining to the sites referenced above.”
Trip Generation Analysis:
At the recommendation of the City of Berkeley’s traffic engineer to perform a trip generation
analysis, the team commissioned the firm Stantec. Enclosed please find Stantec’s analysis showing a
comparison between trips generated by the existing general retail versus by Berkeley Honda. The
Berkeley Honda
2777 Shattuck/2747 Adeline
Applicant Statement
April 29, 2015
pg. 7
study reviews Daily as well as AM Peak Hour and PM Peak Hour trips in/out of the project, and
shows a significant reduction in trips generated by Berkeley Honda.
Historical Impact Analysis:
At the recommendation of the City of Berkeley’s Landmark Preservation Ordinance to prepare an
impact analysis, the team commissioned the firm Preservation Architecture who has researched the
history and historic significance of the building, and the potential impact of the 3,300 sqft addition
on the same. The report will be submitted to the City forthwith.
Use Permit Modifications:
As part of this application, Berkeley Honda requests to ‘transfer’ the 8 existing parking spaces for
Kirala Restaurant from the surface parking at 2747 Adeline to the existing parking lot behind Kirala
on Ward Street. Additionally, to transfer the Sconehenge Café’s parking from Stuart Street to Ward
Street lot. All owners of the Kirala, Sconehenge and the property have agreed to this transfer.
Parking:
Existing Parking:
There are currently a total of 69 spaces at the Center (25 spaces in the northeast parking lot, 13
spaces south of the site, 31 spaces at 2747 Adeline). The use permits for the three uses have
required the following:
Berkeley Bowl Produce
Rod’s Café
Kar Kover Bldg
Restaurant
TOTAL
Size (sqft)
16,720
# of Parking Spaces
33
Current Use
Any Mountain
2,400
3,945
1,700
8
8
6
55
Sconehenge
Kirala
Kirala
Proposed Parking:
Berkeley Honda proposes to move Kirala’s 8 parking spaces approved via UP #A1379MOD to the
parking lot on the northeast of the building. Both the property owner, Mr. Glenn Yasuda and the
owner of Kirala restaurant, Mr. Akira Komine, have agreed to this modification. Below is the
required/ proposed parking plan:
Berkeley Honda
2777 Shattuck/2747 Adeline
Applicant Statement
April 29, 2015
pg. 8
Kirala
Sconehenge
Berkeley
Honda
TOTALS
Ward St
Lot
Required
14
8
3
Ward St
Lot
Proposed
14
8
3
2747
Adeline
Required
20
25
25
20
2747
Adeline
Proposed
TOTAL
WARD ST
TOTAL
ADELINE
20
14
8
3
23
23
25
23
Berkeley Honda will utilize the remaining 13 parking spaces at 2747 Adeline for display and
inventory purposes. Additional customer “parking” for Honda’s customers are provided in the
proposed 12 service bays inside the building.
Hours of Operation:
Berkeley Honda has operated with the following hours of operations at 2598-2600 Shattuck:
Current Hours of Operation:
Monday through Saturday:
Sunday:
7:00 AM – 8:00 PM
10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Berkeley Honda is requesting to extend their closing time to 10 PM for Monday – Saturday and to
have the option to open and close at 7 AM – 10 PM on Sundays.
Proposed Hours of Operation:
Monday through Sunday: 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Berkeley Honda is requesting the expansion of its hours of operation for the following reasons:
1. Space Reduction/limitations:
Berkeley Honda operated a full service dealership of 60,000 square-feet in Berkeley for over
40 years at 2598-2600 Shattuck. Modern-day infill dealerships can maintain their level of
service and profitability in smaller spaces if they adapt to the busy schedules of their urban
customers. Berkeley Honda will strive to maintain its excellent level of services in both sales
and service in the space nearly half their former location, if they are able to offer customers
Berkeley Honda
2777 Shattuck/2747 Adeline
Applicant Statement
April 29, 2015
pg. 9
to drop off/pick up vehicles during non-peak hours. By allowing Berkeley Honda to offer this
service, it can make up for the significant reduction in its physical space.
2. Traffic Mitigation
Most people are used to drop off/pick up of vehicles during peak traffic flow hours. This
business model is changing and Berkeley Honda’s experience shows that their customers
prefer to drop off vehicles the night before after peak hours and to pick up their vehicles
during non-peak times. Allowing Berkeley Honda to stay open till 10 PM, will lower the
potential trips to its dealership during peak traffic flow hours.
3. Competition
Most urban dealerships offer extended hours for their customers’ convenience. For
example, City of Albany granted a use permit to Albany Subaru Ford to stay open 6:30 AM –
12:00 AM (mid-night). To maintain its level of service to its customers and a competitive
business, Berkeley Honda must be able to offer extended hours of operations.
Opportunities:
The proposed project offers significant benefits to the City of Berkeley: it retains one of the highest
producers of business income tax to the City, it maintains a thriving union shop in Berkeley and it
protects an existing Berkeley business from moving to Brentwood (Honda USA offered Berkeley
Honda a new franchise license for Brentwood).
For over 40 years, Berkeley Honda has been a good neighbor just three blocks north of this site. It
has made ongoing contributions to community organizations and sponsored many events for
Berkeley High School. Berkeley Honda’s employees will continue to use AC transit and BART to
commute to work, as well as Berkeley Honda’s inventory cars for their commuting. Additionally,
Berkeley Honda has always provided a shuttle service for its customers and will continue that service
at the new location.
Timing:
Berkeley Honda is requesting that the City put this application on a fast track as it is currently
operating out of two temporary facilities in Berkeley. Berkeley Honda risks losing customers and
market-share if this inconvenience to its customers is too long, which will impact its gross receipts
and thus reduce income to the City of Berkeley.
EXHIBIT 1
Calling All Neighbors
February 25, 2015
Berkeley Honda has made a Pre-Application for City permits to move to
2777 Shattuck (currently occupied by Any Mountain) and 2747 Adeline
Street (currently an unimproved parking lot).
This move will not displace Kirala or Sconehenge, rather most likely, will
have a positive impact on their businesses.
After 40 years at 2600 Shattuck, Berkeley Honda lost its lease and was
forced out of that location. Currently, Berkeley Honda is operating at
two temporary locations at 1500 San Pablo Ave and 2627 Shattuck Ave.
Berkeley Honda’s proposal for a full-service dealership at the above two
properties complies with existing CS-A and auto-dealership zoning
overlay.
Berkeley Honda will hold a neighborhood Open House soon to present
its plans for the new location. We hope you will join us.
In the meantime, please direct any questions to Tim Beinke at 925-3233177 [email protected] or Berkeley Honda’s consultant, Ali Kashani at
510-649-7800 or [email protected]. Thanks.
EXHIBIT 2
Calling All Neighbors!
You are invited to an open house for
2777 Shattuck and 2747 Adeline
Berkeley Honda
Please join us for an open house to hear about Berkeley Honda’s
application to move to the current Any Mountain (former Berkeley
Bowl) site. We have been working with a number of adjacent
neighbors and look forward to sharing the proposed project with
the broader community. We look forward to meeting you. Some of
the project’s features are:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Preserves and protects historic resource
Retains existing 40-year small business in Berkeley
Preserves union jobs
“Green” building design
Reduced traffic (trip generation) than general retail
Low impact tenant improvements/construction
“state of the art” repair/maintenance technology
Provides more parking than required by City
When: Wednesday, April 01, 2015, 5:00 to 7:00
p.m.
Who: Tim Beinke, Owner, Berkeley Honda (925)323-3177 [email protected], Ali Kashani,
Consultant, 510-649-7800
[email protected]
Where: 2615 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley
PROPOSED PROJECT TO RELOCATE BERKELEY HONDA TO 2777 SHATTUCK AVENUE
April 01, 2015
Berkeley Honda
Berkeley Honda has been in this community for over 40 years and since they lost their lease at
2600 Shattuck, they have searched for a permanent location in West Berkeley, near the
freeway, during the past eight years. Franchise infringement laws have prohibited them from
locating in close proximity to El Cerrito Honda and Oakland Honda. American Honda finally
approved the smaller infill urban location at 2777 Shattuck Ave/2747 Adeline Street.
Community Benefits:
• Preserves and protects well-paying union jobs in Berkeley;
• Retains an existing small business in Berkeley;
• Retains one of the largest business license tax payers in Berkeley;
• Preserves a State Landmark Building;
• Prevents re-development of an existing landmark building for next two decades and
beyond;
• Improves the existing “island” parking lot with improved landscaping, lighting and
security;
Proposed Use:
Both sites are zoned C-SA (Shattuck-South Area) which allows commercial uses through a Public
Hearing Process. In 2013, through an extended public hearing process, the City Council
amended the C-SA zone to allow full-service auto dealerships to be able to stay in this area of
town. Berkeley Honda’s proposed relocation from 2600 Shattuck to this site is 100% consistent
with all of the C-SA zoning standards.
Potential Impacts and Mitigations:
Traffic:
Full-service auto dealerships have a lower trip-generation rate that general retail. The City’s
own Zoning Ordinance requires half the number of parking spaces for auto dealerships than
general retail. Berkeley Honda is providing more parking than required while generating less
traffic than Any Mountain or the former Berkeley Bowl at this location. A consulting engineer is
conducting a Trip Generation Analysis to determine the difference between auto use and
general retail use.
Our customers will drive their vehicles into the service department on Stuart Street and will
then be “shuttled” to their destinations by our staff. Serviced vehicles are then stored in our lot
on Adeline and/or on Ward street by our staff.
Hazardous Chemicals:
Berkeley Honda stores no gasoline at its facilities; it recycles used oils and anti-freeze by storing
them in double-walled tanks which are monitored electronically at all times, and visually on a
daily basis. Kip Prahl & Associates, a local environmental engineering firm monitors Berkeley
Honda’s environmental compliance and files periodic reports with all regulatory agencies. All
employees receive quarterly safety and environmental compliance training quarterly. Berkeley
Honda has always been in full compliance with environmental laws and has never been cited by
regulatory agencies.
Noise:
The service component of the business will be inside the concrete masonry walls and the level
of noise it generates will be contained within the building. The air compressor is carefully
located away from the residential neighbors to the East. An acoustical engineer, expert in auto
dealerships and well-versed in Berkeley’s Noise Ordinance completed a Noise Study to
determine whether any mitigations were needed to meet the City’s Noise Ordinance.
Deliveries:
All deliveries to the business will be made to 2747 Adeline Street; these include autos and
parts. All parts deliveries will be unloaded on Adeline Street and taken by hand trucks to front
door of the dealership. There will be no delivery traffic into/out of the residential
neighborhoods.
LeConte/Willard Students:
All school children walking in the neighborhood will have less exposure to auto accidents due to
significant reduction in trips generated by automobiles to and from this destination. Berkeley
Honda has enjoyed tremendous support from their residential and commercial neighbors on
Parker and Carleton Streets.
Existing Land Use Agreements:
Berkeley Honda is making applications to amend one existing land use agreement-that is- to
move the 9 parking spaces for Kirala Restaurant from 2747 Adeline Street to 2777 Shattuck
parking on Ward Street, behind the restaurant.
The Thai Temple amended use permit in 2009 required the applicant to “re-instate” Berkeley
Bowl’s offer for Sunday parking at 2747 Adeline. However, that renewal never occurred.
Berkeley Honda is not violating any land use agreements with the City of Berkeley.
berkeleyside.com
http://www.berkeleyside.com/2015/04/02/leconte-residents-express-concern-about-berkeley-hondas-move-to-site-of-any-mountainstore/
LeConte residents express concern about Berkeley Honda’s move
to site of Any Mountain store
By Frances
Dinkelspiel
April 2, 2015 11:33
am
A photo of a preliminary rendering of 2777 Shattuck Ave. prepared by Trachtenberg Architects
More than 50 residents of the LeConte neighborhood turned up for a meeting Wednesday night to hear about Berkeley
Honda’s plans to move into the historic Shattuck Avenue building now housing Any Mountain.
While numerous people at the raucous – and sometimes unruly – meeting said they support the family-owned Berkeley
Honda, they said it should not move to its proposed location at 2777 Shattuck Ave. between Stuart and Ward streets.
Neighbors expressed concern about too many cars, congestion, the safety of children walking to Willard Middle School
and Le Conte Elementary School, and how the presence of a service garage could bring down property values.
The crowd at a meeting on April 1, 2015 to discuss Berkeley Honda’s plans to move to 2777 Shattuck Ave. Photo: Frances Dinkelspie
While those at the meeting were eager to tell Tim Beinke, the dealer/operator of Berkeley Honda, their opinions of the
proposed showroom, they were less eager to hear the specifics of Honda’s plans. Statements made by Beinke and the
architects presenting the project were met frequently with boos. One woman in the back of the room repeatedly shouted
out derogatory comments and dissed statements made by the Honda representatives. She grew so offensive that many of
the LeConte neighbors kept telling her to be quiet, to no avail.
Gary Lapow, a musician who lives on Stuart Street, was one of about a dozen people who showed up early to the meeting
to hold up a red and white sign that said “No Honda Here at Any Mountain.”
“We feel this isn’t an appropriate place for a car dealership and service center because of safety issues,” said Lapow. “We
have children every morning walking up Stuart Street to Le Conte Elementary and Willard Middle School at 7:30 in the
morning – the same time cars will be coming and turning into the proposed entrance.”
Residents of LeConte neighborhood gathered outside the meeting to express opposition to Berkeley Honda’s plan to move to 2777 Shattuck Ave. Photo: Frances
Dinkespiel
Steve Beinke, who purchased Berkeley Honda about 10 years ago with his son, Tim, said he thought the neighbors had a
lot of misinformation about the Berkeley Honda project.
Berkeley Honda operated at 2600 Shattuck Ave. for about 40 years. It was forced to move in November when work began
to covert the property into a housing complex. Its sales department is now located across the street at 2627 Shattuck Ave,
on property owned by Reza Valiyee. Its service department is now located at 1500 San Pablo Ave.
Berkeley Honda has been looking for a new home since 2008 but has had trouble finding one in Berkeley. It couldn’t
relocate too close to either Oakland Honda or El Cerrito Honda because California’s New Motor Vehicle Board prohibits
dealers from locating within 10 miles of another dealer of the same make. Zoning restrictions have made it hard to find
other locations, said Beinke.
Berkeley Honda thought it had found a location at 1500 San Pablo Ave., in the location of the former McNevin Cadillac
dealership. The Beinkes had signed a letter of intent with the developer Hudson McDonald, said Ali Kashani, a developer
who has been retained by the Beinkes to facilitate the entitlement process. (And, ironically, the developer who decided to
put a housing complex on Berkeley Honda’s long-time home). But the Beinkes never signed a lease for the property,
which allowed Shorenstein Properties, a real-estate company, to come in and make a deal. Shorenstein now plans to build
a 170-unit, mixed-use housing development on that site.
The Beinkes finally got permission from Honda USA to locate at 2777 Shattuck, even though it is relatively small and is far
from the freeway, a preferred location.
Tim Beinke, left, and his father, Steve Beinke, own Berkeley Honda. Photo: Frances Dinkelspiel
The city of Berkeley has been eager to retain auto dealerships because auto sales are the third largest generator of sales
tax for the city, according to information provided by the office of economic development. New car sales account for 7.8%
of the city’s annual sales tax revenue, behind restaurants, which provide 21.3% of the sales tax revenue, and general
merchandise, which accounts for 10.3%. The city collected close to $1.2 million in sales tax for new cars in the last four
quarters.
In 2013, Berkeley amended the South Shattuck Corridor plan to permit car dealerships to relocate. (Previously they had
been banned from doing this, although existing car dealerships had been grandfathered in.) The new “Dealership Overlay
Area,” was done with Berkeley Honda in mind, according to a memo from City Manager Christine Daniel. The overlay
area includes all lots with a frontage on Adeline Street, Shattuck Avenue, or Ashby Avenue between Dwight Way and the
south side of Alcatraz Street. It does not include lots near the Ashby BART Station block and lots with frontage exclusively
on Shattuck Avenue south of Ashby Avenue.
Last month, the city council was scheduled to voted on waiving building permit fees for Berkeley Honda, but the item was
pulled from the agenda. However, the council previously waived the fees when it thought Honda was moving to the 1500
San Pablo Ave. site.
At Wednesday’s meeting, LeConte neighbors said they did not know anything about the Dealership Overlay Area.
According to the city manager’s memo, the community did not seem engaged in the process. Only two local residents
showed up for a March 2012 community meeting on the Dealership Overlay Area and none showed up for the May 2013
public hearing on the matter before the Planning Commission, according to memo.
Berkeley Honda does not plan to change the exterior of the new location at 2777 Shattuck Ave. as the building has been
listed on the state’s historic resource inventory. The building was originally a bowling alley, then became Berkeley Bowl,
and then became an Any Mountain outlet in 1999. Glenn Yasuda, the proprietor of Berkeley Bowl, owns the property,
which includes one 16,720 square foot space (now used by Any Mountain) and one 2,400 square foot space (now the
home of Sconehenge Café.)
Neither Sconehenge nor Kirala, the Japanese restaurant next door, will be affected, although they will be asked to move
their current parking spaces to a lot on Ward Street, said Kashani.
Berkeley Honda will build a 2,900-square-foot addition on a parking lot on the south side of the building along Stuart
Street to house the service operations. Since the building is a historic resource, David Trachtenberg, the architect, will
work with a historical consultant to make sure the project adheres to standards set by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior,
according to Mauricio de la Peña, an architect in Trachtenberg’s office.
But it is this addition – and the cars coming in and out – that most concerns the neighbors. More than 300 LeConte
neighborhood residents have signed a petition protesting Berkeley Honda’s plans and have formed the No Honda at Any
Mountain Action Group. They are afraid there will be too much noise and having so many cars will make an already
difficult intersection – Stuart and Shattuck – truly horrible.
Kashani said the city wants to do a trip generation analysis to assess the impact of Berkeley Honda on the neighborhood.
Tim Beinke also pointed out that the 40 to 60 cars seeking service each day will not arrive all at once in the morning, but
will have staggered arrivals and departures throughout the day. A city analysis also shows that there will be half as many
cars going to Berkeley Honda each day than go to Any Mountain, he said.
Neighbors also said that Shattuck is only two lanes right there, so there might be gridlock. That contrasts with Berkeley
Honda’s current and old locations on Shattuck Avenue, where the street is four lanes wide, they pointed out.
Tim Beinke said that description is incorrect. While Shattuck Avenue narrows to two lanes in front of the proposed
dealership, there are actually six lanes if you count in the four lanes of adjacent Adeline Street.
Neighbors were also worried about where all the cars brought in to be serviced would be stored. Some said they
suspected the Beinkes would park them on Ward and Stuart streets. The Beinkes said that would be illegal and they have
never parked service cars on city streets. Tim Beinke pointed out that Berkeley Honda rents two parking lots nearby and
would continue to rent those spaces.
Tim Beinke also tried to reassure neighbors that Berkeley Honda would not load commercial business onto Stuart Street.
It is renting the small triangular, 31-space parking lot on Adeline across from Any Mountain. All deliveries will be made to
that parking lot and parts will be delivered by hand truck into the service department.
But the neighbors at the meeting kept repeating that Berkeley Honda had chosen the wrong place to relocate.
“We are all in favor of Berkeley Honda staying in Berkeley; we just don’t want them to ruin our neighborhood,” said one
neighbor.
Berkeley Honda is just starting the entitlement process with the city of Berkeley. It has not yet completed its application to
Berkeley.
No hearings have yet been scheduled on the project, but in the next few months the Zoning Adjustments Board meeting
and the Landmarks Preservation Commission will conduct meetings on the proposal.
“All of you will have ample opportunity to engage in public dialogue and have your voices heard,” said Trachtenberg.
Related:
Berkeley Honda hopes to take over Any Mountain space (02.25.15)
Berkeley to consider zoning change for “auto row” dealers (09.27.11)
• 191 Comments
• As of Thursday April 16, 2015
• Berkeleyside
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Berkeley Rationalist • 11 days ago
These are the same people who fought Hollywood Video which became Reel and is now a kidney
dialysis center, new housing next to the old Berkeley Storage place (3 times) and just about
everything else. Just because people "perceive" something as bad often has no basis in reality. They
are the heart o NIMBY'ism in Berkeley. Just because can get the same folks out time after time to
protest change -- of any kind, it does not mean it reflects the majority sentiment in the community or
the neighborhood. I'm so, so tired of the same folks saying not to change with no real understanding
of what will happen or not
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Edward Berkeley Rationalist • 11 days ago
The NIMBYs I can put up with. It's the BANANAs that drive me (yes) bananas.
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R. Walker • 13 days ago
Talk about much ado about nothing...It's a perfectly reasonable site for Berkeley Honda's move.
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Herself • 13 days ago
Judging by the old Honda dealership, I think the neighbors have little to worry about in terms of
traffic. I went in to attempt to buy a Honda there twice and, because of my gender or hairballs on the
part of people working there, no one approached me even when I waved a fat wad of Benjamins
screaming (a la Fry from "Futurama") "TAKE MY MONEY!!!" Another time I went, two old guys
attempted to sell me a Honda fit with tinted windows and spinning rims. Most of the staffers I've
seen there seemed to be standing and chatting in each others offices whilst miming golf swings or
standing with their hands in their pockets or twiddling their ties in that "The Office" many fashion.
The one woman I saw in there was filing her nails. Stereotypic? Yes. But true. I never saw a
mechanic any time I peeked into the garage. I assumed the old location shut down because it was a
loss for the franchise. Little did I know. (I wound up getting a Honda fit sans lowbrow modifications
in Oakland - yay Oaktown)
It's not like the Cheese Board where dozens of earnest people are waiting in line (with fists full of
Benjamins shouting, "TAKE MY MONEY") for cars that go for about 19K and above (not counting
used cars)
I think the neighbors need to calm down a bit. Change is hard.
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guest • 13 days ago
Looking at those photos I am forced to ask --- why are decisions in Berkeley dominated by tiny
groups of grey-haired old people? Is Berkeley a retirement community? Because retirees seem to be
90% of the people at these events.
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Janet guest • 11 days ago
This meeting was held at 5:00 P.M. on a Wednesday evening, so I could not attend. Most
of the neighbors were either still at work, trying to get home from work, or trying to feed
their kids. Not great planning on Berkeley Hondas part. Our community meetings/
gatherings are either held on a weekend or at 7:30 P.M. so that more neighbors can actually
participate, and there usually are plenty of alternate hair colors in attendance. Not that I
don't love the "old people", as they have contributed greatly to our neighborhood over the
years, and are doing more than their fair share now.
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Doug F guest • 12 days ago
"Idle hands are the devil's playground." Retirees (& unemployed anarchists) are the ones
who have time for long meetings. Almost everybody else is scrambling to study, make a
living or raise kids. We Boomers (& I'm not retired, yet) will continue to dominate politics
for a decade or 2.
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marianne guest • 13 days ago
I was a young thing when neighbors worked with the City to develop the South Shattuck
Strategic Plan. Twenty years and over 50 unfulfilled Plan goals later, I'm getting a wee bit
crotchety and long of tooth. But bless your heart for overcoming your hesitance to ask that
question.
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88Newton guest • 13 days ago
To guest, your comment is inappropriate and as a member of this community I have to call
you out on it. It's fine to disagree and express anger. But you are using discriminatory
language. Do you talk this way about other groups or classes of people? I have flagged
your comment and hope it will be pulled. We have zero tolerance for hateful, ageist
comments in this community. Please rephrase your concerns in an acceptable manner or
stop posting.
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Acknowledge Reality 88Newton • 12 days ago
I'm sorry you have a problem with fellow citizens stating the obvious. The
demographics of the complainers at these meetings is wildly different from the
demographics of Berkeley, or this neighborhood.
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herself guest • 13 days ago
Yeah. I'm old without grey hair and am tired of these change phobic senior citizens trying
to chase any and all positive economic developments out of the city because Change.
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oldster
guest • 13 days ago
As an old person myself, I sometimes wonder why I waste my remaining years keeping
things nice for the likes of this commenter. We won't even be around to enjoy the benefits.
He or she is inheriting the Berkeley they deserve.,
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Acknowledge Reality oldster • 12 days ago
Not everyone agrees with your personal idea of "nice."
It should be a sign when the median-aged majority doesn't care enough to show up
at these meetings.
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spectator Acknowledge Reality • 11 days ago
Yes, they're turning out to be a sorry lot--and they'll have to experience the
results. Bet they'll whine when it's too late, but oh well...
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George Killingsworth guest • 13 days ago
distrust of everyone over 30? should your parents and grandparents be evacuated at a
certain age?
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Acknowledge Reality George Killingsworth • 12 days ago
When residents in the 70+ range make up somewhere near 20% of residents, why
do they make up 80% of the people at these meetings?
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George Killingsworth Acknowledge Reality • 11 days ago
Yes, but we acknowledge the reality that on very short notice 300 more
people of all ages signed the petition asking for a halt to the Honda move
until their concerns are heard. These 300 names were presented to the
Honda folk. When I was raising kids i couldn't attend many meetings either
.... but i wanted my voice to be heard.
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EBGuy • 13 days ago
Help us Reza Valiyee, you're our only hope.
PS - Can someone please stage an intervention to get that guy's properties into a trust. I fear what
probate could mean for the Shattuck DMZ.
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Guest EBGuy • 13 days ago
That's a bad comparison. The North Korean DMZ isn't that bad looking.
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djoelt1 • 13 days ago
What if part of the dealership were reserved for a place for neighbors to do repair and maintenance
on their own cars as a community benefit? Yes, liability, blah blah blah, but plenty of people might
work on their own cars and save money if the tools were there and lift were available. People might
not rebuild their engines, but brake jobs on a modern car are very easy and can be done by novices in
a few hours with some guidance. Maybe this could be paired with a vocational program at Berkeley
High to get kids that are not interested in academics into something more productive than disturbing
others.
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Doug F djoelt1 • 13 days ago
Way back when I was a bike mechanic, we tried that at the shop, briefly. Kids would come
in, claim they knew how to do something, screw up the job at the totally-disassembled
stage, & come crying to us to undo what they did & fix it for free. Missing Link makes it
work, with a modest assortment of loaner tools (in a back corner where they're harder to
smuggle out of the store), but they're willing to invest a lot of co-op worker time.
The right place for that is an adult ed evening class that's also open to high-schoolers, held
in any local auto shop after closing time. I took a course in auto tuneups & started one in
transmission rebuilding at College of Alameda in the late '70s. They still offer auto shop
courses, along with aircraft mechanic & welder.
A vocational program at Berkeley High?! "Racist! How dare you say that less than 100% of
our students should get a purely academic education that prepares them for a top
university?" That's what anyone requesting any such thing hears from the more-PC-thanthou administrators in Berkeley, Richmond & Oakland, & most of the rest of California. It's
exactly what my wife saw when substituting at Castlemont, one of the worst high schools
in the developed world, where almost nobody gets into & graduates from a good U. The
few who do get admitted discover they're woefully unprepared, unless they're self-educated
or home-schooled. Meanwhile, their dropouts & alleged graduates leave school unprepared
for any job & too often functionally illiterate, & many good-paying technician jobs like
plumber, electrician, mechanic, computerized lathe operator, etc go begging.
Back in the '60s, my upper-middle-class suburban & mostly-white high school had a very
well-equipped auto shop, with donated victim cars from local dealers, & you could take 4
years of auto shop. Kids could go straight into a good job & know what they were doing.
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djoelt1 Doug F • 13 days ago
Thanks for sharing the on-the-ground experience. To me that is one of the biggest
benefits of the internet: the ability to more quickly get to the point where you can
stand on the shoulders of others and avoid previous mistakes. Now getting that
actual information at a better than random rate like your comment...not quite there
yet!
The opposition to votech is insane, A appliance repair person wanted $160 to fix
something that took me 15 minutes, A plumber charged a relative $280 to fix a
water heater when the $20 part would have taken me 15 minutes to install (I work
at a desk normally), The potential for tradespeople to run their own businesses is
large. The racist angle is ridiculous. So an African American becomes a plumber,
does well, their kids can do better.
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Guest djoelt1 • 13 days ago
The way things are going I think you'd be doing your children a gigantic
disservice not to encourage them to learn a trade that can't be outsourced or
automated. My CPA sends my taxes to India for completion and he just
reviews them before they go out. My lawyer has started looking at
outsourcing some of his mundane work. My brother, a highly trained
scientist, with degrees from CalTech, Scripps and Washington University
sends many of his more basic bench work overseas for processing. My
buddies that were printing money in the 90s as network guys are more or
less unemployed. Doctors, ohhh, the poor doctors, they are just flat up
screwed for having any hopes of an above average wage absent a high
degree of specialization. Meanwhile, the plumbers, and electricians that I
count amongst my friends seem to still command great hourly wages, and
those that run their own shops and have a decent head on their shoulders are
doing great, GREAT.
Despite having gone to college, I have made my living, and a pretty good
one, in the trades running my own businesses for 20 years, and have
enjoyed every second of it. Cubicle life, the destiny of many college
graduates, is not for everyone, can be mundane, creates no security,
develops very few transferable skills, and is nearly impossible to escape.
Further, I can't really see anything other than increasing wage pressure for
non executive managerial positions. A trade, which you can learn while you
earn (excuse the cliche), when blended with an associates degree in
business administration, all acquired with no debt is a homerun career
choice on so many levels, particularly going forward. It is true that one may
not get to read the Cliff's notes for Beowulf to pass the English 101 final,
but maybe one can find some time to do that later on.
Is racism really the reason BUSD doesn't have an auto, wood, metal shop?
You have to be kidding me! What a nightmare that is for everyone
involved.
see more
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Mbfarrel djoelt1 • 13 days ago
The farther you are from the farm, the less likely you are to have those fix-it
skills without some sort of more formal training.
When I went to Jr. High in Berkeley all the boys had to take metal and
wood shop.
At BHS there were well equipped shops for Vocational Ed. Hoever when I
told my Counselor I wanted to take Wood Shop in my senior year his repley
was "But those aren't your kind of people!"
I did take wood shop and it was great, except when someone's are was
nearly sucked into a planer. Just a manicure, but a huge scare.
Oh yeah, one of my grandmothers was born to a farm family; she had an
extensive tool kit and fixed most anything around her home.
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Kevin Jude • 14 days ago
Please. I've been walking my son to LeConte for four years. Traffic at Shattuck and Stuart is barely
an issue, and 40 more trips a day won't make a dent. The bigger problem for us is the short light at
Oregon and Adeline, which is why we use Stuart in the first place.
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David D. Kevin Jude • 13 days ago
In fact, there will be a net decrease in traffic. Any Mountain generates more traffic than
Berkeley Honda will. Even if it were 40 more cars, it would be hard to notice the difference
on a street with thousands of them.
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antoine Kevin Jude • 13 days ago
I guess we have different perceptions Kevin. In the 4 years that I have lived here, I have
found traffic at Shattuck and Stuart to be an issue, as a pedestrian, and when driving my
car, especially in the morning.
But to me traffic really is the minor issue.
My problem is I feel that I have way more than my fair share of car dealerships around, and
I don't think Honda will be successful there because the place is just not right. I'd rather
have them move to a place where their business will be able to flourish.
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Alan Saldich antoine • 9 days ago
Umm, the article points out they have been in their location for 40 years... I bet they
know a bit more about whether that new location a few blocks away will be ok for
them or not. I don't think car dealerships generate a lot of traffic, just walk or drive
by one of them and see how many people (aren't) in the showroom at any given
time.
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antoine Alan Saldich • 9 days ago
I hope they do Alan. Unfortunately, so far I am having the opposite
impression
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Local Yimbyist • 14 days ago
There have been numerous car dealerships on South Shattuck for years. Chaos has not ensued. This
one will be no different, and moreover it will have the benefit of a parking lot directly in front of it,
and it will adaptively re-use an historic building. Saying it's not the right location seems more than a
bit silly.
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antoine Local Yimbyist • 13 days ago
Looks like you don't go there often. Otherwise, you would have noticed that this place has
very little in common with the other places where dealerships are. By the way, Honda is
welcome 2 blocks north.
Let me ask a question: do you see a lot of trendy restaurants next door to dealerships? :)
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Local Yimbyist antoine • 13 days ago
Actually, the proposed location, in terms of density and traffic, is fairly similar to
that of Berkeley Toyota. which has been next to Giovanni's for decades. There
aren't realistic options for a permanent dealership two blocks north on Shattuck.
Also, here are some other restaurants (and the like) near car-serving businesses in
Berkeley. They seem to co-exist, as would be expected in an urban area:
* Lalime's, next to a repair shop on Gilman Street in Westbrae
* Smokey J's, next to a rental car company at Shattuck and Ashby
* Lindgren's, next to a repair shop on Dwight
* Casa Latina and the Albatross, by several repair shops on San Pablo
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antoine Local Yimbyist • 9 days ago
Thanks for your thoughtful answer.
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David D. antoine • 13 days ago
Broadway Auto Row in Oakland comes to mind.
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antoine David D. • 9 days ago
My definition of a residential paradise :)
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antoine David D. • 13 days ago
Exactly. Ask the neighbors if they like it
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Amie Mehrz • 14 days ago
Hmmm wow. What imbeciles.
Total wrong argument.
I'm so surprised that these well informed neighbors neglected to raise the truly horrendous but hidden
fact that car dealerships and auto repair businesses are notoriously sites of rabid crack and meth
dealing at street level with Internet interspecies brothels and nuclear bomb making facilities in every
dirty rat infested inch of their so - called businesses that none of us ever deign to frequent or benefit
from since all of us are above using that sickening, metal coated, black rubber based mechanical gas
farting, planet warming, high maintenance luxury item- the car.
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antoine Amie Mehrz • 13 days ago
Amie, sounds like you want to go back to the stone age. I think you are reflecting a
minority argument. The majority argument as far as I can tell is:
- Car dealerships aren't serving their close neighbors (they do provide jobs and services, but
to a much broader area),
- They aren't appropriate in residential areas (that's why they are typically clustered outside
of residential areas)
- This particular neck of Berkeley is already supporting more than their fair share of car
dealerships
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Doug F antoine • 13 days ago
Right on Shattuck at Stuart is a residential area?
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antoine Doug F • 9 days ago
I guess it is a matter of perspective.
Stuart is indeed a residential street, so is Ward (the cross street at the other
end of the block the dealership owner is looking at). Shattuck is much more
commercial, with our version of auto row further North (where the building
are set far back, + more lanes + alleys + parking), and Berkeley Bowl +
Walgreens + Buggy Bank South.
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AK antoine • 13 days ago
Someone needs to turn up their sarcasm detector.
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antoine AK • 13 days ago
It is all up
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tenjen • 14 days ago
Sigh. I live in the neighborhood. I do not love the idea of a car dealership in this space, which has
virtually no parking. There are a lot of reasons to question the project. But there are a few extremely
shrill LeConte Neighborhood folks whose histrionics are embarrassing to the rest of us. They do us
all a disservice.
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antoine tenjen • 13 days ago
Agreed. Let's not let the emotional reactions of some derail us from seriously questioning
this project
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Berkeley resident • 14 days ago
Francis, could you please tell us who ran this meeting? Was it a City department? City Council?
Berkeley Honda trying to answer community concerns? The article gives no indication at all that I
can find...
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emraguso Mod Berkeley resident • 14 days ago
As per Frances, Berkeley Honda ran the meeting. Developers are required to notice the
surrounding neighborhood and hold community meetings to gather input as part of the city
entitlements process. That generally happens prior to the various city hearings at the zoning
board, design review, etc. Hope this helps.
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Gusted • 14 days ago
Fight this with all your might dear neighbors, with all your might. If you're successful you'll have a
six story or more dense residential building close to the BART station and buses to downtown. About
ten years or fewer, though to judge by the photos that won't be a concern for the majority of
protesters.
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George Killingsworth Gusted • 14 days ago
your respect for elders is touching
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William M Popper • 14 days ago
Cars + People =?
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SupportBerkeleyHondaLocation • 14 days ago
Absolute NIMBYs! Rediculous that they claim it will harm property values in BErkeley? Are you
kidding! I live in Berkeley and have a child and I totally support Berkeley Honda. This is a huge
main thoroughfare in Berkeley and the exact right place for business development!
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