Racetrack/Albany Beach Restoration project Update
Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2012 2:59 pm
A few months ago the East Bay Regional Park District released a draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Albany Beach Habitat Restoration and Public Access Project. Within this lengthy document is detailed description of the proposed project starting on page 42.
Here is the full Environmental Impact Report(pdf)
Overall I think the plan looks quite nice. It adds restrooms, cleans out the jagged cement fractures and rocks on the south side of the bulb, adds benches and grass, and expands the beach and dunes.
The document doesn't mention a kite specific launch area, however, it does include a non-motorized watercraft staging area with water access(see image above). Kiteboarders lumped in with windsurfers were the only recorded non-motorized watercraft users.
ESTIMATED CURRENT DAILY USERS AT PROJECT SITE (pg 40)
Type of User Average Daily Users
Walker/Hiker (without dog) 170
Walker/Hiker (with dog) 262
Bicyclist 232
Kitesurfer or Windsurfer 10
Adult with Child or Children Under 5 19
Person with Wheelchair or Walker 4
Scavenger or Homeless Person 39
Other Non-motorized Watercraft User 0
TOTAL 735
It doesn't specify what kind of surface this staging area will be, but "An area would be graded and surfaced for staging non-motorized watercraft, installation of a bench, and access to the beach."(pg53)
Referencing the scale on the first image the staging area looks big enough and at the right angle for launching and landing. However, it is in close proximity of the walking trail and directly upwind of a parking lot, bathroom, and benches.
The only proper access to the park will be from Buchanan Street and the parking lot will consist of 20 parking spots, only 10 of which will be available to us and everyone else.
- "Five spaces designated for drop-off of non-motorized watercraft" (WHY?)
- "Five ADA accessible spaces (including one van accessible)"
- "Ten unrestricted spaces"
If we can still access from Gilman st. and park outside the park on the racetrack property, I don't see an issue, but otherwise, that's not much parking.
EBRPD will be taking comments on the draft EIR till 5pm November 5, 2012. If you want to submit a comment, send to cbarton@ebparks.org
Here is the full Environmental Impact Report(pdf)
Overall I think the plan looks quite nice. It adds restrooms, cleans out the jagged cement fractures and rocks on the south side of the bulb, adds benches and grass, and expands the beach and dunes.
The document doesn't mention a kite specific launch area, however, it does include a non-motorized watercraft staging area with water access(see image above). Kiteboarders lumped in with windsurfers were the only recorded non-motorized watercraft users.
ESTIMATED CURRENT DAILY USERS AT PROJECT SITE (pg 40)
Type of User Average Daily Users
Walker/Hiker (without dog) 170
Walker/Hiker (with dog) 262
Bicyclist 232
Kitesurfer or Windsurfer 10
Adult with Child or Children Under 5 19
Person with Wheelchair or Walker 4
Scavenger or Homeless Person 39
Other Non-motorized Watercraft User 0
TOTAL 735
It doesn't specify what kind of surface this staging area will be, but "An area would be graded and surfaced for staging non-motorized watercraft, installation of a bench, and access to the beach."(pg53)
Referencing the scale on the first image the staging area looks big enough and at the right angle for launching and landing. However, it is in close proximity of the walking trail and directly upwind of a parking lot, bathroom, and benches.
The only proper access to the park will be from Buchanan Street and the parking lot will consist of 20 parking spots, only 10 of which will be available to us and everyone else.
- "Five spaces designated for drop-off of non-motorized watercraft" (WHY?)
- "Five ADA accessible spaces (including one van accessible)"
- "Ten unrestricted spaces"
If we can still access from Gilman st. and park outside the park on the racetrack property, I don't see an issue, but otherwise, that's not much parking.
EBRPD will be taking comments on the draft EIR till 5pm November 5, 2012. If you want to submit a comment, send to cbarton@ebparks.org