Chronology

Pre-1999 site history.

1999 Oct 17 CBE application for new synagogue at 1301 Oxford complete.

1999 Plan (parking lot along Berryman Path & driveway over Codornices Creek). To give an idea of the scale: the proposed building (pink) is about the size (square footage) of the Safeway on Shattuck. The rather large houses south of the site (dashed lines at bottom of map) also give an idea of the scale. You may also compare the project size to a football field.

2000 Feb. Notice Of Preparation of an EIR circulated for review to the public and other agencies.

2000 March. City held a publicly noticed scoping session to receive public input on the scope of the EIR.

2000 July 20. Draft EIR completed. Notice of Availability.

2000 Aug 7. Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) met to receive public comments on the Draft EIR.

2000 Aug 10. Zoning Adjustments Board (ZAB) met to receive public comments on the Draft EIR.

2000 Sep 8. 45 day public review period for Draft EIR ends.

2000 Oct 20. City staff and PMC compiled all of the written comments on the Draft EIR and prepared Responses to Comments, contained in the Final EIR titled Congregation Beth El Synagogue and School Final Environmental Impact Report/Response to Comments.

2001 Jan 1. End of 90-day extension to allow the City to certify the EIR (CEQA Guidelines Section 15108; Government Code Section Section 65950(b), 65957.)

2000 Nov 9, Nov 27, and Dec 14. ZAB held public hearings on whether to certify the EIR.

2000 Dec 14. ZAB certifies the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) for the Congregation Beth El Project as complete (CEQA Guidelines Section 15090).

2001 Mar 5. LPC denied the requested "Alteration Permit" regarding the construction of the subject project, pursuant to BMC Section 3.24.200 (Landmarks, historic districts and structures of merit--Construction, alteration or modification--Approval required) based on the finding that the proposed project was too massive for the site and would adversely affect the special character and historical nature of the site, and the LPC also determined that the project EIR was not adequate for their purpose.

2001 Jan 11, Jan 25, Feb 8, Feb 22, and Mar 8. ZAB held public hearings on whether to approve the required use permits.

2001 Feb 22. CBE Plan still has original parking lot and driveway positioning.

2001 Mar 8. ZAB approved Use Permit #99-10000079.

2001 Mar 8 Plan.

2001 Apr 17. ZAB Appeal.

2001 Apr 24. Berkeley City Council certified for its review the above Use Permits pursuant to BMC Section 23B.32.090 (Certification of Use Permits by City Council) and appealed the decision of the LPC pursuant to BMC Section 3.24.300.A (AppealsÑProcedures requiredÑCity Council authority).

2001 Jun 5 Plan.

2001 Jun 5, 26, Jul 16, 19, 24. Berkeley City Council held public hearings regarding the Use Permits and Structural Alteration Permit.

2001 Jul 24. At public hearing before the City Council CBE submitted a revised site plan for the project that relocates the parking area and driveways to the south side of Codornices Creek and made other changes including a reduction in floor area, increase in the south side setback, and addition of a public overlook, as a result of mediated discussions with representatives of a coalition of neighbors and environmental groups.

2001 Aug 7. Last of 3 addenda to the FEIR is done (previous addenda March 6 & May 30) concluding that the proposed project as revised would not create any new significant impacts or substantially increase any impacts that were previously identified in the FEIR.

2001 Aug 24 Plan.

2001 Sep 13. Last public hearing on the additional Use Permit required by the revised plan to allow automobile parking within required yards abutting a street.