Public Comment

On Monday, July 24 at 6:00 PM, the hearing on the appeal, filed by more than 100 people who live around Willard Park objecting to the replacement building and the variance granted by the Zoning Adjustment Board will be heard by the City Council. This special meeting will be held on Monday, July 24 at 6 pm at the “West Campus “ 1231 Addison Street. People can attend in person or on Zoom. This appeal is the only item on the agenda for this meeting. 

If you are not aware of the history of this project, here is a brief outline. The Parks and Recreation Department decided that some T1 Park Bond funds should be used to enhance recreation facilities for this southside neighborhood. The first planning session was held just before Covid. Most neighbors were not notified and did not attend. The Parks and Recreation staff took the recommendations of the people who attended this meeting as the basis for their plan for the project. When neighbors learned of the project, approximately two years ago, they worked to have their suggestions and concerns taken into account. They have attended countless meetings, both in person and on Zoom, and have tried to meet with Parks and Recreation staff and their city council representatives, all to no avail. Councilmembers Ben Bartlett and Kate Harrison did come to Willard Park for a tour and to hear about concerns about the project. 

The existing clubhouse is approximately 875 square feet, including the fenced in front terrace. The current plan is to construct a community center in its place with a footprint of at least 3200 square feet. This project will require the removal of seven mature 30 foot trees and a large concrete plaza that is heavily used, particularly when the grass in the park is wet. The current clubhouse is the base for the children’s after school program and for the children’s summer program. The rationale for the increase in size is given as being needed in order to expand the number of children it can serve from 45 to 60. As it is now designed, the new building will include two large public rooms that can be combined into one, a full kitchen, three bathrooms, an office, a storage room and other areas needed to support a facility of this size. The budget for this project (which also includes relocating and rebuilding the public bathroom for other park users) is $7M.  

At the Zoning Adjustments Board (ZAB), the city staff requested and received a variance to reduce the required setback between the back side of this community center building to the residential buildings immediately behind it from 20 feet to 16 feet.  

The neighbors' position is that the replacement for the existing Clubhouse is too large for our small park. They are in favor of replacing and updating the Clubhouse, but the replacement structure needs to be in keeping with the function of serving children in the afterschool program and the summer program. The city now describes it as a “Community Center”, not a “Clubhouse”. The city has refused a request to install view “story” poles that would let park users understand just how large the replacement building would be and the number of trees that will be cut down. City staff has not complied with Measure L (1986) which restricts the amount of open space that can be removed from a park without a vote of the citizens of Berkeley. The City has not done a CEQA evaluation which is required when one structure is replaced by another that has a different function. Previous presentations by Parks and Rec staff have proposed the opportunity for private parties to rent out the Community Center for private events. Finally, neighbors have requested meetings with the successive city council representatives for this district but have been refused. 

The appeal challenges the variance to reduce the required setback on the south side of the building from 20 feet to 16 feet. The Zoning Adjustments Board approved the variance without any reason other than the fact that they want to approve the Community Center. This reason is not legally sufficient for a variance. 

The neighbors think that the replacement building is too large, and would change the use of the building from Clubhouse to Community Center. Willard is a small park that is heavily used and enjoyed by families, Cal students, dog walkers, tennis players, yoga and Tai-Chi practitioners and neighbors of all ages. The park, with a popular tot-lot, expansive open space and trees works well. Neighbors are trying to protect the children’s programs and their outdoor play area. Neighbors are concerned that the proposed larger community center with the possibility of private event rentals would overwhelm the current park and the neighborhood. 

Everyone who is interested in preserving Willard Park as a park that works for the southside community is invited to come to the hearing on the appeal on July 24 at 6 pm at 1231 Addison Street.