Hello Matt Artz,
I've been waiting a long time to tell you this information. I just left employment with the City of Fremont Wednesday after a two year temporary appointment in the Planning Division of the Community Development Department as an Associate Planner who was suppose to help out as an inside design consultant. It has been a "Kafka" like experience.
Shortly after arriving, during one of the early staff strategy sessions on how to process the A's application I suggested that perhaps the best way to proceed was with an open public design workshop process known as a "charrette." Nothing could have been further from the way that the City Manager likes to do business.
After having been removed from the A's project shortly thereafter, a little over a year and one-half ago, I (on my own time outside of the office) began to rethink the A's location and plans. At the time, all of the issues that have come out (finally, after the election) seemed obvious to me. After having found what seems to me like a very viable "green" optional location near BART I arranged for a photo montage to be put together modeling this alternative which at the time I called Plan "B." As a lark, I put the photo montage (attached) up on my office cubical wall. It sparked a lot of interest internally and eventually made it's way up to the City Attorney and the City Manager.
Next, I received notice that the City Attorney had instructed that the montage be removed from my wall and all copies in the City be destroyed.
So, having now left City employment I want to share it with you and the greater Fremont community. Maybe the people of Fremont will ultimately decide that they don't want the A's. But before they do, they should at least have the benefit of knowing about this alternative location that would contribute to finally creating a real "down town" in Fremont.
By the way, I was finally pulled into a meeting with the A's representative just after the election to show them my idea. While they would prefer to have more freeway exposure - they seemed intrigued. In fact, not long after sharing this montage with them, I am told that their attorney (during one of the City's "executive committee" meetings) asked the City Attorney and City Manager if they were sure that there wasn't "another" location to look at also; the answer was no (?).
In closing for now, two other things should be known by the people of Fremont; you're City Manager does not value public participatory processes - nor does he value good urban design.
Good luck Fremont!
James M. Moore
Former Associate Planner
P.S. There's at least one member of the City Council who also thinks that this location is a "no-brainer." But as usually, they - as with staff - are totally shut-up by a City Manager who rules by intimidation and obfuscation.
P.S.S. By the way, why did the Industrial Study for the General Plan Up-date assume that the A's project was a done deal? Was it perhaps because the amount of needed Industrial lands by 2030 (i.e., good paying jobs and the highest percentage of SALES TAX REVENUE) was exactly equal to the amount that the A's would take up? Who ordered that assumption? .
Posted on Saturday, 1/24/2009 - 3:08 p.m. PST — by La Boca
Joined: Feb 2009
Current Posts: 1
Was there any consideration in your proposal to the impact this would have on the youth of the community? If I'm reading the plan correctly, this would require eliminating the current baseball complex. Are you aware of the many baseball/softball tournaments held at the complex throughout the year. Not to mention that the fields are an important resource for teams that need lighted practice facilities. This is not just limited to baseball/softball, but also football and soccer. The youth and citizens of our community are already hard pressed to find space to be active, outdoor recreation. Eliminating such a space and inviting thousands of additional cars to add pollutants to area on a regular basis is far from "green". Additionally, I'm no city planner, but I do not see a viable way to accommodate traffic to the stadium along Stevenson or Mission to that location. I think this was an admirable attempt, but far from a "no brainer".
Joined: Jan 2009
Current Posts: 2
Yes, I agree that the existing baseball complex would need to be relocated. I believe all four fields could be relocated in underused areas in Central Park (they should be during the BART constructions that is going to begin this year anyway!).
Likewise, by moving the A's stadium to Central Park and putting all the parking, housing and commercial development in the "downtown" you would free up the 40 acres in Pacific Commons that was originally planned as park space (that the City was going to give up in the original plan).
As for the traffic, this site (as discussed on the previous Argus Blog - A's in Central Park) involves parking in the so-called Central Business District (CBD) west of Stevenson; with several access routes from various directions.
As example of how this kind of volume could be handled in the CBD is the annual "Arts Festival" that currently takes place; approximately 370,000 people came over a two day weekend last year. That's more than equal to five ballgames (at max of 32,000 people) each weekend day!
Again, maybe the people of Fremont don't want a stadium at all? But if they do, they should at least have the benefit of knowing that this is another alternative. It is close to BART, and it would contribute to making a real downtown for Fremont (something that the people of Fremont may also not want?).
Why not let the people of Fremont decide if they want a stadium at any of these locations after an open and thorough PUBLIC PROCESS?
By the way; in this plan the City already owns the land for the Stadium - that could be leased to the A's.
Joined: Jul 2009
Current Posts: 25
It sounds like you are just irresponsible......Send me $100,000.00 for an hours consultation and I will reapeat it again and again so as you have a clear understanding that you are just irresponsible, however, I will not be held responsible if after an hour you are not clarified to your irresponsibility as I am not qualified to tell you so, but it is only obvious to a layman that irresponsibility is your problem.