Developer: Thomas Liang
Project Summary: Owner of the vacant lot bordering Boundary Street, Yarrow Way, and Isis Way is proposing a town home development of five or six units - see below for the site plan options. The developer presented these proposals at the Oakland-Wide Community Meeting on May 29, 2019.
In 2017, the owner proposed to build around eight units on the lot, which was met with community opposition because it did not comply with zoning. OPDC encouraged the owner to postpone their ZBA hearing at the time. Oakwatch and nearby residents have been vigilant about code enforcement concerns related to overgrowth and a failing retaining wall. These concerns have been before various court hearings.
The owner returned to the November 26, 2019 Oakland-Wide Community Meeting with an updated proposal to build six new homes on the vacant lot. The first sales would be restricted to owner-occupants.
The proposal was scheduled for the ZBA virtual meeting on November 5, 2020. The ZBA issued a continuance. The November 5 meeting was not held in order to schedule a public meeting. The design team presented the project at the February 23, 2021 Oakland-Wide meeting.
This project went to the ZBA on April 8. The ZBA released its decision on May 26, 2021, denying the request for variances without prejudice to resubmit a revised proposal for the site.
Project resources:
Site plans: 1) six houses, 2) five houses, and 3) five individual houses
Feedback summary as of November 2019
Feedback summary as of March 29, 2021
OPDC’s March 30, 2021 letter to the Zoning Board of Adjustment