Oakland, CA - After many iterations of work and rounds of public engagement, the Final Draft Downtown Oakland Specific Plan (DOSP) is ready to start the process that will bring it before the Oakland City Council for consideration and adoption.
The DOSP is the City’s first ever specific plan for Downtown Oakland, the heart of the East Bay, a celebrated cultural hub and home to groundbreaking art, social innovation and original expression. The DOSP is designed to prevent displacement of both people and culture, while encouraging downtown’s development in ways that assist all Oaklanders to safely and affordably access housing, transportation, recreation, healthy lifestyles and good jobs.
"The Downtown Oakland Specific Plan will guide downtown development to meet Oakland’s projected housing, cultural, employment and recreational needs over the next 20 years, while preserving and enhancing the dynamic culture that Oaklanders treasure," said Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao. "This plan complements the nearer-term safety interventions the City of Oakland is implementing to support housing, arts, and business downtown. Programs such as the Activate Oakland grants, expanded community ambassador teams, extra security at Franklin Parking Garage, and new cameras all provide a safer environment during evenings and weekends. I'm extremely grateful to the Planning team, who worked hard over many years to make sure the community's voice was captured in this important planning process."
Through a range of new policies, programs, and updated zoning regulations, the DOSP aims to increase housing and jobs near transit, expand funding for public services, revitalize local businesses and enhance public safety, modernize and broaden the role of downtown, prepare for climate change and sea level rise, protect and lift up arts and culture – through initiatives , such as in the Black Arts Movement and Business District (BAMBD) – and reconnect West Oakland with downtown. The DOSP will be accompanied by amendments to the Zoning Map and Planning Code that advance DOSP goals by increasing density, allowing more flexible land use within key areas, and implementing tools to protect and enhance high-valued community assets.
"The Downtown Oakland Specific Plan is a significant milestone for the City of Oakland," said William Gilchrist, Director of Oakland's Planning and Building Department." It represents an approach toward planning that acknowledges Downtown as a vital and ongoing reflection of a city’s values. Residents across the city often claim Downtown as their “second neighborhood” and its social, economic, and cultural character should affirm that claim. The Downtown Oakland Specific Plan will be a living document that responds to the changing needs, opportunities and realities facing its stakeholders."
The Final Draft Downtown Oakland Specific Plan is available at oaklandca.gov/dosp.
This extensive policy document is accompanied by the DOSP Handbook, which provides an easily understandable overview of the DOSP vision, goals, equity framework and policies, as well as a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document.
Background on the Downtown Oakland Specific Plan
Community engagement in the development of the DOSP has involved thousands of Oakland residents and stretched over eight years. The Draft DOSP and Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) were publicly released and reviewed in 2019, and the Draft General Plan and Zoning Amendments that will be proposed to help implement the Plan were publicly released and reviewed in 2022. Members of the public have participated in more than 300 engagement activities and reviewed multiple drafts of the DOSP, shaping the goals and policies now proposed for adoption. Since these initial documents were released, planning staff have worked to revise materials based on community and stakeholder input, newly available data, and changing social and economic conditions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The process to formally adopt the DOSP and its General Plan and Zoning Amendments and certify the EIR will begin in May 2024. Review by the Oakland Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board (LPAB) and Planning Commission is expected as the first step in the public hearing process, followed by meetings of the Community and Economic Development (CED) Committee of the City Council and full City Council in the Summer. In advance of these hearings, the City will also publish the DOSP’s Final Environmental Impact Report/Response to Comments (FEIR) and final draft General Plan and Planning Code Amendments, which will be the first step toward implementing the DOSP.
Members of the public are welcome to participate in these hearings by providing either written or oral comments. Information about how to participate in these meetings and a link to sign up for updates about the meetings can be found on the project website.
