Robert Merkamp

Robert currently serves as Zoning Manager for the City of Oakland, which is responsible for directing Zoning staff in the review and processing of current planning entitlements as well as overseeing the functions of the Zoning Counter. He has worked in the Planning Field for 20 years, 17 of which have been with the City of Oakland. Robert started in Oakland as a Planner II in the Zoning Division, working on numerous zoning cases for private developments. Robert has advanced steadily here and in 2006 was named the Zoning Counter Supervisor. In this role, Robert introduced new processes, such as the over-the-counter Design Review process and streamlined counter operations. In 2014, Robert was named Planning Commission Secretary and also promoted to be Development Planning Manager, heading this newly formed division charged with overseeing the review of large scale development projects. During his time as Development Planning Manager, that unit reviewed and approved thousands of residential units and hundreds of thousands of commercial floor area. In 2017, Robert was again promoted, this time to his current position of Zoning Manager.