The City of Oakland has released its Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) on the proposed Head-Royce School South Campus Project, marking a defining moment in our effort to create a state-of-the-art instructional environment. Over the last several months, the City of Oakland conducted additional analysis and thoroughly addressed public comments culminating in the FEIR. We are pleased to see that the FEIR confirms findings in the Draft EIR (DEIR) that all environmental impacts from the project can be reduced to a level of “less than significant” with standard conditions of approval and mitigation measures.
The school’s South Campus Plan includes renovating three 1920s Spanish-style buildings into 25,000 square feet of new K-12 classroom space featuring a cutting-edge STEM Center, maker labs, huddle rooms, a welcome center and a community collaboration hub. The eight-acre campus will also allow us to increase student enrollment to a maximum of 1,250 students over a 20-year period. This will bolster access to a top-notch educational experience for 350 more students each year, making the Head-Royce experience accessible to more learners of all socioeconomic backgrounds.
Parents and neighbors alike will benefit from the South Campus’ new two-lane Loop Driveway which will move pick-up and drop-off away from Lincoln Avenue and decrease congestion in the neighborhood. The Plan also provides structural and safety improvements as well as increased vegetation management throughout the grounds to help mitigate potential wildfires while creating a more beautiful and resilient campus.
The release of the FEIR is an important step in the process and will be followed by two hearings. The first hearing will take place at the Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board on March 6, followed by the Planning Commission on April 19. Both hearings are an essential step towards project approval, and it’s critical that commissioners hear from as many project supporters as possible.
