Title
PLN26-0281 - 1150 & 1220 Harbor Bay Parkway -- Public Workshop #2 on Proposed Sports Facility. Applicant: Lydia Tan for Oakland Roots and Soul Sports Club. Public workshop to discuss permitting the Oakland Roots and Soul to host professional soccer matches for up to five years at their headquarters and training facility in the Harbor Bay Business Park adjacent to the Oakland International Airport. The project would include installing modular stands and temporary facilities to host approximately 24 matches with up to 8,000 attendees and several smaller sporting events annually. CEQA Determination: This is a public workshop, and no approval or other action will take place at this meeting. The Use Permit and Design Review application (Project) is subject to the California Environmental Quality Act, and environmental review will be considered at a later meeting before any action is taken on the Project.
Body
To: Honorable President and Members of the Planning Board
From: Steven Buckley, Planning Board Secretary
BACKGROUND
The Oakland Roots & Soul SC (referred to in this report as Roots) headquarters and training facility is located at 1220 and 1150 Harbor Bay Parkway. The Roots have occupied the site since the Raiders relocated to Las Vegas. The facility is approximately 17 acres with office space, training facilities, parking lot, and practice fields at the eastern tip of the Harbor Bay Business Park near the intersection of Harbor Bay Parkway and Ron Cowan Parkway adjacent to Oakland International Airport (OAK).
The Roots propose adding modular stands and temporary bathroom and concession facilities to their practice site in Alameda to serve as an interim venue to host their matches for the next 5 years. The Planning Board held a workshop on June 22, 2026, heard about the initial proposal, considered community input and discussed key considerations associated with the project such as transportation, noise, and lighting. This workshop offers an opportunity to review additional information prepared since that meeting.
Activities
The Project proposes soccer matches for the Roots, having up to 8,000 attendees, up to 24 times per year, and for the Soul, having up to 3,000 attendees, up to 7 times per year, and additional smaller sporting events throughout the year. Larger events would be held March to November, primarily on weekends, with typical kickoff times between noon and 7 P.M. Some weekday evening events are expected, intended to occur outside the primary business hours in the Harbor Bay Business Park. Beyond professional soccer matches and sporting events, the Roots also expect to host youth, high school, and college matches. No concerts, music festivals, or fireworks would be permitted.
Improvements
The Roots propose using a mix of semi-permanent modular and temporary facilities to accommodate the larger events. As shown in Exhibit 1 (Plans), stands are proposed on three sides of the field plus pop up tents on one end for field level seats. A press box, field lighting, sound system, and video scoreboard would be installed. On match days, the existing parking lot behind the office building would be activated with food trucks and vendors, merchandise booths, restrooms, ticketing and security.
Parking & Circulation
No new parking facilities are proposed to serve the interim venue. The Roots propose to rely primarily on shared parking agreements with adjacent and nearby business park properties whose parking lots are generally empty evenings and weekends. The Project also proposes providing shuttles to the Coliseum BART station and remote parking lots for large events, as well as valet bike parking for up to 400 bicycles for matches. Primary vehicular access to the site is provided by Ron Cowan Parkway and Harbor Bay Parkway, which are immediately adjacent to the site and connect directly to Hegenberger Rd., 98th Ave. and I-880.
DISCUSSION
Since the June Planning Board workshop, the applicant has continued to refine the project proposal. Several technical studies and reports have been completed and are under review. This workshop provides the Planning Board and community with an opportunity to review and comment on these reports and the overall Project.
Environmental Review
Attached as Exhibit 2, the Draft CEQA Checklist (Checklist) has been prepared by Environmental Science Associates (ESA). The Checklist provides:
• An in-depth project description;
• Basis for the proposed CEQA Guidelines Section 15183 streamlining approach;
• Detailed evaluation of environmental effects of the project;
• Technical appendices (photometric, VMT, biological resources, noise, and site selection justification).
In addition to the transportation-related questions explored further below, the project’s potential noise-related impacts are a key area of attention for staff and community members. A detailed noise assessment is included in the Checklist as Appendix D, beginning on page 102.
Transportation
In addition to the VMT Analysis in the Checklist, Fehr & Peers has prepared a detailed Traffic Study (Exhibit 3) and Draft Transportation Management Plan (Exhibit 4).
The Traffic Study has two main components.
1. Analysis of the project’s travel characteristics, including:
o Attendee mode share
o Average vehicle occupancy
o Arrival times
o Trip generation
o Trip origin distribution
2. Intersection operations analysis, including:
o Existing PM peak hour (Wed. 6-7pm)
o Existing conditions weekend (Sat. 9-10pm)
o + Project - weekday before game (Wed. 6-7pm)
o + Project - weekend post-game (Sat. 9-10pm)
The Transportation Management Plan outlines improvements and strategies to optimize access during large events, enhance safety and ensure the project is a good neighbor. The plan includes, in part:
1. Implementation strategies related to:
o Signage
o Traffic management personnel
o Shuttles
o Bike parking
o Emergency response
2. Attendee & employee strategies to reduce vehicle trips
3. Multimodal access and circulation strategies
4. Parking management and passenger loading strategies
5. Event management plan for traffic and emergency access
6. Communication Plan
7. Monitoring, refinement, & performance standards
Airport Compatibility
The project location is adjacent to OAK (Airport) property and sits between the northern end of the Airport’s primary runways in the south field and north field. The project is located within the Airport Influence Area and is subject to compatibility review by the County’s Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Applications have been submitted to the ALUC and FAA and are being reviewed by those entities in parallel with the City’s review.
ALUC evaluates and determines the project’s compatibility with the OAK Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan. The City’s General Plan requires that this determination be made prior to Planning Board action on the application. Staff anticipate that the ALUC will consider the project in mid-September. The FAA review is a technical exercise evaluating physical obstructions related to OAK airspace. Preliminary review suggests the proposed light poles will need to be lowered by approximately ten (10’) feet to meet FAA requirements. These determinations may require modifications to the Project to ensure compatibility. As owners and operators of OAK, the Port of Oakland is a key stakeholder and member of the ALUC. City staff and the applicant have been coordinating with OAK staff to ensure we understand and respond appropriately to any airport related concerns. In early July, after the first Planning Board workshop and prior to completion of the technical reports included in this staff report, City staff received the attached letter (Exhibit 5) from Port of Oakland staff.
PUBLIC NOTICE AND COMMENTS
This workshop is not a public hearing, in that no decisions are being made or final actions taken, and there are no statutory requirements for public notice. The item was posted on the agenda on the City’s website and e-mailed to those on the Planning Board interest list. The Roots have met with many stakeholders including the Harbor Bay Business Park Association, Bay Farm residents and homeowners’ associations, and the Port of Oakland. The Roots and City of Alameda co-hosted an open house on the project at their training facility on Saturday, August 8th, where approximately 200 members of the public attended. Future public hearings on the project will include required mailings to property owners, newspaper ads and onsite postings.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This is a public workshop, and no final action on the environmental review or the Project will take place at this meeting. The Use Permit and Design Review application (Project) are subject to review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) prior to their consideration for approval at a later meeting. Staff anticipate that the Project will be eligible for streamlining pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15183, i.e. projects consistent with a Community Plan, General Plan or Zoning for which an EIR was certified. The draft CEQA Checklist is attached to this report.
CLIMATE IMPACT
As detailed in the CEQA Checklist and transportation analysis, the interim Project is expected to increase VMT. The increase in VMT is within the levels analyzed in the City’s 2040 General Plan EIR. Further, the Project’s proposed transportation demand management plan includes provisions to reduce drive alone trips and therefore VMT, such as a bike valet, shuttles, and carpooling. No other components of the Project are expected to have an impact on climate.
RECOMMENDATION
Hold a public workshop to discuss permitting the Oakland Roots and Soul Sports Club to install modular and temporary facilities to host professional soccer matches and other sporting events at their headquarters and training facility in the Harbor Bay Business Park and provide preliminary feedback on the project and draft technical reports.
Respectfully Submitted,
Steven Buckley, Secretary to the Planning Board
By,
Brian McGuire, Planner III
Exhibits:
1. Plans
2. Draft CEQA Checklist
3. Traffic Study
4. Draft Transportation Management Plan
5. Port of Oakland Letter