Oakland Planning Commission Meeting – June 3, 2026

The Oakland Planning Commission met on June 3, 2026, from approximately 11:00 AM to 4:43 PM. The meeting included elections for Chair and Vice Chair, a public hearing on a major revision to a Planned Unit Development (PUD) for Temescal Plaza, and approval of minutes. The commission approved the parking revision with conditions by a 4–1 vote.

Commission Business: Election of Chair and Vice Chair

• Chair election: Commissioner Aaron was nominated and elected Chair by a vote of 5-0 (Commissioner Rob absent).
• Vice Chair election: Commissioner Randolph was nominated and elected Vice Chair by a vote of 5-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

Eight members of the public spoke on the Temescal Plaza parking revision.

• Joe Tanner (Grocery Outlet Entitlement & Permit Manager): Expressed support, noting Grocery Outlet’s independent operator model and that 15 spaces is a minimal request compared to their typical 50 spaces.
• Brian Charles Brooks (30-year resident): Opposed, arguing that giving 15 public spaces to one entity is unfair to small businesses and that on-street parking has already been reduced by 40 spots due to road redesign.
• Mo (security guard at Temescal Plaza for 18 years): Supported the request, stating that 15 of 150 spaces is not a major issue and that the community is eager for the grocery store.
• Sean Granberry (President of Temescal Business Improvement District): Supported, noting that parking is rarely enforced and that Grocery Outlet will bring needed foot traffic to the district.
• Cassette Johannes (Owner of Asmara Restaurant since 1985): Opposed, referencing the original 1995 PUD condition that prohibited dedicating spaces to any specific tenant and arguing that enforcement of existing rules would provide sufficient parking.
• Jonathan Johannes (co-owner of Asmara): Opposed, echoing his father’s concerns.
• Benjamin Johannes (family business owner): Opposed, citing the need to keep parking open for customers of all businesses.
• Emmanuel Singh (small business tenant across the street): Opposed, stating that Grocery Outlet is backed by large private equity and should not be granted exclusive 15 spaces that are currently shared by all.

Discussion Items

• Staff Presentation: Planner Alexia Rotberg presented the request to modify Condition of Approval No. 14 of PUD 95-166, allowing 15 of the 155 two-hour public parking spaces at Temescal Plaza (5055 Telegraph Avenue) to be converted to half-hour stalls reserved for a future grocery tenant (Grocery Outlet). Staff noted that the site is near major transit, so no minimum parking is required under current code, and recommended approval with findings.
• Applicant Presentation: Mark Loper (property management) explained that the 14,500 sq ft former Walgreens space has been vacant since February 2025. A lease with Grocery Outlet is contingent on securing 15 dedicated spaces. He highlighted that 135 spaces (90%) would remain public, and that the project would bring an affordable grocery store to the area.
• Commissioner Questions: Commissioners asked about enforcement (private security, towing), store hours (7 AM–10 PM), whether spaces could revert to public after hours (applicant agreed to consider), the status of other 30-minute spaces (some may have been installed without approval), and the impact of setting a precedent for future tenants. The applicant stated they were willing to work with staff on signage and striping improvements.
• Deliberation: Commissioners expressed concern about losing a public amenity, confusion over existing time limits, enforcement challenges, and the precedent of dedicating spots. Some noted that the site is walkable and transit-rich, and that many customers may arrive without cars. Others emphasized the difficulty of filling large retail spaces post-pandemic and the desire to support business. A motion was crafted to approve with several conditions.

Key Outcomes

• Approval of PUD Revision (4–1): The commission approved the revision to PUD 95-166, modifying Condition of Approval No. 14, subject to the following additional conditions:
  1. The 15 dedicated parking spaces shall be restricted only during the operating hours of the grocery tenant.
  2. The dedication is tied specifically to a grocery store use; if the tenant changes to a non-grocery use, the spaces revert to public two-hour parking.
  3. The property owner and tenant shall privately enforce parking duration limits and customer-only restrictions.
  4. Short-term bicycle parking meeting current code requirements (approximately 8 spaces, or 1 per 2,000 sq ft) shall be installed for the grocery store use.
  5. The property owner shall update striping and signage across the entire parking lot to clearly indicate time limits for each stall, consistent with all prior and current approvals.
• Vote: Commissioner Randolph (yes), Commissioner Lee (yes), Commissioner Aaron (no), Vice Chair Sandoval (yes), Chair Rink (yes). Commissioner Rob absent. The decision is appealable within 10 days.
• Approval of Minutes: The minutes from May 20, 2026, were approved unanimously.