YOUR HOMETOWN NEWS | SERVING EAST COUNTY
Vol. 23, No. 7
Bicycle trend a hazard
Cheering a return to sports
Staff Writer
of Highway 4 is designated as a route of regional significance. Various housing projects proposed and approved for the land around the extension in question would fund the development of that road. But certain gaps remain. The Bridle Gate housing development, which was proposed for Brentwood, would fund a segment of that road. But its current plan saw some opposition from the community and the unanimous September vote of the Brentwood Planning Commission to recommend the council deny the
OAKLEY The city council is exploring the possibility of bringing back a separate planning commission. The city had a detached planning body from its incorporation in 1999 until development activity slowed in early 2009, when the council absorbed the commission’s responsibilities. A planning commission’s role is to aid in a municipality’s development, using in-place documents and codes to ensure that applications and projects jibe with established policies and goals. The council evaluated 17 projects in 2020, 11 of which would probably have gone before the planning commission first if one was in place. “With a planning commission, you get a (project idea) out early, and you get the idea out to the people to provide feedback on what they want in their community,” said City Councilmember George Fuller. The council is expected to put out a public survey to gauge resident interest in serving on a restarted commission or as a citizen planning adviser, who would contribute input to the city council regarding housing subdivision proposals and the design review process. The city has utilized planning advisers since around 2014, but Vice Mayor Randy Pope pointed out that participation among current advisers is hit or miss.
see Sand Creek page 22
see Planning page 22
Health & Beauty..................12 Legals.....................................21
Milestones............................11 Sports.....................................16
Staff Writer
BRENTWOOD Police are hoping parents can help them put the brakes on a dangerous bicycle stunt that’s growing in popularity. Bicycle-riding juveniles and young adults are increasingly swerving dangerously close to on-road vehicles, playing chicken and weaving in and out of traffic, in violation of roadway rules. The maneuver, dubbed “suicide swerve,” is widely seen in YouTube videos and has drawn the attention of worldwide law enforcement agencies, from Brentwood to Modesto to Boston to Hertfordshire, England. “Obviously, you can understand the severity and the likelihood of severe injury
Photo by Tony Kukulich
F
reedom cheerleader Lilly Weyrauch practices routines on campus, Monday, Feb. 8. After the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cessation of all high school sports for nearly a year, girls’ tennis, girls’ volleyball, swimming and crosscountry are scheduled to begin competitions later this month. To view more photos of the event, visit www.thepress.net/multimedia/slideshows
see Bicycle page 22
County advancing Sand Creek extension “ Regardless of development occurring
Staff Writer
thereabouts, the road extension could be built if funded from ECCRFFA.
REGIONAL The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors this week approved an amendment to an ordinance that could help the Sand Creek Road extension become a reality. The Feb. 9 ordinance amendment adds the extension, which would build a road from Highway 4 to Deer Valley Road, to a list of projects that will be funded with regional transportation development impact mitigation (RTDIM) fees. These fees are collected by all member agencies of the East Contra Costa Regional
Fee and Financing Authority (ECCRFFA), a joint powers agency (JPA) that funds regional transportation improvements. “This action will only allow the Sand Creek Project to be eligible to receive ECCRFFA funding,” said Nancy Wein, Contra Costa senior civil engineer.
The region that would pave a path for Brentwood and Oakley residents to the Kaiser hospital is one that’s been under discussion for years. TRANSPLAN, a transportation committee representing Eastern Contra Costa County, already designated Sand Creek Road to the east
Adopt-A-Pet............................7 Classifieds.............................20
Cop Logs................................15 Education................................6
Entertainment.......................8 Food..........................................9
www.thepress.net
|
”
Tim Ogden, Brentwood city manager
To subscribe, visit www.thepress.net/subscribe
SAVE NOW
|
15% OFF ANY REPAIR G
FAIRVIEW HEATING & 2020 AIR CONDITIONING, INC. Get The Press App! Local News ~ On Demand
Planning agency explored by Kyle Szymanski
by Kyle Szymanski
by Aly Brown
February 12, 2021
Service • Repair • Installation
D MEDAL OL RD
AWA
THE PRESS Y OA K LE
To advertise, call 634-1441
Hanging Up The Shears
Boat Fire Claims Life
Page 4
Page 7
Contractor’s Lic. #533790 C-20
925-625-4963 • www.fairviewair.com
