Rockridge Community Planning Council
Community-Led Initiatives for the Betterment of Rockridge
Our nonprofit’s board is elected by the local community and serves to improve the neighborhood for those who live, work, and visit here.
RCPC’s focus areas include land use, transportation, and quality-of-life issues. We advocate for changes with the City, and work collaboratively with local merchants via the Rockridge District Association, the Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council, Friends of the Library, and Friends of the Rockridge-Temescal Greenbelt.
We also publish the monthly The Rockridge News, a vehicle for keeping our community informed, engaged, and connected.
THE ROCKRIDGE NEWS
Current Edition
RCPC Statement about the Proposed Trader Joe’s Project
Having recently learned the details of the proposal to replace Trader Joe’s with two residential towers, RCPC was shocked at the magnitude of its potential impact and disappointed that the developer chose not to engage with the community before submitting its application to the city. RCPC supports the creation of new housing in our neighborhood, and recognizes that higher density can be appropriate at sites located directly adjacent to transit. However, with one of the two high risesat 31 stories, the proposed project exceeds current zoning by more than 20 stories, and eliminates Trader Joe’s, a vital part of the community in the process. Trader Joe’s is the only affordable grocery option in the neighborhood and the first unionized Trader Joe’s in the country.
Align Real Estate, the project sponsor, has stated that they are committed to preserving the “vitality of the corridor,” and RCPC shares that vision. The quality and character of College Avenue as a contiguous, interactive public environment is essential, and improvements to all adjacent streetscapes, including the placement and height of the development's taller components, are crucial to helping this project become a respectful neighbor. We urge Align Real Estate to pursue a project that better respects Rockridge’s scale, provides affordable housing, and retains Trader Joe’s as a foundational, street-level use.
RCPC will actively engage in the public review of this project to the fullest extent allowed by the Oakland zoning code and state laws. We welcome the opportunity to meet with Align Real Estate to discuss its proposal before the entitlement process begins in earnest.
For more details about the project, see this blog post on the RCPC website.
Update on the 2026 RCPC Election
The 2026 RCPC election is uncontested, with only 6 candidates having applied for the 6 seats becoming vacant on the Board of Directors. Each of the 6 candidates has been verified as having a principal residence within RCPC boundaries and as eligible to serve on the Board. Pursuant to RCPC's bylaws, the Board has decided to cancel further election proceedings, and has declared that these 6 candidates will fill the 6 Board seats becoming vacant on April 25. (For information on RCPC’s bylaws regarding uncontested elections, see explanatory information on this page.)
The following persons will be serving new 2-year terms on the Board: Kristen Belt (incumbent); Garrick Monaghan Beyer; Sam Fishman; Tom Lollini (incumbent); Natalie Musick; and Brian Stromquist.
– Casey Farmer, RCPC Chair
Upcoming Events Calendar
“The highlight of my time on the RCPC was working on the activation of College Avenue. Rockridge was still rebuilding from the disruption of Highway 24 and BART, which divided the community. Finding opportunities for ground-floor retail, restaurants, and services was critical for creating activity in the neighborhood.”
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“RCPC’s fundamental commitment has been, and is, to preserve and enhance the quality of life in Rockridge.”
Community Partners & Resources
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A 501(c)(3) nonprofit that is dedicated to enhancing Rockridge’s commercial corridor through promotional initiatives, streetscaping and beautification projects, and safety programs to foster a vibrant and diverse business community for all to enjoy. The Rockridge District Association is managed by a board of Rockridge-based business owners and community members. Website: RockridgeDistrict.com
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The Greater Rockridge Neighborhood Crime Prevention Council (a.k.a. "Neighborhood Council") liaises with the Oakland Police Dept. and addresses community concerns about public safety. Bi-monthly meetings offer brief presentations by the Community Resource Officers, and discussion of local crime and safety issues. Website: RockridgeNCPC.com
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The Mobile Assistance Community Responders of Oakland (MACRO) is a community response program operated by the Oakland Fire Department for non-violent, non-emergency, non-criminal requests for service. MACRO aims to increase access to community resources and streamline responses by traditional first responders (Fire and Police). Learn more and how to contact here.
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Please report active infrastructure emergencies to OAK311 by dialing 311 or (510) 615-5566. Emergencies includes downed trees or tree limbs, flooding or sewer overflows, and street signal outages. Please report all non-emergency issues online at this page.
Learn about 311 and when you should use it.
Contact RCPC
Feel free to contact us with any questions or comments.
Email info@rockridge.org.
Want to contact The Rockridge News? Learn more here.