Development

An Alameda County Superior Court judge today denied the request to issue a temporary restraining order to halt the Oakland Zoo’s expansion project. The request, filed jointly by Friends of Knowland Park and the California Native Plants Society (CNPS), called for a three-week suspension of the zoo’s project, which the groups say will damage the natural habitat for endangered native species living in the city-owned Knowland Park.

More than 300 people packed the North Oakland Senior Center on Thursday evening to discuss the future of urban agriculture in Oakland. The forum, organized by Oakland’s planning and zoning division, is the city’s latest effort to gain public input on updating its urban farming regulations.

A Wednesday evening planning commission drew a big crowd eager to argue the pros and cons of allowing Safeway to develop a 62,000 square-foot project at the corner of College and Claremont Avenues.

James and the Giant Cupcake opened last week, near the corner of San Pablo and Alcatraz. Owner Eurydice Manning had to shut the store down for a two hours the third day the shop was open because they were sold out, and frantically bake more.

Oakland Mayor Jean Quan and a group of East Bay mayors gave their support to a lawsuit that seeks to overturn a bill by Governor Jerry Brown that axes the agencies.

There are a number of incentive programs for Oakland residents who go solar—such as California Solar Initiative, Energy Upgrade California, or Sungevity.org—but they only work if you own your rooftop. But what if you don’t?

Golden Gate residents gathered Sunday afternoon to clean up two blocks of San Pablo Avenue, from 65th Street to 63rd Street.

To alternating applause and boos, supporters and opponents of a proposed dog park at Lakeside Park broke even on Wednesday evening during a meeting of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission, when the plan drew a tie vote from the commission.

It’s summertime, and Oakland’s community gardens are thriving. But in a city with only about 200 plots for 40,000 people, waiting lists are long, and the Office of Parks and Recreation is expanding the gardening program as fast as it can.