Kenilworth Subdivision Heads to Council After Neighbors Decry Years of Dust

Oakland's Public Works and Transportation Committee advanced a long-delayed hillside subdivision on Kenilworth Road on Oct. 27, 2026, after neighbors described years of dust, diesel fumes and noise. Rather than send the item quietly to the consent calendar, Committee Chair Zac Unger routed it to the Nov. 10 special City Council meeting for open debate. The committee also unanimously backed a $5M grant-funded contract to oversee construction of the Broadway Streetscape project.

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• Kenilworth Road subdivision approved 3-0-1 and sent to Council on non-consent, with Councilmember Ken Houston abstaining
• Neighbors allege years of construction impacts; the developer's team blames an ancient landslide and COVID-era delays
• $5M VSCE construction management contract for Broadway Streetscape passes 4-0, fully grant funded
• Councilmember Charlene Wang presses for detail on what the city gets for $5M before the full Council vote

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Kenilworth Subdivision Survives Neighbor Pushback

Why it matters: Staff said that without approval, the parcel map would expire and the developer would have to restart entitlements. Neighbors say the project has already dragged on far too long.

The basics: OakDOT staff brought three resolutions for a single-family home project in Council District 4:

• A subdivision improvement agreement backed by security equal to 175% of estimated construction cost. It covers a private access road, utilities and an emergency fire access route to Devon Way.
• A conditional, revocable major encroachment permit.
• Conditional approval of Parcel Map 8228, including a right-of-way dedication and abandonment of a sewer easement.

Under the state Subdivision Map Act, a subdivision improvement agreement lets a map be recorded before improvements are finished, with bonding as a backstop. Ishra Jahan, Supervising Civil Engineer, OakDOT Right-of-Way Management Division, said, "There is no fiscal impact associated with the proposed resolution."

Where things stand: Staff said the project was originally approved in 2010. The applicant's team cited 2006.

Neighbors living above the site lined up against the request. "There's constantly dust and debris," said Quentin Helgren, public commenter. "I object to giving the owner more time for what has turned into a forever, never-ending commercial construction project in our residential neighborhood," said Andrew Rothman, public commenter.

Asada Olabala, public commenter, raised future buyers' geohazard district and HOA fee obligations. She criticized what she called a nearly 20-year timeline. Kevin Daly, public commenter, welcomed the housing but asked about sidewalks, paving on Grizzly Peak Boulevard and fire exit routes.

The other side: The applicant's representatives from BuildZig said the project faced real obstacles. "We hit an ancient landslide and it was more than 40 feet deep," said Carlos Plazola, who said the discovery forced a redesign. Laura Blair said the project was approved with conditions on dust and noise and offered to meet with neighbors. "This is not an extraordinary application in front of you," she said.

Houston said it "is the developer's responsibility to reach out to the constituents to see what their concerns is." He asked one neighbor whether he had filed complaints with the city. "I probably should have made my protests in writing directly to the city," the neighbor said. "The time for public engagement is typically during the planning entitlements," said Emily Ellers, Right-of-Way Management Division staff, who relayed the neighbors' concerns to the contractor.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: Wang had seconded Councilmember Noel Gallo's motion before public comment. She then questioned whether approval simply gives the developer more time. Houston abstained, saying he could not fully weigh the project without consulting the District 4 councilmember. "I'd like to move this to council on non-consent, if you're willing to adjust your motion," Unger said.

The vote was For: 3, Against: 0, Abstain: 1 (Houston). The developer avoids starting over, and neighbors get another public hearing.

What's next: The item goes to the Nov. 10 special City Council meeting on non-consent. That means Council will discuss it publicly rather than approve it in a single batch vote.

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$5M Broadway Oversight Contract Clears Committee

Why it matters: The contract funds oversight of a corridor rebuild with red bus-only lanes, pedestrian crossings, lighting, transit shelters, street trees and signals. It is paid entirely with grants, not general city funds.

Where things stand: Council awarded the construction contract to McGuire and Hester in July 2026. VSCE, Inc. would supply resident engineers, inspectors, material testing and special inspections.

"The contract is in the amount of $5 million and 100% grant funded by state and local fund sources," said Edmund Siu, Supervising Civil Engineer and Acting Transportation Manager, Major Projects Division. Siu said VSCE is an Oakland-certified small local business that proposed to perform 60% of the work itself. Selection was based on qualifications, and fee proposals were opened only after firms were ranked. Staff put the engineer's estimate at roughly $4M.

The other side: "So what are we getting for $5 million?" asked Wang. She also asked whether the grant could fund other projects and whether another bidder, 3D Built, had proposed a different cost.

Unger called this the second recent large outside engineering contract and said the city struggles to find qualified staff. "We're contracting this out not because we want to, but because we have to," he said.

Houston welcomed the local angle. "What I saw here that really made me excited was local and small local business there," he said. He asked whether the remaining 40% would go to small Oakland businesses. "I don't have the exact breakdown of that remaining 40%," Siu said, adding that the work would go to a mix of specialty subconsultants. Houston asked staff to find the information.

Public comment pulled in two directions. "It'd be great to have a bike turn box from Broadway into and out of Sixth Street," said Daly, citing a planned two-way bike path near OPD headquarters. Olabala listed stalled projects, including the Bancroft Avenue Greenway, the East Oakland Mobility Action Plan and High Street paving, mostly in Districts 6 and 7. "But we have very little going on in East Oakland," she said, and asked for a fairness review of how projects are prioritized.

Decisions and stakeholder impacts: The vote was For: 4 (Gallo, Houston, Wang, Unger), Against: 0. Transit riders and pedestrians on Broadway benefit from the project moving forward. Local small businesses and East Oakland advocates are watching where the contract dollars land. "I will vote for this, but I'd like for more information to be included as it moves to the full City Council," Wang said.

What's next: The contract goes to the Nov. 10 City Council consent calendar. Watch for the 40% subcontractor breakdown Houston requested.

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Minor Items

• Minutes: The Oct. 13, 2026, minutes were approved 3-0, with Wang absent.
• Pending list: Approved as is, 3-0. Houston asked when the parking division reorganization report will be scheduled, and Unger said he did not know.
• Tree permits: Olabala described a $600-plus permit fee and a 6- to 8-week investigation, with no emergency track when roots threaten sewer lines.
• Spending transparency: In open forum, Olabala urged that the city administrator's report on spending under $250,000 go to every affected committee.
• Open forum: Daly thanked Houston for raising the parking reorganization report.

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Looking Ahead

Both the Kenilworth subdivision and the Broadway contract go to the City Council on Nov. 10. Kenilworth will be debated in public on non-consent, and the VSCE contract will be on the consent calendar.