Potential new location for the Town's corp yard, 331 Rheem Blvd. Photo Andy Scheck
Commissioner Bruce Whitley always does his homework before the Moraga Planning Commission meetings. On January 3rd, the Commission reviewed a conditional use permit for the Town to use the building at 331 Rheem Boulevard as a corporation yard (a place to store the vehicles and equipment used by the Public Works department, which are presently stored on the grounds of the Hacienda de las Flores). Town Manager Mike Segrest sought the Commission's approval before the Town engaged in the purchase of that building.
331 Rheem is close to the Town's office building at 329 Rheem, and the move of the Corp Yard would improve the Hacienda's potential as a community center.
No objections were raised until it was Whitley's turn to speak. Whitley had concerns with the visual impact of the corporation yard. "This could become a real eye sore," he said, "it's going to be a junk yard, close to a scenic area, and across from a shopping center."
Whitley had drafted a modification to the conditional use permit which he distributed to his fellow commissioners. It required that the town install an automatic gate or provide another type of visual screening.
Segrest responded that a maintenance yard is not a junkyard. "It will look like a parking lot," he said, "We could screen the construction material, or shield it some other place."
Commissioner Margaret Goglia proposed that the use permit be approved, while asking that the Design Review Board (DRB) add the screening requirement. The final resolution read that prior to occupancy of the property, the DRB shall approve a plan for visual screening from the scenic corridor.
331 Rheem is close to the Town's office building at 329 Rheem, and the move of the Corp Yard would improve the Hacienda's potential as a community center. 
Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA