{"body": "PlanningBoard", "date": "2008-09-08", "page": 1, "text": "MINUTES OF THE REGULAR PLANNING BOARD MEETING\nMONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2008\nCOUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL\n2263 SANTA CLARA AVENUE - 7:00 PM\nPresident Kohlstrand called the meeting to order at 7:08 p.m.\nFLAG SALUTE:\nVice President Ezzy Ashcraft\nROLL CALL:\nPRESENT:\nABSENT:\nBoard members Autorino, Lynch, and McNamara.\nSTAFF PRESENT:\nAndrew\nThomas,\nPlanning\nServices\nManager/Secretary to the Planning Board; Assistant\nCity Attorney Farimah Faiz, Planner III Doug\nGarrison;\nAlthea\nJ.\nCarter,\nExecutive\nAssistant/Recording Secretary; Obaid Khan, Public\nWorks; Eric Fonstein, Development Services, Doreen\nSoto, Development Services\nMINUTES:\nMinutes for the meeting of July 14, 2008 (pending).\nMinutes from the meeting of July 28, 2008 (pending)\nMinutes from the meeting of August 11, 2008 (pending)\nMinutes from the meeting of August 25, 2008 (pending)\n5.\nAGENDA CHANGES AND DISCUSSION:\nBoard member Cunningham moved and Vice President Ezzy Ashcraft seconded the\nmotion to move Consent Calendar Item #8-A to Regular Agenda Items and, at the\nrequest of the applicant, to continue Item 9-A to the meeting of September 22, 2008.\nThe motion passed with the following voice vote - 4, Noes: 0; Absent: 3; Abstain: 0.\n6.\nSTAFF COMMUNICATIONS:\n6-A. Future Agendas\nStaff provided an update on future agenda items.\n6-B. Zoning Administrator Report\nThe Zoning Administrator meeting of September 2, 2008 was cancelled.\nPage 1 of 7", "path": "PlanningBoard/2008-09-08.pdf"}
{"body": "PlanningBoard", "date": "2008-09-08", "page": 2, "text": "7.\nORAL COMMUNICATIONS:\nAnyone may address the Board on a topic not on the agenda under this item by\nsubmitting a speaker's information slip, subject to the 5-minute time limit.\nThe public hearing was opened.\nPatsy Paul spoke in opposition to the number of affordable housing units relocated from\nGrand Marina to Island High. She believes affordable housing options should be one-\nhalf rentals and one-half home ownership and design of housing on the Island High site\nshould reflect the historical character of the neighborhood.\nNanette Burdick supported the comments made by Patsy Paul.\nThe public hearing was closed.\n8.\nCONSENT CALENDAR:\nConsent Calendar items are considered routine and will be enacted, approved or\nadopted by one motion unless a request for removal for discussion or\nexplanation is received from the Planning Board or a member of the public by\nsubmitting a speaker slip for that item.\n9.\nREGULAR AGENDA ITEMS:\n8-A. Alameda Landing Development Agreement Annual Review. The applicant,\nCatellus - A Prologis Company, requests a Periodic Review of the Alameda\nLanding Development Agreement as required under Zoning Ordinance Section\n30-95.1 The properties are zoned MX (Mixed Use Planned Development\nDistrict). (AT) This item was moved from Consent to Regular Agenda Items.\nAndrew Thomas presented the staff report. The applicant has met all obligations and is\nin compliance with the Development Agreement. Staff recommends the Board declare\nthat the Developer has demonstrated good faith compliance with the material terms and\nconditions of Alameda Landing Development Agreements.\nAidan Barry, Catellus representative, provided an update on development of the site. It\nwas a seven year acquisition process to negotiate the use of 860 Atlantic for\neducational purposes. The site is approximately 25,000 square feet with 9,000 square\nfeet of laboratory space. A 4-party agreement to gain right of way access was reached\nin advance of the estimated timeline. Clif Bar terminated the letter of intent since a\nspecific delivery schedule for building could not be reached. Clif Bar is back in\nnegotiations regarding a potential site at Alameda Landing. The company is looking for\na 100,000 square foot headquarters but is also considering locations in other cities.\nPage 2 of 7", "path": "PlanningBoard/2008-09-08.pdf"}
{"body": "PlanningBoard", "date": "2008-09-08", "page": 3, "text": "Negotiations are ongoing regarding retail development. The decline in the real estate\nmarket has negated most pending deals. Target has initiated discussions regarding a\nlocation at this site. If negotiations progress the Board will be provided with an update.\nIn response to an inquiry from Board member Ezzy Ashcraft, the applicant stated there\nhave been no changes regarding the reuse of the wharf and warehouses. The plan is to\nremove 100 feet to allow public access. This includes the existing parking shed.\nBoard member Cunningham moved and Vice President Ezzy Ashcraft seconded the\nmotion declaring the Developer in compliance with the material terms and conditions of\nthe development agreements. The motion passed with the following voice vote - 4,\nNoes: 0; Absent: 3; Abstain: 0.\n9-A. PLN08-0153 - General Plan Amendment -2400 Mariner Square Drive. The\napplicant is requesting a General Plan Amendment for the MU2 Mariner Square\nSpecific Mixed Use Area to permit additional office use. The site is located at\n2400 Mariner Square Drive within M-2-PD General Industrial (Manufacturing)\nPlanned Development Zoning District. (CE). (Continued from August 11, 2008).\nAt the request of the applicant, this item was continued to the regularly scheduled\nPlanning Board meeting of September 22, 2008.\n9-B. North Lincoln Strategic Plan. The Planning Board will be reviewing the August\n2008 Public Review Draft of the Gateway District Strategic Plan and making a\nrecommendation to the City Council. The Gateway District Strategic Plan\nrecommends redevelopment and design strategies or the blocks on either side of\nPark Street between Tilden Avenue and the Park Street Bridge. (DG)\nlan Ross, with City Design Collective, gave an overview of his consulting firm which was\nresponsible for preparing the report. He presented the plan to the Board. He explained\nthat the approach used to create the proposal was based on land use history in\nAlameda and discussed the purpose of the strategic plan as well as the process used to\nobtain public input. The plan recommends eliminating single use zoning and creating\nflexibility to attract new businesses. The proposal does not impact existing parcels but\nsets guidelines for new projects. Economic recommendations include: creating custom\nland use options, targeting businesses that complement the plan, and encouraging new\nresidential uses.\nIn response to a question from the Board, staff reviewed the process for Board\ncomments and discussion, and how the Board's input would be incorporated into the\nStrategic Plan.\nThe public hearing was opened.\nPage 3 of 7", "path": "PlanningBoard/2008-09-08.pdf"}
{"body": "PlanningBoard", "date": "2008-09-08", "page": 4, "text": "Joseph Yon spoke in support of including the Island High site in the Strategic Plan. He\nwould like the Island High site limited to 12 units. He also submitted written comments.\nChristopher Buckley submitted written comments. He was pleased with the plan and\nsuggested some small changes detailed in his written comments.\nCorinne Lambden spoke on behalf of the Alameda Architectural Preservation Society\n(AAPS). She expressed concern regarding building height and would like to see it\nreduced from 100 feet to four stories. She was concerned that a parking structure\nwould not meet demand. She would like the plan to consider hidden historic treasures\nand did not believe the maps contained in the plan included all historic buildings in\nAlameda, because the AAPS shows 112 historic buildings in Alameda and the Strategic\nPlan states there are only 56.\nCharles Howell from AAPS would like a comprehensive list of historic buildings. He\nwould prefer multiple small parking structures as opposed to one large structure and he\nwould like a reduction of building height from 100 feet to 40 feet.\nNanette Burdick believed it was a good plan but she did have some concerns regarding\nbuilding height and would prefer multiple smaller parking structures. She believed\nredevelopment of the Island High site should be compatible with the neighborhood.\nDavid Kirwin had some of his concerns addressed during lan's presentation. He did not\nbelieve the plan would negatively affect traffic, and should accommodate bicyclists as\nwell as pedestrians.\nThe public hearing was closed for board discussion.\nA Board discussion ensued regarding the vision and goals for the area. Green elements\nshould be incorporated into the Plan as much as possible. Acknowledgement that this is\na waterfront area and incorporation of marine uses should be included. A possible\npartnership with Oakland concerning residential uses and water access should be\nexplored. The plan should consider noise and traffic with pedestrian uses as well as\nbicycle parking. A water taxi from Jack London Square to Alameda should be\nconsidered, and public access to the water is important.\nIn response to an inquiry from the Board, staff responded that development regulations\nmust be revised prior to approval of the Strategic Plan.\nThe Board expressed concerns about providing widespread on street parking and\nagreed with the public input regarding smaller parking structures. The Board would\nprefer additional parking structures be wrapped into retail. Roof top parking should be\nconsidered. Use of the existing city parking garage should be encouraged.\nStaff responded that citywide parking requirements would be presented to the Board at\na future date prior to zoning updates.\nPage 4 of 7", "path": "PlanningBoard/2008-09-08.pdf"}
{"body": "PlanningBoard", "date": "2008-09-08", "page": 5, "text": "The Board provided the following direction:\nNo drive-through access on Park Street\nTake inventory of and make accommodations for historic structures\nUnderground all utilities\nAt the intersection of Park and Lincoln pedestrian improvements are needed\nTilden Street needs attention regarding bicycle paths and pedestrian walkways\nPedestrian connection to Park Street bridge\nLink the plan to other initiatives, for example the Transportation Element,\nParking, and Public Art Commission\nConsider rooftop parking in addition to garages\nIdentify parking structures that should be retained\nFurther work should be done to create waterfront guidelines for this area\nThe Board thanked the consultant for a very thorough analysis.\n9-C. Form-Based Zoning Study. The Planning Board will hold a study session to\ndiscuss form-based approaches to land use regulations and the potential\napplicability of form-based zoning for areas within Alameda. The Planning Board\nwill not be taking an action on this item. The study session is for informational\npurposes only. (AT)\nThis item was continued to a future meeting date.\nPresident Kohlstrand approved a short recess.\n9-D. Ballena Bay Study Session. The Planning Board will hold a study session to\nreview preliminary residential development concepts for the Ballena Bay area.\nThe Ballena Bay area is located south of Tidewater Drive on Ballena Boulevard.\nThe area is zoned CM, Commercial Manufacturing. Per direction from the City\nCouncil, the Planning Board is asked to provide review and comment on the\nproposals, but the Board will not be taking any final action on this item. The study\nsession is for informational purposes only. (DS/DSD)\nDoreen Soto presented the staff report. She explained the first step in the 4-5 year\nprocess was renegotiation of the marina lease. The lease, approved in 2007, requires\nupgrades to the site including removal/replacement of the wooden piers. The lease\nrequires that the property be divided into three parcels: the marina parcel, the\ncommercial parcel, and the remainder parcel. The remainder parcel is being used for\nhousing and open space as directed by the City Council.\nIn response to a board inquiry staff responded that the site is not currently zoned for\nresidential.\nPage 5 of 7", "path": "PlanningBoard/2008-09-08.pdf"}
{"body": "PlanningBoard", "date": "2008-09-08", "page": 6, "text": "The developer presented the design concept for this site. There were three main\nobjectives affecting the design: create a successful marina, create pedestrian friendly\nopen space, and the financial consideration where the residential component pays for\nopen space improvements and ongoing maintenance. There are 19 acres of residential\nand open space. The road is being redesigned to provide access to the marina and the\nresidential development. A parking lot is included for marina users as well as public\naccess parking for open space users. The residential area is designed with cul-de-sacs\nand each property has views of the bay. The total open space area is 10 acres and the\nbay trail will be incorporated into the open space design. The design includes 4 acres\nfor streets and parking, and five acres for 61 residential units. These units will be single-\nfamily dwellings and includes a few duplexes.\nThe public hearing was opened.\nNo speaker slips were received.\nThe public hearing was closed for Board discussion.\nBoard member Cunningham stated that he liked the project design. He would like the\ncul-de-sacs to be designed uniquely so they do not all look exactly alike.\nVice President Ezzy Ashcraft inquired about the vision for commercial uses.\nStaff responded that commercial uses would be office space and driven by the real\nestate market. Tidelands regulations restricts the area to marine uses only.\nBoard member Ezzy Ashcraft inquired whether predicted rising sea levels were taken\ninto account with the design.\nThe developer responded yes.\nVice President Ezzy Ashcraft moved and Board member Cook seconded the motion to\nextend the meeting to 11:15 p.m. The motion passed unanimously.\nA Board discussion ensued on safety and public access to the open areas.\nThe developer stated that residential areas are considered 24 hour use areas.\nRestaurants that are open late provide a sense of safety but residents may be opposed\nto the increased traffic.\nBoard member Cook inquired whether all the cul-de-sacs have roads that go all the way\nthrough, and how will it be clear to the public that the road is publicly accessible.\nPage 6 of 7", "path": "PlanningBoard/2008-09-08.pdf"}
{"body": "PlanningBoard", "date": "2008-09-08", "page": 7, "text": "The developer responded that alternating cul-de-sacs are designed to pass through.\nStreetscape and the design of the connectors to provide visibility will be used to\nencourage public access.\nIn response to a board inquiry, the developer explained that 400 parking spaces are\nincluded in the development plan. Along some areas parking is restricted to marina\nusers but there are also unassigned parking areas.\nPresident Kohlstrand stated she like the development concept and the applicant had\ndone a good job considering the constraints of the site. She would like more focus on\nhow to address geotechnical issues and sea level rise.\n10.\nWRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS:\nNONE.\n11.\nBOARD COMMUNICATIONS:\nBoard members may ask a question for clarification, make a brief announcement or\nmake a brief report on his or her activities. In addition, the Board may provide a referral\nto staff or other resources for factual information, request staff to report back to the body\nat a subsequent meeting concerning a City matter or, through the chair, direct staff to\nplace a request to agendize a matter of business on a future agenda.\nThe Board requested staff provide an update on the status of Alameda Point at a future\nmeeting.\n12. ADJOURNMENT:\n11:03 p.m.\nRespectfully submitted,\nAndrew Thomas, Secretary\nCity Planning Board\nThis meeting was audio and video taped.\nPage 7 of 7", "path": "PlanningBoard/2008-09-08.pdf"}