pages: CityCouncil/2013-09-25.pdf, 18
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CityCouncil | 2013-09-25 | 18 | the Main Street neighborhood should be land banked until the City exceeds the 1,400 limit; that he has been thinking about the same priority zones as Board Member Knox White; the enterprise zone is blank land which is relatively attractive; the historic district buildings are beautiful, but will be really tough; Council should weigh in on such matters. Mayor Gilmore stated that she thought she heard consensus among her colleagues about the priority zone being the Town Center and enterprise zone, which are probably going to go together organically; housing is a little bit tougher; she understands the theoretical desire to put all of the housing in the Town Center phase and have 1,200 multifamily units because it would help transit; however, she does not know whether building 900 instead of 1,200 housing units would be significant for retail or transit; the number of Bayport housing units did not do anything for transit; that she would like to have the flexibility before facing a unit penalty because a decision might be made to build single family houses if somebody is going to pay a lot for the land; reaching a deal with the Navy took 17 years; she is hesitant to put all the housing leggs in one basket; going to the Navy in five years to say the deal struck no longer works for the City could be a momentum killer. President Burton stated one reason transit might not have worked at Bayport is because single family, rather than multifamily, housing was built; multifamily housing is more supportive of transit; the 1,425 limit could be reached quickly whether housing units are built at the Town Center or some are reserved for the Main Street neighborhood; the City could end up holding a conversation with the Navy quickly. Councilmember Chen stated building Bayport, which is only 500 homes, took at least five or six years; realistically, building 1,425 units could take decades; that he really likes the approach that staff will not just concentrate on the business aspect and will develop some housing, especially using the multifamily housing overlay; the City's housing needs should be met; the waiting list for affordable housing is very long. Vice Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft stated that she would like staff to come back with more information; she is intrigued by the concept of the priority zones; requested information about what Alameda Point land banking would look like; stated that she does not have enough information to decide whether or not to support allocating 1,425 units at the Town Center. Board Member Henneberry stated the meeting tonight is to comment on the EIR and disposition; the level of specificity being discussed is way too detailed. Board Member Knox White stated one outstanding zoning question is whether or not to have housing on the waterfront facing the seaplane lagoon; the amount mentioned has been a quarter of the waterfront or less; getting Council direction on the issues would be good; noted zoning is specifically embedded in the disposition strategy. Mayor Gilmore stated Council has not given a lot of thought to said matter at this point; Joint Meeting Alameda City Council and 18 Planning Board September 25, 2013 | CityCouncil/2013-09-25.pdf |