pages: CityCouncil/2020-06-02.pdf, 18
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CityCouncil | 2020-06-02 | 18 | begin to look at multi-family zoning districts and allowing people to create a second or third unit; staff anticipates fewer density bonus projects moving forward should the repeal occur; currently, every major project has used the density bonus process as a way to get around multi-family prohibitions; every project has additional market-rate units and the percentage of affordable units goes down as a result; developers are invoking State density bonus to get a waiver for the multi-family prohibition and defaulting into a 20% larger project; the City has been unable to get a Housing Element certified for 20 years due to Measure A; the first Housing Element was certified in 2012 due to great effort by the Planning Board and City Council; there are new guidelines for housing in 2020; the repeal will help the City in the long-run. Mayor Ezzy Ashcraft expressed support for the ability to gain more grant funds; stated Alameda is trying to do the right thing. Councilmember Vella inquired how much time is needed for the Environmental Impact Review (EIR). The Planning, Building and Transportation Director responded the EIR is required when zoning amendments are conducted; stated zoning amendments allow changes to individual pieces of property; zoning is already in place the removal of Measure A from the Charter does not change environmental conditions; should the voters remove Measure A from the Charter, there is no change to what can be done on the property, the subsequent zoning amendments are what will change actions; multi-family housing will not be allowed everywhere in the City; appropriate places will be chosen; a typical EIR takes six to nine months. Urged Council to place a full repeal of Article 26 on the November ballot; stated Article 26 and the ban on multi-family housing has a racist impact; discussed a letter submitted outlining the history of Article 26; stated the policy is important in creating racial and economic equity in the community: Grover Wehman-Brown, East Bay Housing Organizations. Discussed his experience as a member of the Alameda Planning Board; stated that he is familiar with Article 26 and its impacts on residential development; urged Council to place an amendment striking Article 26 from the Charter on the November ballot; provided three reasons to strike the Article: 1) it is inappropriate to codify something more appropriately placed in the zoning ordinance, 2) Alameda and the State are in the midst of a housing crisis, and 3) the nation is in the midst of tremendous turmoil, specifically around the issues of State violence against black citizens: David Burton, Alameda. Urged Council to support the delay of Section 26-3 until 2022; stated any revision of Article 26 should be part of a larger, well-analyzed planning process to determine the changes needed to the City's development rules; expressed support for repeal of Section 26-1; stated the General Plan revision and Housing Element update needs to Regular Meeting Alameda City Council 5 June 2, 2020 | CityCouncil/2020-06-02.pdf |