pages: PlanningBoard/2008-06-23.pdf, 21
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PlanningBoard | 2008-06-23 | 21 | Mr. Autorino noted that prohibiting any retail use over 90,000 square feet cut down a great deal of the economic development opportunity for the area, and that there may be a use of that size that the City would want to have. He did not want the City to enter into any prohibitions that would invite legal trouble. President Cook noted that there were both planning and economic development aspects of such an ordinance that should also be discussed at the Economic Development Commission. She noted that she shopped at Target on occasion, and while there were many groceries at Target, she did not buy them there. In response to an inquiry by Board member Ezzy Ashcraft regarding the square footage of the large hangars at Alameda Point as they relate to adaptive reuse, Mr. Thomas noted that the large hangars were over 100,000 square feet, and the smaller hangars were approximately 60,000 square feet. He noted that the City proposed creating a Master Plan for Alameda Point, which essentially writes a zoning code for that portion of the City. He noted that theoretically, an exception to a big box prohibition could be included in the Master Plan for a specific area. He noted that several studies done over the years have revealed significant sales leakage from Alameda, and that staff believed that to avoid sales leakage, control of the retail development was necessary. Board member Ezzy Ashcraft noted that Building A was the largest building in the Alameda Landing retail center at 55,000 square feet. Mr. Thomas noted that Catellus was currently working with Target, and would propose a different site plan. Board member Cunningham believed it was important to have a safety valve in place to control the retail projects that come before the Planning Board. Board member Ezzy Ashcraft suggested sending some recommendations to City Council to clarify the Board's position and to provide direction for their action. Mr. Autorino noted that the Economic Development Commission was adamant in not wanting to do things that limited the economic development opportunities of the community. The EDC did not want to send the message that Alameda did not want to consider retail opportunities larger than a certain size. He supported measures to manage and control large format retail, but not to discourage it. Mr. Thomas noted that the Planning Board may pass along a recommendation at this time, or continue it to allow staff to return with more specific information. Staff could bring the item back to the EDC, and that they had not received their input on this item. Board member Ezzy Ashcraft noted that there had been much discussion about wanting to see a higher level of retail at Alameda Towne Center, but that the Board had been disappointed by some of the offerings. She noted that Kohl's did not appear to be as much of an improvement from Mervyn's as it could have been. She inquired whether there should be some safeguard in Page 21 of 23 | PlanningBoard/2008-06-23.pdf |