pages: PlanningBoard/2016-02-08.pdf, 5
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PlanningBoard | 2016-02-08 | 5 | Sandip Jariwala of WABA said it was not currently but could be added when they re- certify in a year or two. Board Member Zuppan said she has long wanted to help improve the jobs-housing imbalance. She said she knows the applicant personally and has faith that he can get it right. She said it could contribute to the entire Webster St. district and she will be in support of this. Board Member Henneberry said he agreed with everything Board Member Zuppan said. He said prior to 2002 this would have been a permitted use. Board Member Mitchell said he visited the site and the proximity to the parking lot made this a good spot for this use. He said he would support the project but wanted to make sure the code enforcement issues were addressed before it moved forward. Board Member Sullivan said the parking lot was a good demarcation between the commercial and residential areas. She said the salaries of the jobs created here would not support people looking for homes in Alameda. She said she did not support the proposed zoning change. Board Member Köster said the maintenance costs of a historic building like this could be well absorbed by the commercial use. He said the applicant's adjacent restaurant shows a willingness to go above and beyond as far as quality design and he supports the project. Board Member Burton said he was conflicted about converting a residence to commercial use given the political climate around housing availability in town. He said it seems that there is a history of carelessness in how the applicant deals with the city. He said the applicant would need to "play by the rules" going forward. He said he was not sure how he would vote. President Knox White said he was in about the same place as Board Member Burton. He said he was concerned that they were rezoning and not able to just consider a use permit. He said he was concerned about removing housing, but he generally supports mixing uses even in residential neighborhoods and would probably support the change. Board Member Köster pointed out that the home is not an "affordable house" and therefore is less concerned with removing it from the housing supply. Board Member Zuppan pointed out that the house is owner-occupied and it was not the same as removing rental housing, which she would have more concern over. Approved Minutes Page 5 of 7 February 8, 2016 Planning Board | PlanningBoard/2016-02-08.pdf |