pages: PlanningBoard/2016-10-24.pdf, 7
This data as json
body | date | page | text | path |
---|---|---|---|---|
PlanningBoard | 2016-10-24 | 7 | Board Member Mitchell opened the public hearing. Abby Goldware, Mid-Pen Housing, spoke about their plans for serving the Collaborating Partners in this neighborhood. She said they support the plan that is before the board. Christopher Buckley, Alameda Architectural Preservation Society, suggested clarifying the provisions regarding infill in the historic district. He gave suggestions for guideline changes that could be made that were included in their letter. Curtis Thomas said he is worried that people like him might be squeezed out of the neighborhood and hopes they will be able to come back to the neighborhood when it is built out. Board Member Mitchell closed the public hearing. Board Member Burton said keeping the four story limit will be important in order to maintain the variety of housing. He gave an extended list of suggested edits for the plan to aid in clarity and precision. Board Member Curtis said a lot of time went into the document and that it was very well written. Board Member Zuppan said she would like to see universal design called out specifically. She supported the idea of accommodating middle income housing. She said narrow streets do not make the streets safer. She said she was concerned with the sustainability of emphasizing grass in the historic district. She said we need flexibility for building heights, but there should be a burden to demonstrate a need to exceed three stories and not allow tall buildings by right. Board Member Knox White said the use of "primarily residential" to describe the mixed use zoning is something they need to be deliberate about. He said the General Plan policy of 90% of the housing being medium density is not spelled out in the plan. He said he is concerned that the areas relying on a dike for sea level rise protection will not have it until 100% of the base is built out. He said the safety of narrower streets are supported by academic studies. He said the shared streets need a lot more thought. He said the parking table appears to be missing data. He listed several potential edits for clarity. He said we should use size requirements to address the middle income housing need. Board Member Sullivan said it is important we match our housing stock to what our community has been and wants to attract in the future. She said not everybody wants to live in a seven story building. She said she does not like narrow streets. She said they are not safe and if speed is a problem to use speed bumps. She said when there is only Approved Minutes Page 7 of 9 Planning Board Meeting October 24, 2016 | PlanningBoard/2016-10-24.pdf |