pages: PlanningBoard/2019-05-28.pdf, 4
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PlanningBoard | 2019-05-28 | 4 | Board does not have enough information yet to make a decision. She said all the HOAs in Harbor Bay opposed the project. She said the project needs to be worthy of the location. Wei-Ling Huber, UNITE-HERE, said Alameda needs this project for the tax revenue and jobs created. She said the hotel will offer good wages, unlike other hotels in Alameda. She urged approval of the plans so the project can move forward as soon as possible. John Belperio, field representative for the carpenters' union, said the developer has been engaged and supportive of organized labor from the beginning. He said the project has been through many stages of approval and revision, and construction costs have continued to increase. There were no more speakers. President Sullivan closed the public hearing. Board Member Teague asked if they approve the architectural design but not the color palette, would that be enough to move forward. He received an affirmative response from the applicant. He listed previous conditions on the design that would need to be included in any approval, including differentiation between the hotel and restaurant buildings, that the plaster finishes be smooth, and that the berm and landscaping be sufficient to block any parked vehicle headlights from reaching the pathway. He said he is not opposed to hardscaping in the setback as long as they are publicly accessible. Mr. Leach said the public access requirement is the same agreement they have made with BCDC. Board Member Teague said he is in favor of the project moving forward. He said the structural design is much improved but did not like the color scheme. He added that the design distinctions between the two buildings on the site need to be carried forward. Board Member Saheba said we have an opportunity to make a great project on a rare water's edge site. He repeated a previous suggestion to create more connections from the parking lot to the Bay Trail to accommodate the flow of ferry riders. He said he has trouble with the use of thin brick in the new design, saying it reads like wallpaper. He said he would not like to see that type of material used along the base of the building. He said the increased glazing on the ground floor is a good idea but thinks the Board would need to see it before approving. He said the building still feels too massive, asking for increased window sizes. He added that he hopes that the developer has a plan for the art component. He said sprinkling variation in material around the restaurant building detracts from the cohesiveness of the design. He said the solar shading on the southern exposure makes sense, but the sporadic use of them on the northern façade is not useful. He expressed frustration with the poor quality and inaccuracy of the drawings being provided to the board after months of work. He said he is prepared to approve the landscape plan, the parking plan, and the setback tonight. He said the lighting plan and the architectural elevations are not ready for approval. Approved Planning Board Minutes Page 4 of 11 May 28, 2019 | PlanningBoard/2019-05-28.pdf |