pages: PlanningBoard/2020-09-14.pdf, 3
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PlanningBoard | 2020-09-14 | 3 | Director Thomas said when they started the draft for the General Plan the pandemic had started. This first draft does not deal with the pandemic at all. The safety element of the General Plan would be the right place to start introducing those concepts, staff has learned so much in the last 6 months about dealing with the pandemic. Does the city have definitions of what is equitable and inclusive? If so, what are they? Director Thomas said this general plan does not have measures for them. Once they introduce measures, metrics, and definitions into the next draft there will be a way to see if they had met them. In Policy LU1 neighborhood needs to be defined. What does neighborhood mean what is shown on survey 1 or exhibit 1 map? Director Thomas said they were thinking much more about the conceptual concept of neighborhood. In Policy LU1 how literally are the action reference statements to be taken for all neighborhoods? Specifically action number 5? Director Thomas answered that what the General Plan is saying complete neighborhoods have to address all these needs. These needs exist in all neighborhoods. Some of these items will have conditional use permits that is how these things will be managed. Recently state law requires the creation of an environmental justice element or integrating environmental justice into the General Plan. Does Alameda plan to incorporate such an element? HUD recently rescinded the affirmatively further fair housing rule, does Alameda plan to continue to work towards those goals? Director Thomas answered that they have integrated environmental justice throughout elements of the General Plan. They would be reviewing the first draft carefully against the state law requirements. President Teague opened up board discussions. Vice President Asheshh Saheba believed it was critical to get the output from all the different neighborhoods and was very glad this was happening. He agreed that tying the housing policies into each of the neighborhoods was important. Board Member Teresa Ruiz echoed the sentiment of how important reaching out to communities underrepresented was. She believed the General Plan was the backbone for future planning and creating equity inclusive neighborhoods was a noble idea and a goal to strive for. She did voice that some of the wording in the policies was rather broad. She was concerned about putting the housing policy in the general Plan since the state is constantly changing its requirements. Board Member Rona Rothenberg felt that economic goals and initiatives were buried in the text and said they should be more explicit. She said that for a Post Covid Era would Approved Planning Board Minutes Page 3 of 9 September 14, 2020 | PlanningBoard/2020-09-14.pdf |