Alameda Planning Board Meeting - January 27, 2020
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Alameda Planning Board Meeting - January 27, 2020
The Alameda Planning Board held a regular meeting on January 27, 2020, at 7:00 PM. Key actions included approval of a parcel map, a use permit for an animal shelter with specific conditions, approval of a landscape plan, and a study session for a self-storage building. Public comments emphasized neighborhood concerns and support.
Consent Calendar
- Item 6-A (Parcel Map 11038): A public hearing to approve a parcel map subdividing six parcels into four parcels (approx. 22.86 acres) at 2800 Fifth Street for Alameda Landing waterfront residential development. The board voted unanimously to approve the map, which facilitates property transfer and phasing.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Item 7-A (Animal Shelter Use Permit): Neighbor CJ Yang spoke on behalf of nearby residents, expressing concerns about noise from outdoor dog runs, property values, and lack of adequate outreach. They requested relocation of runs indoors, enclosure, or movement away from property lines, and recommended denial to allow further discussion.
- Item 7-C (Self-Storage Study Session): Shelley Burnhill, owner of Barn Hill Marina, spoke in support of the project, noting improvements over the current site and appreciating the design's attention to lighting and traffic impacts.
Discussion Items
- Item 7-A (2331 North Loop Road - Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter): Staff presented a use permit for an animal shelter with indoor boarding (up to 14 dogs, plus cats and rabbits) and two supervised outdoor runs. The planning board approved a conditional use permit allowing up to 4 dogs in the ground-level outdoor run and 3 on the rooftop run, requiring one staff per dog and compliance with noise ordinances. The permit includes a one-year review after operation begins, and three verified noise complaints will trigger a public hearing. Board members also discussed fence design and landscaping, but did not mandate specific materials.
- Item 7-B (Block 11 Landscape Plan - Alameda Point Site A): The board reviewed and approved the landscape plan for Block 11, which includes trees (willow and Betula jacquemontii), native grasses, salvias, bioswales, and vine plantings. The plan was updated to reflect a smaller building footprint and increased green space. No additional conditions were added.
- Item 7-C (2390 Mariner Square Drive - Self-Storage Building Study Session): The board held a study session for a proposed six-story, 110,844-square-foot self-storage building (approx. 72 ft tall) with outdoor boat/RV storage. The site has significant constraints (Posey Tube easement, utilities, FEMA floodplain). The applicant presented a design with textured metal panels, a screening wall, and proposed parking reduction (5 spaces vs. 75 required). Board members provided feedback: they encouraged sustainable features (e.g., solar, bike storage, transit passes), suggested a larger landscape buffer, questioned the necessity of glazing and pattern, and recommended a more cohesive facade. The project is scheduled to return for design review and a use permit for outdoor storage. No vote was taken.
Key Outcomes
- Item 6-A: Approved unanimously (no roll call vote recorded but all in favor).
- Item 7-A: Approved with conditions: maximum 4 dogs ground-level outdoor run, 3 dogs rooftop run; one-year staff report on noise complaints; three verified complaints trigger public hearing; no changes to hours (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.). Motion passed unanimously.
- Item 7-B: Approved unanimously.
- Item 7-C: Study session concluded; board provided design direction for future application.
- Minutes: November 12, 2019, minutes approved; November 25, 2019, minutes approved with a correction clarifying that Alameda's rent control ordinance takes precedence over state law when more stringent.
- Staff Communications: Upcoming February 10 meeting will include a draft ADU ordinance, cleanup edits to Alameda Municipal Code, and objective design review standards.
Note: The agenda initially placed Item 6-A on the consent calendar; the board moved it to the regular agenda at staff's request due to a public hearing notice requirement.
Meeting Transcript
Let's start with the flag salute, Mr. Hahn. What do we do to the flag of the United States of America? And to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. May we have the roll call? President Curtis. Here. Board members Kavanaugh. Present. Hom? Present. Rothenberg. Ruiz. Ruiz. Sahibai. Present. Teague. Here. We have a core. I understand we have an agenda change tonight. Yes, President Curtis. Staff would like to have the item 6A heard on the regular consent calendar. Regular calendar, not on consent. That parcel map request was actually noticed as a public hearing, but we inadvertently place it on the consent calendar agenda. So we'd like that to be heard first. Thank you. Okay. The next item are our oral communications. Anyone may address the board on a topic not on the agenda under this item by submitting a speaker's information slip subject to the three-minute time limit. Do we have any slips? Things off the agenda. Okay, then our first item is 6A, which is really 7A. The applicant is Catellus Alameda Development LLC. It's a public hearing to consider the recommendation to approve the parcel map to subdivide six parcels into four parcels, compromising approximately comprising approxim of approximately 22.86 acres. Do we have a presentation? No presentation, but basically this parcel map implements um all of the Alameda Landing Waterfront Residential project approvals that has come before this board over the last several months. Um and at this time staff is just recommending the planning board recommend council to approve that parcel map. Um Scott Wickstrom from the public works department, uh he's a city engineer, he's available in the audience if you have any questions, as well as the project applicant. Does anybody on the board have any questions? I have a I have a question, Alan. So we're dividing it into four parcels. So will there be one homeowner association for the entire property or per parcel? I'll have uh the city engineer address that. Thank you. Good evening, Chair Curtis, uh, members of the uh planning board. My name is Scott Wickstrom, I'm the city engineer. To answer your question, this is going to basically create four parcels that will um aid in the transfer of property from the city who owns the property right now as a successor agency to Catellus, who will then basically develop it further into the 300 and some odd unit uh development. That subsequent subdivision will include the formation of a homeowners association and all the appropriate parts. This lot line adjustments really to facilitate the development agreement and and not much more than that.
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