Alameda Planning Board Meeting - February 24, 2020
STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE
Alameda Planning Board Meeting - February 24, 2020
The Alameda Planning Board convened on February 24, 2020, with all members present except Hebba. The board considered two major agenda items: amendments to the Phase I Waterfront Park design and endorsement of the 2019 General Plan and Housing Element Annual Report. Both items were approved with modifications after board discussion.
Consent Calendar
- No items were on the consent calendar.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public spoke during oral communications or public hearings.
Discussion Items
-
Item 7A: Phase I Waterfront Park Design Review Amendments – The applicant, represented by landscape architect April Phillips, presented revised plans for the waterfront park at Alameda Point Site A, originally approved in 2016. Modifications were made after board comments in December 2019. Discussion centered on the inclusion of six palm trees. Board Member Hom opposed the palms, citing the city's zero waste goals and the difficulty of composting palm waste. Staff (Alan Ty) explained that the palms were recommended to create a focal point near a public guard station and were supported by BCDC staff. Board Member Curtis suggested studying composting options. A motion was made to approve the design review amendments but remove the palm trees and direct staff to work with the applicant and BCDC to find an alternative tree, with staff to report back. The motion passed unanimously.
-
Item 7B: 2019 General Plan and Housing Element Annual Report and General Plan Update – Planning Director Andrew Thomas presented the annual report and the ongoing general plan update, assisted by Amy McPhee of Cultivate. Board members discussed the timeline for the Environmental Impact Report (EIR), the formatting of policies (alpha-numeric vs. bullets), housing production numbers, density bonuses under state law, and the need to address homelessness services. Thomas noted that the EIR might be completed by fall 2020, which could push final adoption to late 2020 or early 2021. A motion was made to endorse the 2019 General Plan and Housing Element Annual Report with staff incorporating board comments. The motion passed unanimously.
-
Minutes – The board approved the minutes from the previous meeting after Board Member Cavanaugh apologized for a phrase used in that meeting.
-
Staff Communications – Alan Ty reported that the city received a $310,000 SB2 grant for planning work related to the general plan update and ADU ordinance. He also noted positive feedback from the state Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) on the city's ADU ordinance, which HCD suggested as a model for other cities.
-
Future Meetings – The next regular meeting was scheduled for March 9, 2020, with a general plan update study session planned for March 23, 2020.
Key Outcomes
- Item 7A: Approved the design review amendments for the Phase I Waterfront Park, with the condition that palm trees be removed and staff find an alternative tree in consultation with the applicant and BCDC, reporting back to the board. (Unanimous)
- Item 7B: Endorsed the 2019 General Plan and Housing Element Annual Report, with staff directed to incorporate board comments. (Unanimous)
- Minutes: Approved as presented. (Unanimous)
- Grant: Acknowledged receipt of $310,000 SB2 grant for planning work.
- ADU Ordinance: Recognized HCD's positive feedback and the ordinance's potential as a model.
Meeting Transcript
Can anybody hear me? Is anyone listening? Is that better? No. Okay. Okay, let's um start with the flag still. Teresa, will you lead us? Please stand. Through the flag. And through the Republic. One nation under God. With liberty and justice for all. May we have the roll call, please? Yes, uh President Curtis. Here. Kavanaugh. Present Hom? Here. Rothenberg. Here. Ruiz. Here. So Hebba is absent. And board member T present. We have a quorum. Okay. Are there any agenda changes? None. None. Okay. Okay. The next item is our oral communications. Anyone may address the board on a topic not under this agenda. Does anybody have anything to say? Okay, see. But I don't know what it says. Okay. Okay, this takes us to the consent calendar. We have nothing on the consent calendar. So our first regular agenda item is item 7A. It's the phase one waterfront park design preview, review and amendments. Yes. A presentation from the applicant. My name's Alan Ty, City Planner. Just a quick recap. This item was originally approved in 2016 for the waterfront park phase one of the waterfront park at site A. The applicants wanted to make modifications. Those modifications were presented to this board in December. And after board comments, the uh plans have been revised with a complete package. So you're what you're seeing is that a entire update to the 2016 plans package.
openpublica.com