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Record of Proceedings

Alameda Planning Board Meeting - General Plan Forum and Design Review - October 13, 2020

Planning Board — Tuesday, October 13, 2020
BodyAlameda, California
SessionPlanning Board
DateTuesday, October 13, 2020
StatusFILED
Video Record
Meeting Thumbnail
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:06

Alan, I can't help but see that palm tree behind you.

0:10

It's beautiful, isn't it?

0:13

Should I say it's beautiful or encourage you to chop it down?

0:18

Yeah, well, it are its days numbered, Alan.

0:23

Not really.

0:25

It is a Carolina date palm.

0:28

Yeah, you gotta keep it.

0:29

It looks beautiful.

0:30

There is one more palm left.

0:33

Whose days are numbered, but the moment it is not being removed.

0:38

You might as well keep it because you won't be able to recycle it anyway.

0:42

That's right.

0:43

You won't let yourself to plant another one.

0:45

So uh no, I have removed about five of them.

0:49

So uh I'd like to call to order the Monday, October 12th planning board meeting.

0:55

Uh today will be a much more standard meeting, uh, even though it is a forum as part of it.

1:00

Uh would uh board member Rothenberg please lead us in the flag salute.

1:07

I pledge allegiance 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.

1:18

Thank you.

1:18

Can we have a roll call, please?

1:22

Oh, I can do that, I think.

1:24

Um board member Hum.

1:27

Sure.

1:28

Board member Ruiz.

1:29

Yeah.

1:30

Board Member Sahaba.

1:32

Present.

1:34

Rothenberg?

1:35

Yeah.

1:36

Curtis?

1:37

Here.

1:37

Teague.

1:39

Present.

1:40

You have a forum.

1:41

I mean, if you have a quorum and a forum.

1:44

Uh, do we have any agenda changes?

1:47

None from staff.

1:49

Okay.

1:50

Now is the time for oral communications where anyone may address the board on a topic not on the agenda.

1:57

Uh, if you wish to speak on such an item, please use the raised hand feature.

2:11

Uh not seeing any.

2:12

Anything, Sarah.

2:20

Uh oh.

2:21

Sarah's present.

2:22

Sarah's frozen.

2:23

I don't see any in the in the in the participant window.

2:27

So we're gonna move on to the consent calendar, which is empty.

2:32

So we will then move to the regular agenda.

2:35

The first item 7A, the general plan update.

2:39

This is a public forum number two on the preservation and enhancement of Alameda's unique historic neighborhood character.

2:47

Uh, we're gonna start with a staff report.

2:52

I will that's uh I'll be doing the report.

2:54

Andrew Thomas, planning and building transportation director.

2:58

Um and Sarah's computer just shut down, but she says she'll be right back.

3:02

So she'll be returning.

3:05

Um I'm accompanied tonight.

3:08

Uh oh.

3:10

There we go.

3:11

Thank you, Amy.

3:13

Uh welcome everyone to our second general plan forum number two.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Historic Preservation████████████████████20%
General Plan██████████████████18%
Public Comment█████████████13%
Design Review██████████10%
Accessibility██████6%
Public Engagement█████5%
Transportation Safety████4%
Procedural███3%
Land Use Policy███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Alameda Planning Board Meeting - General Plan Forum and Design Review - October 13, 2020

The Alameda Planning Board held a virtual meeting on October 13, 2020, which included a public forum on the second theme of the General Plan (preserving and enhancing Alameda's historic character), followed by a design review hearing for 22416 Lincoln Avenue. The meeting also addressed approval of draft minutes, staff communications, and board communications.

Consent Calendar

  • The consent calendar was empty; no routine approvals were considered.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • General Plan Forum: Multiple community members expressed support for preserving Alameda's historic and maritime character. Speakers urged stronger waterfront planning principles, highlighted the importance of small businesses and neighborhood-serving retail, and requested that new construction be contextual and sensitive to existing scale. One speaker noted the need for a spotlight page on waterfront heritage. Another speaker emphasized maintaining the historic grid and avoiding overly large developments.
  • Design Review (22416 Lincoln Avenue): One public speaker (Alan) had no comments. No other public testimony was offered.

Discussion Items

  • General Plan Forum (Theme Two): Staff (Andrew Thomas and Amy) presented policies related to preserving Alameda's historic neighborhood character. Topics included building design, street design, waterfront connections, and gateways. The board and public discussed ensuring that policies support all four general plan themes. Board members noted the need to balance historic preservation with housing and sustainability goals.
  • Design Review (22416 Lincoln Avenue): The applicant returned with revised plans addressing previous board comments. Board members noted that most requirements were met, but requested a condition to highlight the crosswalk or driveway for pedestrian safety. The item was approved with that condition.
  • Draft Minutes (April 27, 2020): The minutes were approved with a minor correction (spelling of a board member's name).
  • Staff Communications: Staff reported approval of three design review applications since the last meeting, including a garage demolition certificate for the Lincoln Avenue property.
  • Board Communications: The board acknowledged the reappointment of Ron Curtis for another four-year term and welcomed new board member Cisneros (appointed to fill Jeff Kavanaugh's seat). Staff also noted upcoming items: Hilton hotel at Harbor Bay Business Park, development plan for 2607 Santa Clara, Del Monte development agreement amendment, and an amendment to the citywide use permit for outdoor business spaces during COVID-19.

Key Outcomes

  • Design Review Approved: The design review for 22416 Lincoln Avenue was approved (motion by Curtis, seconded, passed unanimously with a condition to highlight the crosswalk/driveway for pedestrian safety).
  • Minutes Approved: The draft minutes from April 27, 2020 were approved with a minor correction.
  • General Plan Forum: The forum concluded with no formal action, but staff will incorporate board and public feedback into the draft General Plan. Board members were encouraged to submit written comments.

Meeting Transcript

Alan, I can't help but see that palm tree behind you. It's beautiful, isn't it? Should I say it's beautiful or encourage you to chop it down? Yeah, well, it are its days numbered, Alan. Not really. It is a Carolina date palm. Yeah, you gotta keep it. It looks beautiful. There is one more palm left. Whose days are numbered, but the moment it is not being removed. You might as well keep it because you won't be able to recycle it anyway. That's right. You won't let yourself to plant another one. So uh no, I have removed about five of them. So uh I'd like to call to order the Monday, October 12th planning board meeting. Uh today will be a much more standard meeting, uh, even though it is a forum as part of it. Uh would uh board member Rothenberg please lead us in the flag salute. I pledge allegiance 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. Thank you. Can we have a roll call, please? Oh, I can do that, I think. Um board member Hum. Sure. Board member Ruiz. Yeah. Board Member Sahaba. Present. Rothenberg? Yeah. Curtis? Here. Teague. Present. You have a forum. I mean, if you have a quorum and a forum. Uh, do we have any agenda changes? None from staff. Okay. Now is the time for oral communications where anyone may address the board on a topic not on the agenda. Uh, if you wish to speak on such an item, please use the raised hand feature. Uh not seeing any. Anything, Sarah. Uh oh. Sarah's present. Sarah's frozen. I don't see any in the in the in the participant window. So we're gonna move on to the consent calendar, which is empty. So we will then move to the regular agenda. The first item 7A, the general plan update. This is a public forum number two on the preservation and enhancement of Alameda's unique historic neighborhood character.

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