OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Alameda Planning Board Meeting - October 26, 2020: Del Monte Agreement, COVID Use Permit, Harbor Bay Hotel Approved

Planning Board — Monday, October 26, 2020
BodyAlameda, California
SessionPlanning Board
DateMonday, October 26, 2020
StatusFILED
Video Record
Meeting Thumbnail
⇩ GET FROM SOURCE

STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE

Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Please raise your hand or otherwise indicate and we will include you in the speaking.

0:15

And it looks like no one has raised their hand yet.

0:17

I see none.

0:19

So we will move on to the consent calendar.

0:24

There's no items, so we'll move into the regular agenda.

0:27

First item 7A, the Del Monte Development Agreement, annual review, and proposed amendments.

0:35

Staff, uh, do you have a report?

0:37

Yes.

0:38

Board member T before we start, board member T.

0:41

I need to um recuse myself from this item.

0:45

So should I go to the break room or how would you like to handle this?

0:51

Uh city count, uh city attorney.

0:54

Uh, what's the best way?

0:55

Turn off mute and turn off video.

0:59

I think that sounds like a that sounds like a equivalent of leaving the room and not participating.

1:06

So why don't we do that?

1:07

And then we could text board member Reese when we're ready for her to come back.

1:12

So like this, and I'll mute.

1:15

Yes, please.

1:16

Thank you.

1:17

Perfect.

1:18

Thank you.

1:21

Good evening, President Teague.

1:23

Um, this is my name's Andrew Thomas, planning director.

1:26

Can you hear me okay?

1:27

Yes.

1:28

Okay.

1:29

Um, I'll just give a very quick brief uh introduction to this item uh from our perspective fairly straightforward.

1:35

Uh the in 2014, the city approved the uh plan for the redevelopment of the Del Monte building.

1:42

That approval was accompanied by a 15-year development agreement.

1:46

As part of that development agreement between the property owners and developers and the city, um the city's uh required the construction of the Clement Avenue extension.

1:58

So this was a major public benefit negotiated as part of that development agreement where the development of the Del Monte building would build the segment of the cross Alameda Trail and the Clement extension from essentially Atlantic and Sherman through to entrance.

2:14

Um this is an important part of the cross Alameda Trail, and of course, the long-standing plan to extend Clement through the Northern Waterfront and shift the truck route off of Buena Vista.

2:25

As part of that agreement in 2014, uh the uh provisions state that it had to be done concurrently with the project and had to be done before the 250th occupancy permit of the 400 odd units in the project.

2:41

So that way we guaranteed that it happened concurrently with the project.

2:44

We also set a deadline for the completion of the uh extension um also as part of that requirement.

2:55

So 2019 was the deadline.

2:57

So get it done before the 250th occupancy permit of 2019, whichever comes first.

3:02

Um, as you all know, the project uh was delayed several years due to economic um just the economic difficulties with the project, extremely expensive project, the Del Monte rehabilitation uh project, over 100 million dollars.

3:19

Uh it took about four years for the project to get off the ground.

3:23

Um would partners entered into a um was assigned a portion of the development agreement a few years ago.

3:31

They came in and they have started construction.

3:34

Um it looked like we were gonna be on track um to meet the 2019 deadline, but with the delays, um we had to extend it for a year, which we were allowed to do under the development agreement by the city manager, one time one year extension.

3:50

Uh would partners entered in and began the um excuse me one second.

4:03

Seems to be an argument going on in the rest of the house.

4:06

Um the uh the uh but then a few things happened.

4:11

One uh wood started construction and realized uh East Bay uh MUD said they had to redo all the permits because the permits were originally approved four years ago, and so uh East Bay MUD required them to uh completely redo all the permits for the infrastructure that go under the street in Clement, and then COVID-19 hit and everything slowed down.

4:33

So good news, Clement, the extension is under construction.

4:37

Bad news, they're not gonna have it done by January of 2021, which is what the development agreement requires.

4:44

So what we're recommending is a one-year extension.

4:48

Uh the planning board's role is to recommend any amendments to the development agreement to the city council.

4:53

So we will be taking this development agreement amendment to the city council on November 17th, um, because we really don't want them to go into default on the development agreement.

5:03

What the uh extension says is we're going to give you what a year, but we want you to start issuing a monthly uh status reports.

5:11

Because if all goes well, we're going to be done with this extension in six months.

5:16

If there's a if there is an additional problem or delay, we need to know immediately because we're gonna have to start scheduling additional hearings with the planning board and council um for another development agreement amendment if we miss the January 2022 deadline.

5:32

So I think with that, I'll make myself available to answer any questions.

5:37

Representatives from both uh Tim Lewis communities and Wood Um Development, who are the uh developers under the development agreement, they're also here tonight to answer any questions you might have.

5:50

Um I'm available uh as well.

5:53

With that, I'll wrap up the staff presentation and make ourselves available to answer questions if there are any thank you.

6:01

Uh Andrew, uh, just for uh board member Cisneros.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Design Review█████████████████████████████████████████████49%
Development Agreement██████████████15%
Procedural████████████13%
Outdoor Dining██████████11%
Economic Development████4%
Sustainability██2%
Parking Management██2%
Public Health█1%
Construction█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Alameda Planning Board Meeting - October 26, 2020

The Alameda Planning Board met via Zoom on Monday, October 26, 2020, at 7:00 PM. The board reviewed three major items: an annual review and proposed amendment to the Del Monte Development Agreement, a citywide conditional use permit amendment for commercial outdoor uses during the COVID-19 pandemic, and a development plan and design review for a new hotel at 1051 Harbor Bay Parkway. The board also approved draft meeting minutes and received staff reports.

Consent Calendar

  • No consent calendar items were listed.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No members of the public spoke on any of the regular agenda items. One late caller briefly appeared but did not address the board during oral communications.

Discussion Items

  • 7A: Del Monte Development Agreement Annual Review and Proposed Amendment

    • Planning Director Andrew Thomas presented an annual review of the 2014 Del Monte project development agreement and a proposed third amendment to extend the deadline for completing the Clement Avenue extension (part of the Cross Alameda Trail) by one year (until January 2022). The original deadline was 2019, extended previously to January 2021. Delays were attributed to East Bay MUD permit reissuance and COVID-19. Staff recommended extension plus monthly progress reports.
    • Board Member Cisneros suggested allowing the city manager to grant up to a one-year extension without a public hearing for minor delays, with reporting to the board. Board Member Teague proposed that such extensions be placed on the consent calendar for potential board review.
    • The applicant (represented by TL Partners and Wood Partners) expressed commitment to completion.
    • Board Member Curtis noted the developer's history of delays and supported board oversight.

  • 7B: Conditional Use Permit Amendment for Commercially Zoned Properties (COVID-19 Outdoor Use)

    • Planning Director Thomas presented an amendment to a June 2020 blanket use permit allowing commercial uses (e.g., outdoor dining, retail) on private parking lots and outdoor spaces citywide. The amendment added Alameda Point zoning districts inadvertently omitted and clarified that outdoor live music is allowed if compliant with city noise ordinance and county health orders.
    • Board Member Ruiz requested consistency in condition language regarding tents and umbrellas across conditions 4, 5, and 6, and that tents must comply with county health orders. Staff agreed.

  • 7C: 1051 Harbor Bay Parkway – Development Plan and Design Review for a 236-room Hotel

    • Staff (Henry Dong) presented a revised design for a five-story, 133,611-square-foot hotel with 236 guest rooms, restaurant, meeting rooms, and outdoor space. The project complies with zoning, general plan, FAA height/noise restrictions, and qualifies for a CEQA infill exemption. Parking is provided by 185 on-site spaces plus shared parking via reciprocal agreement with the Plaza One office park (over 400 additional spaces).
    • Applicant Adriana Cook (architecture firm) and owner Vijay Patel presented improvements from a 2018 review, including simplified massing, expanded entry canopy, solar roof, green roof, and modular construction to reduce impacts.
    • Board discussions focused on:
      • Parking adequacy: Board Member Sahaba questioned the accuracy of stating 295 spaces required when the reciprocal arrangement includes all office buildings; staff clarified shared parking analysis.
      • Fire access: Board Member Rothenberg raised concerns about single access for fire trucks; staff confirmed fire department approval.
      • Design refinements: Board Members Sahaba and Ruiz recommended adding sunshades to south-facing windows for solar heat gain, improving consistency of volumetric stepping at the north elevation, and enhancing the gateway corner (A3.3/A3.4) with public art or a welcoming element. Board Member Hom supported staff review.
      • Sustainability: Applicant noted guest room roller shades as passive measure but agreed to explore exterior awnings.
    • Board Member Ruiz requested a continuance to review proposed sunshade design visually, but motion failed for lack of a second.

Key Outcomes

  • 7A (Del Monte Development Agreement): Approved (unanimous, with Board Member Teague recused). The resolution includes an amendment allowing the city manager to grant a one-year extension (beyond January 2022) for minor delays, subject to planning board review via consent calendar. The board accepted the annual report and recommended City Council approval of the third amendment.
  • 7B (COVID-19 Use Permit Amendment): Approved unanimously. The resolution was amended to ensure consistent language across conditions 4, 5, and 6 regarding tents/umbrellas, and to require compliance with county health orders.
  • 7C (Harbor Bay Parkway Hotel): Approved 6-1 (Board Member Ruiz dissenting). The approval includes conditions directing staff to work with the applicant on:
    • Extending sunshade treatment to all south-facing hotel room windows.
    • Refining volumetric massing at the north elevation for consistency between circulation and guest room zones.
    • Enhancing the gateway corner (southeast elevation) with a welcoming design or public art.
    • Updating material sheets (A5.0, A5.1) to reflect proposed materials (e.g., trespa panels). Staff will review final plans for compliance; if unresolved, the matter returns to the board.
  • Meeting Minutes: Approved with corrections, May 11 and June 8, 2020. Board Member Cisneros abstained from both votes as he was not present at those meetings.
  • Future Meetings: Announced: General Plan Workshop next; November meeting (Thanksgiving week) includes Alameda Municipal Power solar proposal (Mount Trashmore) and a residential subdivision on Santa Clara Avenue. December workshop will continue general plan update.

Meeting Transcript

Please raise your hand or otherwise indicate and we will include you in the speaking. And it looks like no one has raised their hand yet. I see none. So we will move on to the consent calendar. There's no items, so we'll move into the regular agenda. First item 7A, the Del Monte Development Agreement, annual review, and proposed amendments. Staff, uh, do you have a report? Yes. Board member T before we start, board member T. I need to um recuse myself from this item. So should I go to the break room or how would you like to handle this? Uh city count, uh city attorney. Uh, what's the best way? Turn off mute and turn off video. I think that sounds like a that sounds like a equivalent of leaving the room and not participating. So why don't we do that? And then we could text board member Reese when we're ready for her to come back. So like this, and I'll mute. Yes, please. Thank you. Perfect. Thank you. Good evening, President Teague. Um, this is my name's Andrew Thomas, planning director. Can you hear me okay? Yes. Okay. Um, I'll just give a very quick brief uh introduction to this item uh from our perspective fairly straightforward. Uh the in 2014, the city approved the uh plan for the redevelopment of the Del Monte building. That approval was accompanied by a 15-year development agreement. As part of that development agreement between the property owners and developers and the city, um the city's uh required the construction of the Clement Avenue extension. So this was a major public benefit negotiated as part of that development agreement where the development of the Del Monte building would build the segment of the cross Alameda Trail and the Clement extension from essentially Atlantic and Sherman through to entrance. Um this is an important part of the cross Alameda Trail, and of course, the long-standing plan to extend Clement through the Northern Waterfront and shift the truck route off of Buena Vista. As part of that agreement in 2014, uh the uh provisions state that it had to be done concurrently with the project and had to be done before the 250th occupancy permit of the 400 odd units in the project. So that way we guaranteed that it happened concurrently with the project. We also set a deadline for the completion of the uh extension um also as part of that requirement. So 2019 was the deadline. So get it done before the 250th occupancy permit of 2019, whichever comes first. Um, as you all know, the project uh was delayed several years due to economic um just the economic difficulties with the project, extremely expensive project, the Del Monte rehabilitation uh project, over 100 million dollars. Uh it took about four years for the project to get off the ground. Um would partners entered into a um was assigned a portion of the development agreement a few years ago. They came in and they have started construction. Um it looked like we were gonna be on track um to meet the 2019 deadline, but with the delays, um we had to extend it for a year, which we were allowed to do under the development agreement by the city manager, one time one year extension. Uh would partners entered in and began the um excuse me one second. Seems to be an argument going on in the rest of the house. Um the uh the uh but then a few things happened. One uh wood started construction and realized uh East Bay uh MUD said they had to redo all the permits because the permits were originally approved four years ago, and so uh East Bay MUD required them to uh completely redo all the permits for the infrastructure that go under the street in Clement, and then COVID-19 hit and everything slowed down. So good news, Clement, the extension is under construction. Bad news, they're not gonna have it done by January of 2021, which is what the development agreement requires. So what we're recommending is a one-year extension.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com