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Record of Proceedings

Alameda Planning Board Meeting - December 14, 2020

Planning Board — Monday, December 14, 2020
BodyAlameda, California
SessionPlanning Board
DateMonday, December 14, 2020
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:03

Would uh board member Ruiz please lead us in the flag salute?

0:08

Yes, please stand.

0:10

I pledge allegiance to the flag 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.

0:23

Thank you.

0:24

Can we have a roll call, please?

0:27

Yes.

0:28

Um good evening.

0:29

President T.

0:31

Present.

0:32

Board Member Cisneros.

0:40

Uh I see board member Cisneros.

0:42

Um and board member Curtis here.

0:46

Uh Hom?

0:48

Here.

0:49

Rothenburg.

0:54

I see her.

0:54

She's muted.

0:55

Uh Ruiz.

0:56

Here.

0:57

Yeah.

0:58

Um board member Sahedba.

1:00

Present.

1:01

And we have a corner.

1:03

Thank you.

1:03

Thank you.

1:04

Uh do we have any agenda changes?

1:08

None from staff.

1:09

None from staff.

1:10

Okay.

1:11

Oral communications.

1:12

Anyone may address the board on a topic not on the agenda by raising their hands so that we then uh may allow you to speak.

1:24

So please raise your hand if you would like to speak on something not on the agenda.

1:34

I don't see anyone.

1:36

I don't see anyone either.

1:39

So we will now move on to the consent calendar, seeing no items.

1:44

We're going to move on to the regular agenda item.

1:47

The first item is 7A, a variance for 1929 Webster Street for a variance of the Alameda off street parking and loading space regulation.

1:59

Staff.

2:01

Yes, thank you.

2:02

Um President Pete, my name is David Fablon, Planner 3 with the planning building transportation department.

2:07

Um so this item was brought before the planning board uh for last meeting.

2:12

Um they couldn't make the findings for parking labor, and so directors have to come back with a variance resolution.

2:20

There's um several physical constraints on this property uh that uh make it have extraordinary circumstances on the property and um makes it unable to have uh parking on it.

2:35

And so staff is recommending approval of various um staff, and the applicant are here to answer any questions.

2:41

Um thank you.

2:43

Uh do any board members have any questions on this before we open the public hearing?

2:50

I this is uh board member Hallman.

2:53

I do have a question of the applicant, if I may.

2:59

So yeah, okay.

3:02

Yeah, you know, I read the comment letter that we received from the manager of roadway in.

3:09

Um I think we you covered this at the last meeting, but since he's reiterating his concerns, um could you elaborate on how you would address the concerns about your patrons parking in his parking lot or blocking his driveway?

3:27

Um I mean, uh we're happy to post signs saying please respectful, you know, we do that at our businesses anyway, as far as say closing signs to be respectful of neighbors and um not making noise, and we can add to that.

3:39

Please don't park in our neighbors' parking lots.

3:42

Um I mean, I'm not sure what else I would be asking to make, but I can do that.

3:52

Okay, yeah, I just wanted to.

3:55

I think that's really an important uh you know, good neighbor kind of policy to really try to emphasize if your customers will definitely know we can't force people not to, but we definitely encourage people not to and let them know that they shouldn't be doing that.

4:13

You know, we we should have a PA system too, so we can occasionally announce if you're parked in the lot, please move your car or something like that as well.

4:23

No, yeah.

4:24

I think that would be helpful.

4:26

Thank you.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Engagement█████████████████17%
Public Transit██████████████14%
General Plan█████████████13%
Active Transportation██████████10%
Traffic Safety█████████9%
Procedural█████5%
Parking Management█████5%
Public Comment█████5%
Transportation Safety█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Alameda Planning Board Meeting - December 14, 2020

The Alameda Planning Board met via Zoom on December 14, 2020, to consider a parking variance for 1929 Webster Street and conduct the fourth public forum on the General Plan Update, focusing on enhancing mobility and accessibility. The board voted to approve the variance and received extensive public and board comments on the draft General Plan's mobility element.

Consent Calendar

  • No items were on the consent calendar.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Item 7-A – Variance (1929 Webster Street): Karan, general manager of the nearby Roadway Inn, opposed the variance, citing concerns that patrons would park in his lot and that delivery/Uber traffic would cause bottlenecks on Webster Street. Denise Trapanier, representing Bike Walk Alameda, supported the variance, praising the applicant's forward-looking emphasis on biking and walking.
  • Item 7-B – General Plan Forum #4: Multiple speakers addressed mobility policies. Denise Trapanier questioned preserving the street grid for cars on bicycle boulevards. Cindy Johnson (Bike Walk Alameda board) expressed overall support, urging prioritization of cross-estuary transit projects like BART and a pedestrian/bike bridge. Cameron Holland (Bike Walk Alameda board) highlighted the need to consider family mobility and safe routes to parks and schools. Christopher Buckley (Alameda Architectural Preservation Society) raised concerns about the Safety Element's handling of earthquake-caused fires and the loss of provisions from the existing plan. Dodie advocated for senior mobility and non-fossil fuel intra-island transit.

Discussion Items

  • Item 7-A – Variance: Board members unanimously supported the variance, noting the lot's physical constraints that prevent on-site parking. Several members encouraged the applicant to pursue shared parking agreements with neighboring businesses (e.g., Walgreens, Starbucks) and to maintain a curb cut for loading/unloading. The board emphasized good neighbor practices.
  • Item 7-B – General Plan Forum #4: Staff presented the fourth theme on mobility, covering policies on complete streets, vision zero, transit-oriented development, cross-estuary travel, and congestion pricing. Board members offered detailed feedback: concerns about equity in congestion pricing; support for bike/pedestrian bridges and enhanced ferry service; a call to prioritize policies and add measurable metrics; recommendations to improve accessibility for seniors and people with disabilities; caution against removing the grid system; and suggestions to refine language on land use and open space. Board members also submitted written comments to staff.

Key Outcomes

  • Variance Approval (7-A): The board voted to approve the variance for 1929 Webster Street, allowing development without off-street parking. The motion passed (roll call vote: President Teague, Vice President Saheba, Board Members Rothenberg, Hom, and Curtis voted aye; the motion carried with no nays).
  • General Plan Update: The board concluded the series of public forums on the first draft. Staff will integrate comments and release a second draft and draft EIR in February/March 2021. The board will continue review in spring/summer 2021.
  • Minutes Approved: The draft minutes from September 28, 2020, were approved with amendments (4 ayes, 3 abstentions). The minutes from October 12, 2020, were approved with an amendment clarifying Board Member Rothenberg's comments (6 ayes, 1 abstention).

Meeting Transcript

Would uh board member Ruiz please lead us in the flag salute? Yes, please stand. I pledge allegiance to the flag 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? Yes. Um good evening. President T. Present. Board Member Cisneros. Uh I see board member Cisneros. Um and board member Curtis here. Uh Hom? Here. Rothenburg. I see her. She's muted. Uh Ruiz. Here. Yeah. Um board member Sahedba. Present. And we have a corner. Thank you. Thank you. Uh do we have any agenda changes? None from staff. None from staff. Okay. Oral communications. Anyone may address the board on a topic not on the agenda by raising their hands so that we then uh may allow you to speak. So please raise your hand if you would like to speak on something not on the agenda. I don't see anyone. I don't see anyone either. So we will now move on to the consent calendar, seeing no items. We're going to move on to the regular agenda item. The first item is 7A, a variance for 1929 Webster Street for a variance of the Alameda off street parking and loading space regulation. Staff. Yes, thank you. Um President Pete, my name is David Fablon, Planner 3 with the planning building transportation department. Um so this item was brought before the planning board uh for last meeting. Um they couldn't make the findings for parking labor, and so directors have to come back with a variance resolution. There's um several physical constraints on this property uh that uh make it have extraordinary circumstances on the property and um makes it unable to have uh parking on it. And so staff is recommending approval of various um staff, and the applicant are here to answer any questions. Um thank you. Uh do any board members have any questions on this before we open the public hearing? I this is uh board member Hallman. I do have a question of the applicant, if I may. So yeah, okay. Yeah, you know, I read the comment letter that we received from the manager of roadway in.

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