Alameda Planning Board Meeting – May 24, 2021

The Alameda Planning Board convened on May 24, 2021, at 7:00 PM via Zoom. The board considered several items including a consent calendar determination on the capital budget, a public hearing on the Encinal Terminals Master Plan and Development Agreement, a public hearing on citywide public art ordinance amendments, and a public hearing on a proposed ban on gasoline-powered leaf blowers. The meeting lasted approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes. All votes were unanimous except where noted.

Consent Calendar

• Item 6-A – Capital Budget Consistency with General Plan: The board made a determination that the proposed Fiscal Year 2021-22 and 2022-2023 Capital Budget is consistent with the General Plan. Public commenter Carmen Reed requested that the board remove a $1.4 million line item for painting the “big whites” (17 historic homes at Alameda Point) until further review by the city manager. Planning Director Andrew Thomas clarified that the board’s role is solely to determine consistency with the General Plan, not to approve funding. The board voted unanimously to approve the determination.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Carmen Reed (speaking on Item 6-A): Expressed concern about the $1.4 million painting cost, noting it amounts to roughly $78,000 per house, and asked for more detailed evaluation before council approval.
• Carmen Reed (speaking on Item 7-A): Expressed support for providing two parking spaces per townhome unit, citing the need for additional vehicle storage for guests and family.
• Carmen Reed (speaking on Item 7-D): Expressed support for the ban on gasoline-powered leaf blowers, urged an educational approach rather than harsh enforcement, and requested enactment as soon as possible.

Discussion Items

• Item 7-A – Encinal Terminals Tidelands Exchange Master Plan and Development Agreement: The board held a public hearing on a resolution recommending city council approval of the amended master plan and development agreement for the redevelopment of the Encinal Terminals properties (1521 Buena Vista Avenue). The project includes 589 housing units (up to 200 townhomes, the rest multifamily), with 30% of units designated as small and 10 moderate-income units. A key issue was parking: staff recommended a 1.5 spaces per unit average across all units, while the applicant (Mike O’Hara, Tim Lewis Communities) proposed 2 spaces per townhome and 1.5 for multifamily. The applicant argued that market viability and competition (e.g., Alameda Marina, Alameda Point, Alameda Landing) support the higher townhome parking ratio. Board members expressed support for the project, citing its importance for the housing element and long planning process. Most board members agreed to grandfather the parking ratio as proposed by the applicant, noting that the parking standard discussion came late in the process. The board voted unanimously (with one recusal) to recommend council adoption of the master plan and development agreement as drafted, with the parking ratio as outlined in the master plan.
• Item 7-C – Citywide Public Art Ordinance Amendments: Staff presented revised draft ordinance amendments to Alameda Municipal Code Chapter 30, incorporating feedback from the April 26 Planning Board meeting. Key changes: (1) developers must declare their intention for on-site art or in-lieu fee prior to planning approvals; (2) funds from the public art fund may be used for maintenance, conservation, and deaccession of public art on public property; (3) fund expenditures below $75,000 (city manager’s purchase authority) may be approved by the Public Art Committee rather than city council, subject to the city’s purchasing policy. Board member Rothenberg raised a concern about the exemption for 100% affordable housing projects. After discussion, the board agreed to recommend council adoption of the ordinance, with a request that staff include a recommendation for council to consider expanding the use of in-lieu fees to fund public art in 100% affordable housing projects. The motion passed unanimously.
• Item 7-D – Gasoline-Powered Leaf Blower Ban: The board held a public hearing on a proposed ordinance to ban the use of gasoline-powered leaf blowers citywide, effective January 1, 2024. The ordinance is an action item from the City’s Climate Action and Resiliency Plan (CARP), focusing on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, not noise. Staff noted that electric leaf blowers are often louder than gas models. The board discussed the effective date: some members favored moving it to 2023, while others stressed the need for a transition period for small landscaping businesses. A compromise of July 1, 2023 (two years from the meeting date) was proposed. The board voted unanimously to recommend council adoption of the ordinance with an effective date of July 1, 2023, and requested staff to research the potential impact on landscape contractors and other affected parties.

Key Outcomes

• Item 6-A: Unanimous vote to determine the capital budget consistent with the General Plan.
• Item 7-A: Unanimous vote (with one recusal) to recommend council approval of the Encinal Terminals Master Plan and Development Agreement with the applicant’s proposed parking ratio (2 spaces per townhome, 1.5 per multifamily unit).
• Item 7-C: Unanimous vote to recommend council adoption of the public art ordinance amendments, with a request that staff inform council of the board’s suggestion to consider using in-lieu fees for public art in 100% affordable housing projects.
• Item 7-D: Unanimous vote to recommend council adoption of the gasoline-powered leaf blower ban with an effective date of July 1, 2023, and further staff research on impacts.
• Item 7-B (910 Centennial Avenue) was continued to the June 14, 2021 meeting as indicated on the agenda.
• Staff Communications: Noted the demolition of a garage at 1334 Grove Street to facilitate an ADU.
• Future Meetings: The next Planning Board meeting on June 14, 2021, will be a joint meeting with the Historical Advisory Board to include a General Plan workshop, housing element discussion, and a hearing on the General Plan EIR.