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Record of Proceedings

Alameda Planning Board Approves Conditional Use Permit for Astra Space Operations - October 11, 2021

Planning Board — Monday, October 11, 2021
BodyAlameda, California
SessionPlanning Board
DateMonday, October 11, 2021
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Uh great thank you.

0:11

All right.

0:13

Okay.

0:14

Like to walk.

0:32

Sure.

0:33

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

0:39

One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

0:45

All right.

0:46

Thank you.

0:48

Alan, could we have the roll call, please?

0:50

Sure.

0:51

Board member Cisneros has an excused absence.

0:55

Board Member Curtis.

0:57

Yeah.

0:59

Hom?

1:00

Yeah.

1:00

Rothenbury?

1:01

Here.

1:03

Board Member Ruiz is also has an excuse absence.

1:06

And then board member T.

1:08

President.

1:09

And then President Seheiba.

1:11

Present.

1:12

We have fire president and a quorum.

1:14

Thank you.

1:15

Okay.

1:15

Great.

1:16

Thanks.

1:17

Would anyone like to call any agenda changes?

1:22

Um discussion.

1:26

Are we good?

1:26

We only have really one agenda item, so we should be good.

1:31

Okay, oral communication.

1:33

Anyone may address the board and a topic not on the agenda under this item.

1:39

If you can raise your hands.

1:41

Again, this is any item that's not on the agenda.

1:46

Do we have any hands raised?

1:51

No one is raising the hand.

1:53

Okay.

1:55

We'll close oral communications.

1:59

There's nothing on the consent calendar, so we'll move on to our regular agenda items.

2:08

First item 7A.

2:10

Public hearing to consider a conditional use permit application for Astra Space Incorporated for Rocket Research Development and Light Industrial Manufacturing.

2:22

Do we have a presentation on this?

2:26

Yes.

2:27

President Saheba.

2:30

I'm going to share my screen.

2:32

I'm going to give a short uh introductory presentation overview of the use permit and staff recommendation.

2:39

And then I'd suggest that the applicant, Matt Ganzer from Astra, is here and would like to also do a short 10-minute presentation of their proposal.

2:53

If that's okay with the uh with you, President, I'll I'll get started with mine.

2:58

Great, thank you.

3:04

Can you see my screen?

3:06

Yes.

3:07

And you can hear everybody can hear okay.

3:10

Okay, so this is a application for a use permit.

3:13

So this is a uh applic uh a permit for the use of land.

3:17

And in this case, um the use permit addresses the regulations and uh permissible uses um related to rocket manufacturing, research and development, and rocket engine testing.

3:30

Um I think it's right off the bat, it's important to emphasize that this is um city-owned land.

3:39

Um so this this use permit is uh really uh a benefit to the city, it's not tied to a particular tenant of that land.

3:48

Um it does not affect any existing leases of that land with either Astra, which is a city tenant, or other tenants who um are on this land at this time.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Economic Development████████████████████████24%
Noise Ordinance█████████████13%
Procedural███████████11%
Hazardous Materials████████8%
Technology and Innovation███████7%
Affordable Housing█████5%
Community Engagement█████5%
Infrastructure████4%
Zoning Code███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Alameda Planning Board Approves Conditional Use Permit for Astra Space Operations - October 11, 2021

The Alameda Planning Board held a public hearing on October 11, 2021, to consider a conditional use permit (PLN21-0037) for Astra Space, Inc. for rocket research, development, light industrial manufacturing, indoor rocket engine testing, and associated outdoor storage and fencing at Alameda Point. After staff and applicant presentations and board discussion, the board approved the permit with conditions focused on noise mitigation and compliance, and also approved the minutes of the September 13, 2021 meeting.

Consent Calendar

  • None.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No members of the public addressed the board during the public hearing for item 7-A or during the general oral communications period.

Discussion Items

  • Staff presented the conditional use permit, explaining that the city-owned land is zoned for employment uses in the Enterprise District. The use permit sets rules for rocket testing, including noise limitations. Staff recommended conditions: no rocket engine testing between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., a maximum of 120 minutes of testing per 24-hour period, installation of a permanent noise monitor funded by the applicant and owned by the city, and provision of past test dates/times upon request. Staff noted that the noise study showed rocket tests did not increase ambient noise levels at Main Street and that future expansion would require additional permits from state, federal, and regional agencies.
  • Matt Ganzer, from Astra Space, presented the company's operations, emphasizing safety, community engagement, and the growing small satellite launch market. He described current testing in Building 372 and future plans for a new facility at 1900 Skyhawk Street.
  • Board members asked about noise monitoring methods, potential future engine noise, helium gas handling, and the scope of activities covered. Staff clarified that the noise conditions anticipate future testing and that any expansion beyond the approved uses would trigger new permit reviews.
  • The board expressed general support for the project while emphasizing the importance of noise compliance and ongoing monitoring.

Key Outcomes

  • The Planning Board unanimously (4-0) approved Resolution of Approval for Conditional Use Permit PLN21-0037 for Astra Space, Inc., subject to the staff-recommended conditions, including the noise limitations and monitoring requirements.
  • The board also unanimously approved the minutes of the September 13, 2021 Planning Board meeting.

Meeting Transcript

Uh great thank you. All right. Okay. Like to walk. Sure. 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. All right. Thank you. Alan, could we have the roll call, please? Sure. Board member Cisneros has an excused absence. Board Member Curtis. Yeah. Hom? Yeah. Rothenbury? Here. Board Member Ruiz is also has an excuse absence. And then board member T. President. And then President Seheiba. Present. We have fire president and a quorum. Thank you. Okay. Great. Thanks. Would anyone like to call any agenda changes? Um discussion. Are we good? We only have really one agenda item, so we should be good. Okay, oral communication. Anyone may address the board and a topic not on the agenda under this item. If you can raise your hands. Again, this is any item that's not on the agenda. Do we have any hands raised? No one is raising the hand. Okay. We'll close oral communications. There's nothing on the consent calendar, so we'll move on to our regular agenda items. First item 7A. Public hearing to consider a conditional use permit application for Astra Space Incorporated for Rocket Research Development and Light Industrial Manufacturing. Do we have a presentation on this? Yes. President Saheba. I'm going to share my screen. I'm going to give a short uh introductory presentation overview of the use permit and staff recommendation. And then I'd suggest that the applicant, Matt Ganzer from Astra, is here and would like to also do a short 10-minute presentation of their proposal. If that's okay with the uh with you, President, I'll I'll get started with mine.

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