Alameda Planning Board Meeting - October 10, 2022
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Alameda Planning Board Meeting - October 10, 2022
This meeting of the Alameda Planning Board on October 10, 2022, included a workshop on the draft Active Transportation Plan and a public hearing on a Dish Wireless facility at 916 Union Street. The board also considered an agenda change to move the workshop item earlier. The transcript ends during the 7A discussion, so no decisions on that item or later items (7B, 7C) are documented.
Agenda Changes
- The board voted 6-0 to move Item 7D (Active Transportation Plan workshop) to the first agenda item to allow for public comments.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Item 7D (Active Transportation Plan): Cindy Johansson commented on the draft plan, suggesting specific performance measures with targets and dates, and recommended a mode shift goal of 20% of trips by walking and biking by 2030. She noted the plan's lack of measurable targets and recommended revisiting the mode shift goal.
- Item 7A (916 Union Street - Dish Wireless): Several residents spoke in opposition. Devin Westerholm questioned whether the applicant had adequately proven that no alternative sites (e.g., Alameda High School, South Shore Shopping Center) were available. Diane Clark expressed concern about health risks and the structure facing her windows. Matt Reed pointed out incomplete application documents, including the RFEME report (antenna count discrepancy) and lack of analysis on tree impact. Adrian Lack of that noted the proximity to a historic building and that the city's guidelines discourage residential siting. John Cabellus asked why the Mastic Center location was not scrutinized and whether co-location by other carriers would be allowed.
Discussion Items
- 7D - Active Transportation Plan Workshop: Staff announced the draft plan is available for review and comment until October 23, 2022, at www.activealameda.org. No board action was taken; it was a workshop to gather input.
- 7A - 916 Union Street - Dish Wireless: Staff presented a design review for a 13-foot-tall, 64-square-foot penthouse to conceal six antennas on a four-story apartment building. The project is subject to a 90-day FCC shot clock ending November 15, 2022. The site is in a residential area, which is the least preferred location per city guidelines. Staff noted the applicant's difficulty in finding alternative sites due to the hospital ending leases. The board discussed design compliance, barriers for RF safety, and the limited scope of local authority. Public comments raised concerns about incomplete documentation, antenna count, tree damage, and historical designation. The transcript ends during board member Teague's questioning about the RFEME report and potential approval conditions.
Key Outcomes
- The agenda change to move Item 7D to the first item was approved unanimously (6-0).
- No decision was reached on Item 7A (916 Union Street) as the transcript concludes during the discussion. The board did not vote on the design review application.
- Items 7B (Housing Element zoning map amendments) and 7C (2800 Fifth Street - Pulte Homes) were not reached in the available transcript.
Meeting Transcript
Progress. All right, you guys are now live. Thank you. Good evening. Welcome to the October 10th, 2022 planning board meeting. Let's call the meeting to start. And I would like to ask board member. Excuse me. Recording in progress. Board member Ham. Sahaba. Present. Board Member T. Present. And President Ruiz. Here. And we have a quorum. Thank you. Any agenda changes and discussion? Yes, there is a change from staff. Just looking at the length of tonight's agenda. And item 70, staff actually did not prepare a presentation. This is really more of an announcement that the draft active transportation plan is out for review and comment. And so staff is actually circling around various boards and commissions soliciting comments. So we were hoping that President Reese, you could ask and see if there's any but member of the audience who is here tonight to address the item and to let them speak. And then otherwise we could probably just make this and consider this the announcement that the uh active adamant uh Alameda Transportation Plan is available for review and comment. So my understanding, thank you, um Alan. My understanding is that um the active transportation plan is not under planning boards per view, correct? Uh technically, yes. We're we're it is we're kind of shopping around boards and commissions for comments. This will um eventually go before the uh transportation commission next month and then on to council um early December. So should we move that from 7D to 7A right at the beginning and then ask for comments during that time? Uh sure, if if that's if the board uh so choose so choose. Okay, so why don't we do that? Do a switch moving 7D all the way to 7A because there's really not this is really not a form um number forum for public comments during this portion of the meeting. So that's let's do that. We'll do 7D first and solicit public comments if any during that time. Okay. Um so thank you for that suggestion. Um, do we need to roll call the vote for this change or uh yes for for for the zoom meeting? It would be it would be okay. Okay, so do we have a motion to move 7D to the first item? Second. Um Brian, would you mind roll call the vote, please? Sure, board member Areza. Hi. Board member Teague. Aye, board member Ham. Hi, board member Cisneras. Hi.
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