Alameda Planning Board Meeting - February 13, 2023

The Alameda Planning Board met via Zoom on Monday, February 13, 2023, to consider a master plan amendment for Alameda Landing, a use permit and design review for a tavern on Park Street, and other routine items. The board approved a recommendation to City Council for the Fifth Street parcel, approved the tavern use permit with conditions, and continued several agenda items to a future meeting.

Consent Calendar

• Item 6-A (1825 Park Street Design Review Time Extension) was continued to the February 27, 2023 Planning Board meeting.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Item 7-A (2800 Fifth Street): Residents of Bay 37 (Chris Lloyd, Marnie Roosevelt, and others) presented a strong case for a community park (Alternative 2), citing a community survey, lack of green space, parking and safety concerns, and the loss of views and natural light for residents who paid $90,000–$180,000 lot premiums. Many urged the board to preserve open space and not add more structures. Some residents expressed support for a combination of park and community center, but the prevailing sentiment was for the park option.
• Item 7-B (1200 Park Street): Public comment was mostly supportive, with Cathy Weber (Downtown Alameda Business Association) endorsing the tap house and music. Concerns were raised by immediate neighbors about parking enforcement, amplified sound, and the proposed extended hours. One neighbor requested permit parking and stricter enforcement. Another resident worried about the 6-foot sound wall and potential reverberation. Overall, the project was seen as a good adaptive reuse, but neighbors favored limiting amplified music initially.

Discussion Items

Item 7-A: Master Plan/Development Plan Amendment – 2800 Fifth Street Staff presented four alternatives to replace the required 5,000 sq ft commercial retail with other uses. The applicant (Pulte Homes) argued retail was not viable, citing a 15–20% vacancy rate at Alameda Landing Shopping Center. Staff recommended Alternative 1 (two moderate-income units and a recreation building), but the Bay 37 community strongly supported Alternative 2 (a neighborhood park). After extensive deliberation, the board crafted a modified motion (Alternative 3B): one single-family market-rate unit (max height 20 ft), an HOA-maintained neighborhood park, and two very low-income units elsewhere in the development. The board voted 6–1 to recommend this to City Council.

Item 7-B: Use Permit and Design Review – 1200 Park Street The applicant proposed a tap house with outdoor beer garden, live music, and extended hours. Staff recommended limiting outdoor amplified music to once per month and consistent hours with adjacent businesses. The applicant requested matching indoor/outdoor hours and more frequent live music. The board agreed to match indoor/outdoor hours (Sunday–Thursday until 10 p.m., Friday–Saturday until 11 p.m.) and allowed amplified music three times per month on Fridays or Saturdays until 8 p.m., with a mandatory review after six months. Additional conditions included planting trees in the ground, designing a covered food conveyance path, and making the masonry wall more permeable. The board voted unanimously to approve the use permit with these amendments.

Item 7-C: This item was not discussed; the board voted to continue it and other remaining items to future meetings.

Key Outcomes

• Minutes Approved: October 10, 2022 meeting minutes were approved (5 ayes, 1 abstention). The November 14, 2022 minutes were not considered.
• 2800 Fifth Street Recommendation: Approved 6–1 to recommend City Council adopt Alternative 3B (one market-rate single-family home ≤20 ft height, HOA-maintained park, two very low-income units relocated elsewhere).
• 1200 Park Street Approval: Approved unanimously with conditions. The use permit allows indoor/outdoor operations until 10 p.m. (Sun–Thu) and 11 p.m. (Fri–Sat); amplified music three times per month on Fri/Sat until 8 p.m.; six-month review; and design refinements (tree planting, covered service path, permeable masonry wall, material details).
• Hybrid Meeting Preview: Staff announced the next Planning Board meeting (February 27, 2023) will be the first hybrid (in-person and virtual) meeting, requiring board members to attend in person unless prior arrangements are made.
• Continued Items: All remaining agenda items (7-C, minutes for November 14, etc.) were continued to future meetings.