Alameda Planning Board Meeting – June 26, 2023

The Alameda Planning Board met on Monday, June 26, 2023, to consider two major agenda items: a presentation on the Draft Public Art Master Plan and a public hearing on revisions to the Objective Design Review Standards (Objective Standards) for Multi-Family/Mixed Use and One- and Two-Family Developments. The board provided feedback on the art plan and continued the hearing on the design standards to a future meeting after incorporating public and board comments.

Consent Calendar

• Approved draft meeting minutes for April 24, 2023 and May 8, 2023 (4‑A and 4‑B) by unanimous vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Item 5B – Objective Design Review Standards:
  • Christopher Buckley (Alameda Architectural Preservation Society): Supported many staff recommendations but urged deletion of option three for selecting reference buildings, advocated for context area for C-1 stations to include all N or S buildings citywide, and recommended adopting the HAB proposal to require three mandatory architectural details (window/trim, porch columns, cornices) plus two additional. He also proposed requiring horizontal line continuation and other refinements.
  • Doug Biggs (Alameda Point Collaborative): Expressed support for the proposed campus-style development exemption for supportive/special needs housing, noting it would reduce costs and allow trauma-informed design. He also endorsed changes to ground-floor height requirements and encouraged adoption of the exemptions.

Discussion Items

• 5-A – Presentation on Draft Public Art Master Plan:
  • Staff planner Walker Toma presented the plan, which includes six recommendations, a five‑year action plan, and locational criteria. The board asked questions and offered feedback. Board members emphasized the need for collaboration between the Public Art Commission and other departments (e.g., ARPD), clearer guidance on site selection and public accessibility, and consistency in language regarding project thresholds and definitions. The board also expressed interest in articulating the educational and historical potential of public art, though the current ordinance no longer requires maritime/historic themes.
• 5-B – Objective Design Review Standards:
  • Staff presented revisions based on prior study sessions with the Planning Board and Historical Advisory Board (HAB). Key changes included shared entry doors, campus‑style development exemptions for qualifying projects, balcony recessing and opacity standards, and expanded context areas for Park Street and Webster Street. Board members raised several points: clarification on ministerial review for ADUs, floodplain elevation provisions, definition of “common” for two‑story building context, balcony transparency (preference for 50% minimum transparency), board‑and‑batten spacing, wayfinding signs for campus projects, and corrections to typos/inconsistent references. A debate occurred about whether to require additional mandatory architectural details; the board leaned toward retaining flexibility but increasing the number of required details modestly.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar: Approved unanimously.
• Public Art Master Plan: Board provided extensive feedback to be forwarded to the Public Art Commission; staff will incorporate comments where possible and include remaining feedback in the staff report to City Council.
• Objective Design Review Standards: The board decided to continue the public hearing to a future meeting after staff incorporates the following specific changes:
  • Revise balcony standard to require minimum 50% transparency (or opaque no more than 50%).
  • Clarify balcony minimum depth (suggested 6 feet) and recess requirement.
  • Remove specific board‑and‑batten spacing (8 inches on center) from both documents.
  • Add wayfinding design elements to campus‑style development standards.
  • For raised buildings, allow stair configuration that leads to the new first floor when basement is converted to ground floor (per Guide to Residential Design).
  • Add clarification for ADU and junior ADU ministerial review in single‑family guidelines.
  • Include “vacant or cleared sites” in neighborhood context standards for one‑ and two‑family dwellings.
  • Correct typos, section numbering, and add a link to the historic architectural resources document.
  • Retain staff recommendation regarding context area for C-1 districts (no expansion to citywide N or S buildings), as supported by a majority of the board.
  • Consider flexibility for offset requirements on narrow side yards.
  • Consider modest increase in number of required architectural details but maintain applicant choice for at least two additional.
• Staff announced upcoming items: July 10 meeting will include Phase 3 of Alameda Marina (RAP B) and possibly annual development agreement reports. August is summer recess.
• Staff transitions: Andrew Thomas becomes acting director of Base Reuse and Economic Development; David Sablon becomes acting director of Planning, Building and Transportation.