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Record of Proceedings

Alameda Planning Board Meeting - April 22, 2024

Planning Board — Monday, April 22, 2024
BodyAlameda, California
SessionPlanning Board
DateMonday, April 22, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

I'm calling to order the meeting of the planning board for April 22nd, 2024.

0:08

And I am going to okay, do the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:13

So we could all stand.

0:17

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

0:24

One nation.

0:32

Okay.

0:34

Staff.

0:35

Roll call, please.

0:37

Yes, uh, good evening.

0:38

Uh board member Sue.

0:40

Here.

0:40

Board Member Ruiz.

0:42

Yeah.

0:42

Board Member Cisneros.

0:44

Here.

0:45

Board Member Ariza.

0:46

Here.

0:47

Board Member Wang.

0:48

Here.

0:49

And President Hong.

0:51

Here.

0:52

So we have six board members present.

0:54

We have a quorum.

0:55

Thank you, staff.

0:57

So at this point, or any from either staff or board members, any proposed agenda changes.

1:05

Okay.

1:06

No changes.

1:07

So next is non-agenda public comment.

1:10

So this is an opportunity for anyone to speak for up to three minutes regarding any matter that's not on tonight's agenda.

1:19

So do we have any staff?

1:21

Do we have any speakers in the audience or online that would like to I have no speaker slips and I see no hands raised for this?

1:29

Okay, great.

1:30

Okay, we'll move on to the consent calendar.

1:34

And these are the draft meeting minutes for February 26, 2024.

1:40

And I think these were the set of minutes we continued, right?

1:44

Yes, last time we didn't have a quorum of those who had been to the meeting.

1:48

Okay, great.

1:49

So it's continue.

1:50

So I believe we have a quorum present tonight for those minutes.

1:54

Uh any edits anyone has and no edits, so entertain a motion for approval.

2:02

I'll move to approve.

2:03

Okay, a move by uh Vice Chair Cenaros and any second.

2:09

I second.

2:09

Okay, second by board member Ruiz.

2:12

So all in favor?

2:14

Aye.

2:14

Aye.

2:15

Any opposed?

2:17

No, and then we have one absent.

2:20

Okay, regular agenda.

2:21

I I abstain.

2:22

Oh, you abstained.

2:23

Sorry, sorry to recognize that.

2:25

Okay, we have uh five approval, one abstention, and one absent.

2:30

Okay.

2:31

On to regular board agenda.

2:34

So this is item 6A is um a use permit and a design review at 2401 Martinart Street.

2:44

Applicant is Gregor Katman for Natal Energy in a public hearing to consider allowing an outdoor research and development and outdoor storage.

2:57

So there's also uh so it's both a use permit and design review.

3:01

So staff presentation, please.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Land Use Policy███████████████████████████████31%
Procedural██████████10%
Economic Development█████████9%
Public Comment█████████9%
Technology and Innovation███████7%
Renewable Energy██████6%
Property Management██████6%
Historic Preservation█████5%
Noise Ordinance███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Alameda Planning Board Meeting - April 22, 2024

The Alameda Planning Board met on April 22, 2024, at 7:00 PM in City Hall, Council Chambers. The meeting covered a consent calendar, a use permit and design review for Natel Energy's hydraulic test facility at 2401 Monarch Street, and a citywide zoning ordinance amendment regarding non-conforming lots, buildings, and uses. The board approved both items with conditions and recommendations. The meeting adjourned at 9:50 PM.

Consent Calendar

  • Draft Meeting Minutes – February 26, 2024: Approved 5-0-1 (one abstention, one absent).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Item 5-A (Natel Energy):
    • Kenny Jensen (CTO, Navier) and Owen Hale (mechanical engineer, Natel Energy) spoke in favor, highlighting Natel's innovation and community benefits.
    • Madeline Sadek (President/CEO, Alameda Chamber) expressed support for economic development.
    • Todd Hickman (neighboring tenant) opposed the location, citing violations of biological opinion, view blockage, inadequate notice, and potential CEQA issues. He argued the existing structure is illegal infill and should be relocated.
    • Kate Stirr (VP External Affairs, Natel Energy) and Ben Ward (facilities manager) supported the permit, emphasizing the company's climate tech mission and community engagement.
  • Item 5-B (Zoning Ordinance Amendment):
    • Todd Hickman spoke again, criticizing the amendments for failing to protect view corridors and alleged manipulation by staff and a pro-developer agenda.

Discussion Items

  • 5-A – 2401 Monarch Street – Use Permit & Design Review: Staff presented the project, noting Natel Energy designs fish-safe hydro turbines. The expansion is needed for a major utility contract. The site is constrained by U.S. Fish and Wildlife biological opinion (zone 1: 4-foot height limit; zone 2: more permissive). The board discussed noise compliance, screening of equipment, definition of permanent storage, and the need to confirm compliance with the biological opinion regarding noise. A suggestion to add interpretive signage was made.
  • 5-B – Zoning Ordinance Amendment – Non-Conforming Lots, Buildings and Uses: Staff presented proposed amendments to clean up the Alameda Municipal Code, reinstating inadvertently deleted provisions and updating outdated sections. Key changes included using issuance of permits instead of substantial construction, and simplifying improvement thresholds. Board members raised concerns about the 20% building valuation threshold (assessed vs. fair market value), discontinuance of non-conforming uses, and vague terms like

Meeting Transcript

I'm calling to order the meeting of the planning board for April 22nd, 2024. And I am going to okay, do the Pledge of Allegiance. So we could all stand. Pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation. Okay. Staff. Roll call, please. Yes, uh, good evening. Uh board member Sue. Here. Board Member Ruiz. Yeah. Board Member Cisneros. Here. Board Member Ariza. Here. Board Member Wang. Here. And President Hong. Here. So we have six board members present. We have a quorum. Thank you, staff. So at this point, or any from either staff or board members, any proposed agenda changes. Okay. No changes. So next is non-agenda public comment. So this is an opportunity for anyone to speak for up to three minutes regarding any matter that's not on tonight's agenda. So do we have any staff? Do we have any speakers in the audience or online that would like to I have no speaker slips and I see no hands raised for this? Okay, great. Okay, we'll move on to the consent calendar. And these are the draft meeting minutes for February 26, 2024. And I think these were the set of minutes we continued, right? Yes, last time we didn't have a quorum of those who had been to the meeting. Okay, great. So it's continue. So I believe we have a quorum present tonight for those minutes. Uh any edits anyone has and no edits, so entertain a motion for approval. I'll move to approve. Okay, a move by uh Vice Chair Cenaros and any second. I second. Okay, second by board member Ruiz. So all in favor? Aye. Aye. Any opposed? No, and then we have one absent. Okay, regular agenda.

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