Alameda Planning Board Meeting: Soccer Matches & ADU Ordinance - June 22, 2026
Alameda Planning Board Meeting: Soccer Matches & ADU Ordinance - June 22, 2026
The Alameda Planning Board convened on Monday, June 22, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. The meeting included a study session on the Oakland Roots proposal to host professional soccer matches at their Harbor Bay Parkway facility and a public hearing on amendments to the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) ordinance. The board also recognized outgoing board member Sahaba for eight years of service.
Consent Calendar
- The board approved the draft meeting minutes from June 8, 2026, with one abstention (board member Dewey).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Oakland Roots Proposal (Item 5B): Multiple residents spoke: Marie Kane, Stephanie Brochier, and Rayla Graber expressed opposition, citing traffic, noise, evacuation concerns, and proximity to homes. Melissa DeBoard and Judy Stanton voiced support, emphasizing economic benefits and family-friendly activities. Madeline Sadiq (Alameda Chamber & Economic Alliance) supported the project as an economic driver. Kenneth Chen (representing a school and church in the business park) noted mixed feelings, hoping for no Sunday games.
- ADU Ordinance Amendments (Item 5A): Hank Hernandez (Alameda Tiny Homes) offered suggestions on design review, parking, and roof pitch. Mark Gonyer spoke in favor of allowing ADU condo conversions, sharing his experience with a seven-unit property.
Discussion Items
- Oakland Roots Study Session (Item 5B): Staff planner Brian McGuire presented the proposal: the Oakland Roots and Soul seek a conditional use permit to host up to 24 soccer matches per year (up to 8,000 fans) at 1150/1220 Harbor Bay Parkway, with modular grandstands, temporary facilities, and shared parking. The draft conditions include traffic control, noise mitigation, lighting compliance, and annual review. Lydia Tan (Roots) discussed transportation plans (shuttles, BART, bike valet), lighting, and noise orientation. Board members asked for detailed traffic studies, parking strategies, noise modeling, community benefits, and design for arrival experience. No formal action was taken.
- ADU Ordinance Amendments (Item 5A): Staff presented a resolution to recommend text amendments to the City Council, including opt-in for ADU condo conversions (AB 1033), front yard setback rules, legal nonconforming additions, and cleanup edits. Discussion focused on: the requirement for homeowners associations in condo conversions, roof pitch matching, parking standards (18-ft driveway length), and design review for second-story decks. Public comments raised concerns about ministerial review for rooftop patios and parking minimums. The board directed staff to revise language to allow complementary roof pitches, reference public works parking standards, and explore reducing verbatim state law text. The board voted to recommend the amended ordinance to the City Council.
Key Outcomes
- Item 5B: No vote taken. Staff and applicant received board guidance to refine traffic, parking, noise, lighting, and community outreach before a future use permit hearing.
- Item 5A: Motion (by board member Ruiz, seconded by board member Sahaba) to approve the resolution recommending the ADU ordinance amendments to the City Council with adjustments discussed. Motion carried unanimously (all in favor, none opposed, no abstentions). Staff will incorporate changes and forward to Council.
- Other: Board member Sahaba was recognized for eight years of service with a certificate of appreciation. Board member Hom announced his intention to step down, remaining until a replacement is found.
Meeting Transcript
Evening, it's Monday, June 22nd, 7 p.m. and we'll begin today's planning board meeting and to kick us off, we'll have four members of weekly just in the pledge of allegiance. And um just before we formally kick things off, I would like to share some rules about meaning conduct and this is official business of the city of Alameda, so um please no disruptions for those both in the room and online. They're listening in, so uh let's be respectful for everyone for sharing their views. And if not um there are some consequences according to Penal Code Section 302. There are warnings and continuity violations will lead to additional action. So just want to say that. So we could convene this meeting. And with that, we'll go ahead and start with roll call. Good evening. Board member Hom here. Board member Ruiz. Here. Present. Board Member Wang. Board Member Sahaba. Present. And President Cisneros. Here. Okay, we have a quorum and board member uh Sue is absent today. Okay. Noted. And do we have any non-agenda public comments? Oh. Well, actually, there's agenda changes. Oh, do we have sorry, agenda changes? Yes. No. I don't think so. Yeah, I think potentially we might want to move uh 5B in front of 5A. Maybe it's a uh heavier meeting agenda item. I don't know if uh the board agrees or uh I would agree to that. Yeah, okay. And uh we don't have to make a motion for that, right? We just make that change. No, you should do it by motion. Okay. We have a motion. Do we have a second? Yeah, I motion for the change in sequence of uh agenda items 5B first and 5A. I'll second. Okay, all those in favor say aye. Opposed and one absence. Okay. All right. We have the agenda changed, and then moving on to agenda item three. Any non-agenda public comments? I don't see any hands raised online and I have no speaker slips. Okay, great. And then moving on to the consent calendar.
openpublica.com