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PLN26-0193 - Administrative Use Permit - 1907 Park Street - Applicant: Alejandro Lara for Alameda Registration Services. A public hearing to consider an Administrative Use Permit to allow an office use for auto registration services. The project is categorically exempt from environmental review pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 - Existing Facilities. No physical changes are proposed to the site.
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CITY OF ALAMEDA
PLANNING, BUILDING AND TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT
ZONING ADMINISTRATOR
ADMINISTRATIVE USE PERMIT
PROJECT
DESCRIPTION: PLN26-0193 - Administrative Use Permit - 1907 Park Street - Applicant: Alejandro Lara for Alameda Registration Services. A public hearing to consider an Administrative Use Permit to allow an office use for auto registration services.
GENERAL PLAN: Community Mixed-Use
ZONING: NP-G, North Park Street - Gateway District
ENVIRONMENTAL
DETERMINATION: The project is categorically exempt from environmental review pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 - Existing Facilities. No physical changes are proposed to the site.
PROJECT PLANNER: Carlina Rose, Planner
PUBLIC NOTICE: A notice for this hearing was mailed to property owners and residents within 300 feet of the site, published in the local newspaper of general circulation and posted in public areas near the subject property. Staff have not received any public comments on this proposed project.
EXHIBIT(S): 1. Project Plans
RECOMMENDATION: Approve the project with conditions.
PROJECT SUMMARY:
The project site contains the existing Ventura Auto Repair with an approximately 117 square foot unused office space within a single-story building. Pedestrian access is provided via Park Street with 14 vehicle parking stalls to the rear of the building, accessed via Clement Avenue. The zoning district allows for office uses fronting Park Street on the street level with a Conditional Use Permit. The proposed business would provide third party vehicle registration services to compliment the auto repair business. One employee would operate during typical business hours, from 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. Monday through Saturday.
USE PERMIT FINDINGS:
1. The location of the proposed use is compatible with other land uses in the general neighborhood area, and the project design and size is architecturally, aesthetically, and operationally harmonious with the community and surrounding development.
The proposed office use providing auto registration services is compatible with the other auto-related users in the building. No exterior modifications to the existing building are proposed as part of the new use.
2. The proposed use will be served by adequate transportation and service facilities, including pedestrian, bicycle and transit facilities.
The existing establishment is already served by adequate transportation and service facilities. The property is fully developed with no barriers to public access and ample areas for vehicle and bicycle parking in the vicinity. AC Transit Lines 30 and 31 serves the North Park Street area, stopping at three locations within 250 feet of the site.
3. The proposed use, if it complies with all conditions upon which approval is made contingent, will not adversely affect other property in the vicinity and will not have substantial deleterious effects on existing business districts or the local economy.
The proposed office use will provide local residents with accessible auto registration services and will not have a significant impact on the properties in the surrounding area. The proposed office use will occupy a vacant office space and will provide complementary services to nearby auto-related businesses. The proposed use, as conditioned, will not have substantial deleterious effects on existing business districts or the local economy.
4. The proposed use relates favorably to the General Plan.
The proposed use supports General Plan Policy LU-9 which encourages “the development of a broad range of commercial businesses and services in Alameda to provide for the diverse needs of the Alameda community and reduce the need to travel off-island to acquire goods and services.” The project also is consistent with General Plan Policy LU-10 which aims to enhance “Park and Webster Streets as the city’s two iconic and vibrant historic “Main Streets” to provide Alamedans with a broad mix of retail stores, restaurants, entertainment, hospitality, personal and professional services, and transit-oriented mixed-use housing opportunities.” For these reasons, the proposed use permit relates favorably to the General Plan.
1. Compliance with Plans. Any modification on this site shall be in substantial compliance with the use permit application submittal dated March 4th, 2026, by Alejandro Lara, on file in the City of Alameda Planning, Building, and Transportation Department, except as modified by the conditions listed in this report.
2. Changes to Approved Plans: This approval is limited to the scope of the project defined in the project description and does not represent a recognition and/or approval of any work completed without required City permits. Any changes to the approved scope of the project shall be submitted to the Planning, Building, and Transportation Department for review and approval.
3. Vesting: The Use Permit approval shall expire two (2) years after the date of approval unless authorized construction or use of the property has commenced. The applicant may apply for a time extension, not to exceed two (2) years. An extension request will be subject to approval by the Zoning Administrator and must be filed prior to the date of expiration.
4. Revocation: This Use Permit may be modified or revoked by the Zoning Administrator, pursuant to Alameda Municipal Code Section 30-21.3.d should the Zoning Administrator determine that: 1) the use or conditions under which it is being operated or maintained is detrimental to the public health, welfare or materially injurious to property or improvements in the vicinity; 2) the property is operated or maintained so as to constitute a public nuisance; or 3) the use is operated in violation of the conditions of the Use Permit.
5. Indemnification. The Applicant shall defend (with counsel reasonably acceptable to the City), indemnify, and hold harmless the City of Alameda, the Alameda City Planning Board and their respective agents, officers, and employees from any claim, action, or proceeding (including legal costs and attorney’s fees) against the City of Alameda, Alameda City Planning Board, and their respective agents, officers, or employees to attack, set aside, void or annul, an approval by the City of Alameda, the Planning, Building, and Transportation Department, Alameda City Planning Board, the City of or City Council related to this project. The City shall promptly notify the Applicant of any claim, action, or proceeding and the City shall cooperate in such defense. The City may elect, in its sole discretion, to participate in the defense of said claim, action, or proceeding. No judicial proceedings subject to review pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure Section 1094.5 may be prosecuted more than ninety (90) days following the date of this decision plus extensions authorized by California Code of Civil Procedure Section 1094.6.
Environmental Determination
The Zoning Administrator has determined that this project qualifies for a Class 1 Categorical Exemption, and no additional environmental review is necessary pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 - Existing Facilities - Minor alterations to an existing structure because the project consists of permitting operations or leasing of existing private structures involving negligible or no expansion of use beyond that which exists.
Use Permit
The Zoning Administrator hereby approves the Use Permit with conditions.
The decision of the Zoning Administrator shall be final unless appealed to the Planning Board, in writing and within ten (10) days of the decision.
Approved by: DRAFT FOR HEARING Date: DRAFT FOR HEARING
Steven Buckley, Zoning Administrator