Title
Draft Meeting Minutes - December 11, 2023
Body
DRAFT MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OF THE
CITY OF ALAMEDA PLANNING BOARD
MONDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2023
1. ROLL CALL
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m.
* Members of the public can participate in person or remotely via Zoom.
Present: President Hom, Vice President Cisneros and Board Members Ruiz, Wang, Ariza* and Tsou.
Absent: Board Members Saheba
*Board Member Ariza arrived after Agenda Item 5-A
President Hom (*1:28) introduced the new Board Members Sunny Tsou and Andy Wang.
2. AGENDA CHANGES
None.
3. NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT
Shelby Sheehan, in person, discussed (*3:48) compliance of historic code and the role of the Historic Advisory board. She felt that the historic board was being kept from reviewing permits in historic areas.
Doug Biggs, in person, (*6:48) gave an update on the McKay Ave Wellness project.
4. CONSENT CALENDAR
4-A 2023-3648
Draft Meeting Minutes - October 23, 2023
Minutes can be found:
<https://alameda.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6442000&GUID=6F461E7D-DB1B-4442-BE83-E0206C77BE91&FullText=1>.
Vice President Cisneros made a motion to approve the minutes and Board Member Ruiz seconded the motion.
However since there was not a quorum of members who had attended the meeting the minutes would be carried over to the next meeting (*8:29) per President Hom’s decision.
Vice President Cisneros remade (*2:16:20) her motion to approve the minutes and Board Member Ruiz seconded the motion. A vote was taken and the motion passed 4-0, with Board Members Tsou and Wang abstaining since they were not present at that meeting.
5. REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS
5-A 2023-3660
PLN23-0380 - Alameda Point Vesting Tentative Map (Tract 8696) - Applicant: City of Alameda. Public Hearing to consider a resolution approving the subdivision of a 160.64 acre City-owned parcel (APN 74-1368-18-4) into 23 lots, 3 remainder parcels and associated public rights of way on Pan Am Way, West Midway Avenue, West Ranger Avenue, West Tower Avenue, Orion Street, and Main Street at Alameda Point. CEQA Determination: Use of Alameda General Plan 2040 Final Environmental Impact Report, State Clearinghouse #2021030563. Zoning: AP-AR Alameda Point Adaptive Reuse Zoning District and Main Street Zoning District.
Outgoing Director Andrew Thomas introduced this item and gave the presentation (*9:20). The staff report and attachments can be found at:
<https://alameda.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6442001&GUID=D1486648-1C89-48C4-BE4C-889F9293B17E&FullText=1>.
Public Comment for item 5A
Karen Bey, in person, discussed (*12:46) was very excited to support the west midway project and the RESHAP tentative map proposals. She discussed the history of the area and all the projects and work that had gotten them to these next steps and how to achieve the next goals. She was very pleased with the affordable housing numbers.
Shelby Sheehan, in person, (*14:51) pointed out that she believed the Zoom link wasn’t working. She then disagreed with the affordable housing numbers and felt that it would over saturate the area and that it was possibly illegal. She also felt that this map should go before the Historical Advisory Board.
Action taken for item 5A
Board Member Ruiz made a motion (*17:16) to approve the Tentative Map. Board Member Tsou seconded the motion.
Shelby Sheehan stopped (*17:32) the vote to say that someone was trying to make a public comment via phone. After pausing, checking the system and trying to assist, the commenter was unable to join the meeting.
Board Member Ruiz re made her motion (*19:34) and Board Member Tsou re-seconded the motion. A vote was taken and the motion passed 5-0.
5-B 2023-3661
Public hearing to consider a resolution approving amendments to the Rebuilding the Existing Supportive Housing at Alameda Point (RESHAP) Development Plan and recommending approval of amendments to the RESHAP Development Agreement to increase the number of supportive housing units from 309 to a minimum of 332. The project site is located on approximately 8.5 acres of City-owned land at the corner of Pan Am Way and West Midway Avenue at Alameda Point. The streamlining provision of Public Resources Section 21083.3 and Section 15183 of the CEQA Guidelines apply and no further environmental review is required.
Outgoing Director Thomas introduced this item and gave a presentation (*20:34). Attachments and staff report can be found at:
<https://alameda.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6442002&GUID=F92B1C35-D508-4C06-975E-1696959FF284&FullText=1>.
Board clarifying questions start at the 23:53 minute mark of the video.
Doug Biggs, Executive Director Alameda Point Collaborative, also answered (*36:16) questions.
Public Comment for item 5B
Shelby Sheehan, in person, felt (*36:44) that the board relied too much on Director Thomas’s statements and had not done their own research. She then discussed the changes the project had gone through without documentation. She felt this project was not in compliance in many things, she also felt the campus was not well designed.
Doug Biggs, in person, (*40:05) discussed how this approval would help achieve the goals set forth. He discussed the strong community input they had for the project to make sure it served the whole community and the strong support this project had received as a whole. He also noted that this had gone before the HAB twice.
Sarah Macintyre, Senior Project Manager MID-PEN Housing, (*42:06) echoed the comments that Speaker Biggs had given and added her support to this amendment. She then discussed next steps for the affordable housing.
President Hom gave (*43:24) staff an opportunity to respond to the public comments. He also added that this project had come before the board many times.
Outgoing Director Thomas gave (*43:45) a response.
*someone from the audience tried to make a comment and President Hom had to state that the public comment had been closed.
Action taken for item 5B
Board Member Ruiz took a moment (*45:48) to remind the public that this was a public forum and not to make accusatory or disparaging comments about the staff or board members.
Board Member Ruiz made a motion to approve the amendment to the development agreement and increase the supportive housing from 309 to 332. Vice President Cisneros seconded the motion. Board Member Tsou made a clarification that the motion also needed to include the approval of the development plan. Board Member Ruiz and Vice President Cisneros accepted the amendment. A vote was taken and the motion passed 6-0.
5-C 2023-3662
PLN23-0426 - 800 West Tower Avenue - Use Permit - Applicant: Patrick Rolfes. Public hearing to consider a conditional use permit to allow the establishment of seven (7) outdoor pickleball courts at an existing sports & fitness club located at 800 West Tower Avenue. CEQA Determination: This project qualifies for a Class 1 Categorical Exemption pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301(a) - operation, permitting or leasing of existing private structures involving negligible or no expansion of use beyond that which exists, and Class 32 - infill development, and no additional environmental review is necessary.
Brian McGuire, Planner II, introduced this item (*48.14) and gave a presentation. Attachments and staff report can be found at:
<https://alameda.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6442003&GUID=0D0EE2D9-9359-4D48-AC3C-2FD1034C9876&FullText=1>.
The applicant also presented (*55:00)
Board clarifying questions start at the 56:02 minute mark in the video.
Public Comment for item 5C
Shelby Sheehan, in person, (*1:10:06) asked to speak freely. She felt that everyone needed to follow regulations and she was not sure where she had been disrespectful. She liked the idea of the courts, but did feel this needed a CEQA review and felt it needed to go through HAB. She felt that the fence needed to respect the views, she gave suggestions on the fence options.
President Hom gave staff the opportunity to address the CEQA exemption.
Steven Buckley, Planning Services Manager, discussed (*1:13:19) how this project qualified for CEQA exemption.
Action taken for item 5C
Board discussion start at the 1:16:19 minute mark of the video.
The applicant was allowed (*1:23:36) to clarify and answer questions.
Board Member Ariza made a motion to approve conditional use permit to allow the establishment of seven (7) outdoor pickle ball courts and a fence around it at an existing sports & fitness club located at 800 West Tower Avenue. With the following conditions: to add wheel stops in the parking spots effected by the fence, applicant will work with staff to ensure the screen to the fence compliments the historic building (not a black screen) and signage will comply with city guidelines. Board Member Tsou seconded the motion. A vote was taken and the motion passed 6-0.
5-D 2023-3663
PLN23-0368 - 700 Essex Drive - Administrative Use Permit & Design Review - Applicant: Zum Services, Inc. Public hearing to consider an Administrative Use Permit to establish permanent parking for small school buses and a new perimeter fence within an existing parking lot located at 700 Essex Drive. The project also consists of Design Review for an approximately 1,450 square foot office trailer and restroom located on the property. This project qualifies for a Class 3 Categorical Exemption pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15303 - construction and location of limited numbers of new, small facilities or structures, and Class 32 - infill development, and no additional environmental review is necessary.
Staff Member McGuire introduced this item and gave a presentation. Attachments and staff report can be found at:
<https://alameda.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6442004&GUID=FE43CE94-F1C0-4E6C-98FF-72928D810704&FullText=1>.
A representative from the school district also presented (1:42:28) and was available for questions.
Board clarifying questions start at the 1:44:40 minute mark in the video.
Public Comment for item 5D
Shelby Sheehan, in person, (*1:51:25) felt there needed to be more hearing from the public, she noted that she had been complaining about this use for months. She felt that legal questions needed to be answered by the attorney. She didn’t think staff knew all the regulations, and wanted Celena Chen to answer the questions. She thought this whole thing was a mess and thought staff had hidden things from the public. She went into detail about what the right process should be. She also felt this needed a CEQA review and a Certificate of Approval.
Carmen Reid, via phone, (*1:55:22) felt the design for the parking lot, fence and trailer were completely inappropriate at this location. She felt it did not fit into the historic district and was not a good use of the Officer’s Club. She added that the chain link fence also made the area look very industrial and thought anything visual should be better designed. She also mentioned that landscaping could help the area.
Action taken for item 5D
Board comments and discussion start at the 1:59:47 minute mark of the video.
Board Member Ariza made a motion (*2:11:24) to approve the Administrative Use Permit to establish permanent parking for small school buses and a new perimeter fence within an existing parking lot located at 700 Essex Drive and the Design Review for an approximately 1,450 square foot office trailer and restroom. Board Member Ruiz seconded the motion. A vote was taken and the motion passed 6-0.
6. STAFF COMMUNICATIONS
6-A 2023-3642
Planning, Building and Transportation Department Recent Actions and Decisions
Recent actions and decisions can be found at:
<https://alameda.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=6441998&GUID=B39220EF-BFC3-4B5E-A540-ED56B2ED4330&FullText=1>.
No decision or action was pulled for review.
6-B 2023-3643
Oral Report - Future Public Meetings and Upcoming Planning, Building and Transportation Department Projects
Manager Buckley gave an update on projects and discussed upcoming meetings (*2:14:25).
Sine there was a quorum now the board was able to return to the Consent Calendar to approve the minutes, President Hom re-opened item 4-A (*2:16:02)
7. BOARD COMMUNICATIONS
None.
8. NON-AGENDA PUBLIC COMMENT
Shelby Sheehan, in person, (*2:17:10) spoke about the board process. She was very disappointed that she was unable to comment on what staff had presented, disappointed that her time was so limited and very disappointed that the board did not know the laws they were enforcing or not enforcing. She was very disappointed that Celena did not give her legal opinion and relied on Brian and Steve’s comments. She discussed her frustrations about things getting a CEQA exceptions when she believed that projects needed one. Overall she was very disappointed on tonight’s proceedings.
9. ADJOURNMENT
President Hom adjourned the meeting at 9:24 p.m.
*refers to the minute mark in the video