Title
Annual Review of Alameda Landing Commercial Project Development Agreement and Alameda Landing Residential Project Development Agreement. Applicant: Catellus Alameda Development, LLC. The applicant is requesting an Annual Review of the Development Agreements between City of Alameda and Catellus Alameda Development, LLC related to the Alameda Landing Mixed Use Residential Project and the Alameda Landing Mixed Use Commercial Project. Environmental Determination: Not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). No further environmental review is required.
Body
To: Honorable President and
Members of the Planning Board
From: Allen Tai
Planning, Building & Transportation Director
BACKGROUND
The City of Alameda and Master Developer originally entered into a Development Agreement in 2000, for the “Catellus Mixed Use Project” that is commonly referred to as the “Bayport neighborhood” and the 77-acre Alameda Landing area generally located north of the College of Alameda, south of the Oakland Alameda Estuary, west of the Webster and Posey Tubes, and east of the former Coast Guard housing and Shinsei Gardens apartments. Pursuant to the original Development Agreement, the City and Catellus Development Corporation began work on the Bayport neighborhood immediately and demolition and site preparation began in 2002. The Development Agreement and associated Master Plan underwent a comprehensive amendment in 2007 and a smaller amendment in 2017 related to the final waterfront phase of the project.
Alameda Municipal Code (“AMC”) Section 30-95.1 authorizes the Planning Board to conduct a public hearing at which the applicant must demonstrate good faith compliance with the terms and conditions of the agreements. To demonstrate good faith compliance, the applicant has submitted a Master Developer Letter of Compliance (Exhibit 1) for the annual review as required under AMC Section 30-95.1 and Article 5 of the Alameda Landing Development Agreements. Pursuant to the Alameda Landing Development Agreements and Environmental Impact Report (EIR), the applicant is also required to prepare an annual report on its Transportation Demand Management (TDM) program. The letter summarizes actions that have been taken during the period from January 2022 through June 2023.
DISCUSSION
Beginning in 2002, Catellus and its development partners have been actively working on the Alameda Landing Bayport project for 20 years. During that 20-year period, the project has realized the following public benefits enumerated in the original and amended Development Agreements:
Bayport Neighborhood. In 2010, the City of Alameda and the Bayport Developer officially completed the Bayport neighborhood and met all the associated terms and conditions included in the Bayport Development Agreement and it was terminated. Neither the City, nor the Bayport Developer, nor the Master Developer have any further Development Agreement obligations for the Bayport neighborhood area.
Waterfront Maritime. In December 2017, Developer completed the sale to Bay Ship and Yacht of two (2) buildings totaling 364,000 square feet on the Alameda Landing Waterfront.
Alameda Landing Neighborhood, Shopping Center, Wilver “Willie” Stargell Avenue extension. Between January 2010 and March 2017, Catellus and its partners worked diligently to develop the retail and residential sub-areas of the Alameda Landing project (those portions of the project area generally located between Stargell Avenue and Mitchell Avenue). During this period, the West Alameda Business Association (WABA) district boundaries were expanded to include the Alameda Landing Commercial Project area, as required by the applicable Development Agreement.
Alameda Landing Waterfront Park and Bay 37 Residential Neighborhood. The Alameda Landing Waterfront Park and neighborhood represents the final phase of the Alameda Landing/Bayport Project originally envisioned in the 2000 Master Plan and Development Agreement. This final phase, currently known as the Bay 37 neighborhood, is made up of 357 residential units on 17.2-acres, including 39 affordable housing units under construction by Pulte Homes, LLC. Pulte has been underway with construction of their first two phases. In 2022, Pulte pulled permits and commenced construction on 130 units, of which 115 were completed by year end. Included in these permits were an additional 7 affordable units (all moderate rate units).
On April 18, 2023, the City Council approved a Master Plan Amendment to replace the 5,000 sf retail building pad at Bay 37 with two Low-Income single family detached units and an approximately 2,500 sf of public open space.
The recent increase in interest rates has forced Pulte to slow down permit issuance and slow the pace of closings. Recently (June 2023), sales signups started picking up and the remaining building starts (6 - 7plexs) are expected to begin construction in the 4th Quarter of 2023.
In 2022, the City accepted Phase I of the 4.5-acre waterfront park/promenade improvements. The City opened Phase I to the public in December 2022 and hosted a grand opening unveiling its official name as Bohol Circle Immigrant Park.
Affordable Housing. Every residential phase of the project, including the Bayport neighborhood, has included deed restricted affordable housing consistent with the requirements of the Development Agreement.
Alameda Landing Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Program. The Alameda Landing TDM program began in October 2013. The program is administered by the West Alameda Transportation Management Association (WATMA) Board of Directors. Phase 1 of the TDM plan has been implemented and running successfully since its initial service commenced in 2013. The Alameda Landing BART shuttle is currently running between 12th Street BART and Alameda Landing in compliance with the TDM program. While ridership has fallen due to the Covid-19 pandemic, ridership is beginning to see gradual increases as many commuters are returning to their places of business.
The WATMA is operating on its own with Phase I services that are fully supported by the revenues generated from the tenants and residents of Alameda Landing. The WATMA and the Alameda Transportation Management Association (“ATMA”) have been working together to merge the WATMA into the ATMA. This merger will occur in phases. Phase I will be the official takeover of WATMA’s management by ATMA. The executive of agreements between WATMA and ATMA is anticipated soon (towards the end of 2023 or early 2024). This transition will consolidate the TDM programs for Alameda Landing, the Northern Waterfront and Alameda Point and create an opportunity to provide enhanced transportation services for these important projects.
Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (MMRP). Compliance with the Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program (“MMRP”) continues to be closely coordinated with City staff, including during technical meetings between Developer and the Public Works Department. Staff will continue to review Bay 37 construction progress to ensure conformance with the MMRP.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Annual review and reporting are exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act.
RECOMMENDATION
Approve the draft resolution (Exhibit 2) accepting the Annual Report and declaring that Catellus Alameda Development, LLC has demonstrated good faith compliance with the terms and conditions of the Alameda Landing Development Agreements.
Respectfully submitted,
Allen Tai
Planning Building and Transportation Director
Exhibits:
1. Catellus Alameda Development, LLC Letter dated June 30, 2023
2. Draft Planning Board Resolution