Title
Recommendation to Approve Evaluation Criteria for Alameda Point Development Proposals. (Base Reuse 819099)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: John A. Russo, City Manager
Re: Recommendation to Approve Evaluation Criteria for Alameda Point Development Proposals
BACKGROUND
Now that the City owns significant portions of Alameda Point, the City is focused on facilitating near-term construction at Alameda Point, which has the potential of generating thousands of jobs, millions of dollars in tax revenue and over a thousand housing units, which will result in important economic, environmental, social and health benefits to the City and region. In the interest of commencing near-term development at Alameda Point, the City is preparing for City Council consideration in early 2014 a comprehensive zoning ordinance amendment (Zoning Amendment) and associated General Plan Amendments, a Town Center and Waterfront Precise Plan (Town Center Plan), a Master Infrastructure Plan (MIP), and an environmental impact report (EIR) for Alameda Point (collectively, Planning Approvals).
As the property owner of much of the Alameda Point property, the City Council also must decide how it will dispose and develop property. Staff presented its strategy for disposition of the Alameda Point property to the City Council and Planning Board on September 25, 2013. At that meeting, members of the City Council and Planning Board requested that staff propose criteria that will help staff and the City Council review and evaluate the merits of individual development proposals over the next several years. City staff discussed proposed evaluation criteria with the City Council at its October 15, 2013 meeting. Based on discussion at that meeting, staff asked that the City Council email staff with any additional criteria to be considered at a future meeting. Staff is recommending that the City Council discuss the suggested additions and approve the final criteria this evening.
DISCUSSION
The proposed evaluation criteria presented on October 15th are as follows, and are ultimately dependent on the approval of the Planning Approvals for Alameda Point under consideration by the community, Planning Board, and City Council:
· Consistency with the City's General Plan;
· Consistency with the anticipated or approved Zoning Amendment;
· Consistency with the anticipated or approved Town Center Plan;
· Consistency with the Conceptual Planning Guide for Alameda Point;
· Consistency with the anticipated or certified EIR for Alameda Point;
· Consistency with the City's Fiscal Neutrality Policy with greater attention paid to proposals that generate fiscal impacts beyond fiscal neutrality, resulting in positive net benefits to the City's General Fund; and
· Consistency with the anticipated or approved Master Infrastructure Plan for Alameda Point.
Additional criteria suggested by members of the City Council and staff include the following:
· Consistency with City's anticipated or approved Transportation Demand Management Plan;
· An applicant's demonstrated track record of successful development, including:
o sustainable development;
o aggressive transportation strategies;
o effective community outreach;
o delivery of development consistent with schedule and budget; and
o ability and experience responding creatively to changing conditions.
· An applicant's demonstrated financial capacity for proposed development, including:
o company structure that promotes timely responsiveness to City relationship and concerns; and
o available funding and access to funding commensurate with size and complexity of proposed project.
In addition, Councilmember Daysog provided the attached spreadsheet for consideration by the City Council. Staff recommends that the City Council discuss the previously and newly proposed criteria and approve the final evaluation criteria.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no financial impact to the City's General Fund or Base Reuse Department budgets related to the approval of the evaluation criteria.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
No environmental review is required as approving evaluation criteria is not a project under CEQA. CEQA Guidelines, section 15378 (b). The criteria, if approved, is a continuing administrative activity, i.e., creating general policies and procedures.
RECOMMENDATION
Approve evaluation criteria for Alameda Point development proposals.
Respectfully submitted,
Jennifer Ott, Chief Operating Officer - Alameda Point
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Fred Marsh, Finance Director
Exhibit:
1. Pre-ENA Alameda Point Working Group (Provided by Councilmember Daysog)