Title
Minor Modification to Final Development Plan and Major Design Review, PLN14-0524, for a 55,288 Square Foot Building Located on a 2.82 Acre Site at 2321 North Loop Road in the Harbor Bay Business Park. The Proposed Project is Categorically Exempt Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines 15332 In-fill Development Projects.
Body
CITY OF ALAMEDA
Memorandum
To: Honorable President and
Members of the Planning Board
From: Andrew Thomas
City Planner
Date: January 26, 2015
Re: Minor Modification to Final Development Plan and Major Design Review, PLN14-0524, for a 55,288 Square Foot Building Located on a 2.82 Acre Site at 2321 North Loop Road in the Harbor Bay Business Park. The Proposed Project is Categorically Exempt Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines 15332 In-fill Development Projects.
BACKGROUND
On November 24, 2014, the Planning Board reviewed and approved a final development plan and design review application for VF Outdoor, Inc. at 2331 North Loop Road. As described in the November 24th staff report, the proposed "flex" building includes warehouse, office, and research and development space to house three of VF's business groups: Innovation, Warranty and Digital.
Since the November 24, 2014 approval, VF Outdoor, Inc. has decided to reduce the amount of space in the building for warehouse and shipping activities and increase the amount of space for research and development. Although the change in the program for the building does not change the overall size, location or shape of the building, the change does result in some small changes to the exterior design of the building, including:
1. The revised elevation includes some additional windows. The additional windows are designed and located to match the design and placement of the originally approved windows.
2. The revised elevation reduces the size and capacity of the truck loading facilities, because the new program for the building will reduce the demand and need for large scale trucking facilities.
3. The landscape plan was altered slightly to improve facilities for employees.
The specific changes to the building design and landscape plan are shown in Exhibit 1.
ANALYSIS
Staff has determined that the proposed changes are minor changes that are consistent with the Planning Board's November 24, 2014 findings and conditions of approval. Therefore, staff has concluded that the changes do not require an additional Planning Board-noticed public hearing to approve an amendment to the design plans approved by the Planning Board on November 24, 2014.
If the Planning Board disagrees with staff's assessment, staff will notice and schedule a public hearing to consider a Design Review amendment.
PUBLIC NOTICE and Comments
Property owners and residents within 300 feet of the project's boundaries were sent copies of this report.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The proposed project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15332 - Infill Development Projects. The project meets all requirements for the infill exemption, including the following:
a) The project is consistent with the applicable general plan designation and all applicable general plan policies as well as with applicable zoning designation and regulations. The project meets this criterion because as proposed it is consistent with the Business Park General Plan designation and is a permitted use in the C-M-PD zoning district. The project also complies with all applicable development regulations for the C-M-PD zoning district.
b) The proposed development occurs within city limits on a project site of no more than five acres substantially surrounded by urban uses. The project site is located within the Harbor Bay Business Park, an urban commercial office park, and the project site parcel is approximately 2.82 acres in size.
c) The project site has no value as habitat for endangered, rare or threatened species. The area of the proposed development is currently vacant. The vacant site has no habitat value for any endangered, rare, or threatened wildlife species. A survey of burrowing owls conducted by ESA Biological Resources concluded that no burrowing owls or potential owl burrows were observed on the site. (See Exhibit 6, Burrowing Owl Report by ESA.)
d) Approval of the project would not result in any significant effects relating to traffic, noise, air navigation, air quality, or water quality. The proposed project will have only minor effects on traffic, and signalization improvements to address local traffic have been identified and funded. The proposed project is designed in a way that will not result in any significant noise, air quality or water quality effects.
e) The site can be adequately served by all required utilities and public services. The project site is located within an urban business park that already has the basic water, sewer, and other utility infrastructure necessary to support the proposed project. The site has access to all other public services provided by the City.
RECOMMENDATION
That the Planning Board endorse staff's determination approving minor modifications to Final Development Plan and Major Design Review for PLN14-0524.
Respectfully Submitted,
Andrew Thomas
City Planner
Exhibits:
1. Applicant's Proposed Design Changes