Title
Public Hearing to Consider Introduction of Ordinance Amending the Alameda Municipal Code by Amending Article 30-18 (Universal Residential Design) of Chapter XXX (Development Regulations) to Adjust Universal Design Requirements for Townhouse Developments.
The proposal is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3), the common sense exemption. (Planning, Building, and Transportation 20962710)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Jennifer Ott, City Manager
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Alameda Municipal Code (AMC) provides for universal residential design standards to enhance accessibility in all new residential development to meet the City of Alameda's (City) diverse housing needs. This is necessary to serve the people of the City with mobility issues or who may develop mobility issues with age, as well as enhancing the full life cycle use of housing, without regard to the functional limitations or disabilities of a home's occupants. These standards apply to all new residential construction. The zoning code also provides exemptions for specific types of residential construction that are not readily suited to certain aspects of universal design, as well as providing a process for the Planning Board to grant waivers if certain findings can be made.
Staff identified a group of related provisions and proposed edits as shown in the Ordinance included with this report. The proposed amendments are intended to update all references to the Community Development Department and Director to instead reference the Planning Department and Director; to authorize the Building Official to make a determination on waiver applicability rather than the Planning Board for financial hardship due to site specific conditions; to authorize the Planning Director, rather than the Planning Board, to preapprove universal design feature checklists for units purchased prior to completion of construction; and to ...
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