Title
1809 Grand Street - PLN14-0009 - Architectural revisions for a 3,640 square foot Emergency Operations Center Building. 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: March 24, 2014
Re: Architectural revisions (PLN14-0009) for a 3,640 square foot Emergency Operations Center Building at 1809 Grand Street. The proposed project is categorically exempt pursuant to CEQA guidelines 15332 In-fill Development Projects
BACKGROUND
The City of Alameda has been planning an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) for the past several years. The proposed EOC will serve as the primary support facility for the operations management and response coordination for all major public safety incidents and in the event of a major disaster. Centrally located on Grand Street and Buena Vista Avenue, the facility will accommodate the activities of all City emergency service personnel including Fire, Police, Public Works, City Manager's office and other City Departments as needed.
On January 27, 2014, the Planning Board held a public hearing to review the proposed site plan and architectural elevations for the EOC. At the meeting, the Planning Board approved the Design Review application with a condition that the driveway be modified slightly and a condition that the architectural design be revised and returned to the Planning Board for final approval.
ANALYSIS
Project Description: The proposed two-story, 3,640 square foot EOC building includes a primary meeting space that has been designed as a large gathering area for up to 50 emergency response personnel. Supporting this primary space will be a Disaster Preparedness Office, a secondary communications and conference room, an independent communications/Information Technology equipment room, and restrooms with showers. The two-story facility will be fully ADA accessible, with an elevator serving the upper floor, and will have dedicated off-street parking. The building design will comply with earthquake resistance code requirements for an Essential Service facility and will be served by a diesel powered generator to maintain continual operation. The site plan also provides for a future fire station to replace Fire Station 3. The fire station building will be scheduled for a separate Design Review before the Planning Board at a later date.
On January 27, 2014, the Planning Board requested some specific changes to the site plan and a number of changes to the architectural design. Since the meeting, the architects have had a number of meetings with city staff and one meeting with Planning Board President Burton. The Planning Board direction and the subsequent meetings resulted in the following changes:
· The width of the north driveway has been reduced from 20 feet (double gate) to 12 feet (single gate).
· Entry pilasters and gate were added displaying the address, nameplate and a call button at the public entrance pedestrian gate from Grand Street.
· Four trees and low level planting was added between the pedestrian entrance and the driveway, three trees and ground low level planting was added along the back elevation, and a tree and low level planting was added to screen the exterior stairs on the side of the building.
· An eight foot redwood fence with lattice is included along the neighbor's rear property lines to increase privacy for the neighbors.
· Additional exterior bike parking was added next to the main building entrance for four bicycles.
· The alignment of the top of the stone base was modified to terminate at the bottom of the curtain wall window system along Grand Street.
· The top of the stone tile base was aligned with the top of the door to the Communication Room at the back.
· The corner planters along Grand Street were lowered and wrapped around the corners. These "wing" planters are now the same stone tile as the wall base.
Staff agrees with the proposed site improvements and building exterior revisions (Exhibit 1) and is recommending approval of the architectural elevations for the EOC building.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The proposed project is categorically exempt pursuant to CEQA guidelines 15332 In-fill Development Projects: the project is consistent with the General Plan and zoning designation, is within the city limits on a site less than five acres in size, the site does not provide habitat for endangered, rare or threatened species, the site is adequately served by required utilities and public services, and approval of the project would not result in any significant effects related to traffic, noise, air quality or water quality.
An Initial Study was prepared in support of the exemption for the project and was distributed to the Board prior to the January 27, 2014 meeting.
PUBLIC NOTICE AND COMMENTS
Property owners and residents within 300 feet of the project's boundaries were notified of the public hearing and given the opportunity to review and comment on the proposal. Staff has not received any public comments on the revised building design as of March 13, 2014.
RECOMMENDATION
Hold a public hearing and approve by motion the proposed architectural and site plan modifications as shown in Exhibit 1 for the Emergency Operations Center building.
Respectfully submitted,
Andrew Thomas
City Planner
Exhibits:
1. Revised Design Plans, March 5, 2014