Title
Study Session to Consider Draft Citywide Universal Design Ordinance Requirements and Standards
Body
CITY OF ALAMEDA
Memorandum
To: Honorable President and
Members of the Planning Board
From: Andrew Thomas, Assistant Community Development Director
Date: May 9, 2016
Re: Study Session to Consider Draft Citywide Universal Design Ordinance Requirements and Standards
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Adopting a Universal Design Ordinance has been an important priority of the City, and this is reflected in the City's certified Housing Element, which identifies adopting a Universal Design Ordinance as a priority program. While staff has begun the preliminary work on a draft Ordinance, due to a number of competing policy and development priorities since 2012, the effort to complete a universal design ordinance for the City of Alameda has seen repeated delays. Despite the continuing competition for staff resources and the continued strong economy which has been keeping the staff and the Planning Board busy reviewing development proposals, staff is committed to completing a draft universal design ordinance for consideration by the Alameda community, the Planning Board, the Commission on Disability Issues (CDI), and the City Council in 2016.
Based upon several public meetings with the CDI, including one on April 25, 2016, as well as a review of similar ordinances in other California cities over the last three years, this report provides an outline for a proposed ordinance for the City of Alameda. Upon Planning Board review and endorsement of the approach and outline for the proposed ordinance, staff will complete the required zoning text amendment to implement the agreed-upon universal design requirements and standards. The draft text amendment will then be scheduled for a public hearing and recommendation before the Planning Board, followed by a public hearing and first reading of the ordinance by the City Council.
At the April CDI Meeting,...
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