Title
PLN16-0603 - Certificate of Approval - Fencing along Monarch Street. Applicant: City of Alameda. Public hearing to consider a Certificate of Approval for a proposed fence design for areas in between the Hangers along Monarch Street within the NAS Alameda Historic District. The environmental effects of the proposed project were considered in the Alameda Point Environmental Impact Report. No further environmental review is required.
Body
To: Honorable Chair and
Members of the Historical Advisory Board
From: Andrew Thomas, Assistant Community Development Director
Michael Northam, Administrative Technician I
BACKGROUND
The tenants within the hangers along Monarch Street in the NAS Historic District wish to be able to erect fences between the east facing fronts of the hangers along Monarch Street to secure their lease premises. The rear and sides of their lease premises are currently secured by chain link fences.
Mr. Taylor Stein with Natel Energy has submitted a proposal for a uniform design, color and location of new fences along Spirits Row. (Exhibit 1) Exhibit 1 is designed to enable the Historical Advisory Board to establish standards for a uniform fence design, fence color and fence location that is compatible with the Character Defining Features of the NAS Historic District. If the plan is approved by the Board, then any tenant of a hanger along Spirits Row would be able to erect a fence consistent with the plan, without any further review by the Board. If a tenant wished to vary from the plan, then that tenant would need to request a waiver from the Board at that time. An aerial on Page 5 of Exhibit 1 provides a convenient overview of the fencing conditions in the area.
Given that the hangers are important contributors to the NAS Historic District and the open spaces and view corridors between the hangers are also character defining features of the Historic District, staff is recommending that the Historical Advisory Board consider a Certificate of Approval that would:
• Establish a uniform fence design that could be used between the hangers that is compatible with the architectural design of the hangers and maintains view corridors between the hangers.
• Establish a uniform fence color that is compatible with the architectural character of the hangers.
• Establish a uniform fence location that is compatible with the character of the NAS Historic District.
DISCUSSION
Located in the NAS Alameda Historic District, the subject hangers along “Spirits Alley” are “of obvious historical importance to the NAS Alameda” (Guide to Preserving the Character of the Naval Air Station Alameda Historic District, page 47). The buildings are nearly identical and “are also among the most imposing structures within the historic district, with each building looming large and the rows of hangars creating dramatic vistas.” (Guide to Preserving the Character of the Naval Air Station Alameda Historic District, page 47).
Fence Design: The proposed design of the fence is a relatively simple design that includes four feet of horizontal wood boards topped by two feet of relatively transparent wire mesh, for a total fence height of six feet. When standing on Monarch Street or the properties on the other side of Monarch Street, the view of the San Francisco skyline is still visible over a six foot fence. To further emphasize the view and the spaces between the hangers, the central rolling gate that would be needed between each hanger is comprised of 6 feet of wire mesh.
Staff believes the horizontal board design is compatible with the strong horizontal design elements in the architectural design of the hangers, and that the two feet of hog wire and transparent gates will preserve the sense of space and views between the hangers, which are character defining elements of the NAS Historic District, while still providing security for the tenants and their facilities.
Fence Colors: The proposal also provides several possible fence colors for consideration by the Historic Advisory Board. These colors can be seen on pages 9-13 of Exhibit 1. The proposed colors are:
• Dark Wood - color matching the wood fence installed by Rockwall Winery;
• Copper - color matching copper trim on the hangar buildings;
• Yellow - color matching the large rolling aircraft doors on hangar buildings;
• Cityscape - blue color matching the sky;
• Hangar - color matching the paint on the hangar buildings.
Staff believes that since the hangers exhibit a consistent color scheme, the fences between the hangers should be a consistent color. The tenants prefer the Dark Wood color. Staff believes that the fence color should relate to the colors on the hangers as opposed to the wood fence constructed by Rockwall Winery.
Staff is requesting that the Historical Advisory Board approve a preferred color or set of colors for the fences.
Fence Location: Staff believes that the location of the front fences in relationship to the front of the hanger buildings is important. As shown in the photographs in Exhibit 1, the front of each hanger building is defined by a large vertical column. These vertical columns provide an important architectural contrast to the strong horizontality of the hanger buildings. When walking or driving down Monarch Street along “Hanger Row”, the vertical columns from each building create a memorable visual experience of the NAS Historic District. For these reasons, staff believes that the fences between and connecting the hangers should be located at the rear of the columns.
The tenants disagree with the staff recommendation. The tenants would like to have the option of placing the fence at the front of the column, which would allow them to place more of their property behind the fence. (It should be noted that in either scenario, all the tenants will still have large areas of parking in front of the fence between the face of the building and Monarch Street.
Exhibit 1 provides depictions of the two different fence locations in relationship to the vertical column. “Fencing Rendition” shows the fence placed at the rear of the column. “Fencing Rendition Part 2 on the next page shows the fence placed at the front of the column. Staff believes that all fences should be located at the rear of the column as shown in Fencing Rendition. The tenants would like the flexibility to place the fence at either the front or the rear of the column as shown in Rendition Part 2.
Staff recommends that the Board establish a preferred fence location at the rear of the column, with the understanding that if a future tenant wishes to place a fence in a different location due to their unique or special circumstances that tenant may always request a waiver from the Board at that time.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
On February 4, 2014, the City of Alameda certified the Alameda Point Final EIR (State Clearinghouse No. 201312043) in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The Final EIR evaluated the environmental impacts of redevelopment and reuse of the lands at Alameda Point. No further review is required for this review of the project designs.
RECOMMENDATION
Hold a Public Hearing and approve a Certificate of Approval (Exhibit 2) to approve an appropriate design, color and location for fences between Hangers along Monarch Street.
Respectfully submitted,
Andrew Thomas, Assistant Community Development Director
Michael Northam, Administrative Technician I
Exhibits:
1. Monarch Street Fencing Proposal
2. Draft Resolution