Title
Adoption of Resolution Approving the Final Map and Accepting the Dedications and Easements for Tract 8337. (Oakland Inner Harbor Tidal Canal). (Public Works 310)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Jill Keimach, City Manager
Re: Adoption of Resolution Approving the Final Map and Accept the Dedications and Easements for Tract 8337 (Oakland Inner Harbor Tidal Canal).
BACKGROUND
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps) desires to transfer the Alameda-side of the Oakland Inner Harbor Tidal Canal (Tidal Canal) to the City of Alameda. It has agreed to take all steps necessary to effect the transfer, including filing a tentative map application under the Subdivision Map Act (CA Gov. Code §§66410-66413.5) prior to transfer to facilitate the subsequent transfer of portions of the property to the adjacent property owners. Final Map 8337 subdivides the Army Corps land into ninety-nine individual parcels. The Army Corps will retain five lots: the Oakland side of the Tidal Canal (Unsurveyed Remainder Area 1); property adjacent to the federally-owned Navy Operational Support Center (Parcel 3); bridge footings for the High Street Bridge (Parcel 97); the Miller-Sweeney Bridge and the Fruitvale Rail Bridge (Parcel 98); and the Park Street Bridge (Parcel 99). The City will retain the open water on the Alameda side (Parcels 2 and 96), which will be preserved for open navigation though the Tidal Canal. The City will offer fair market value for the remaining 92 lots (Parcels 4 through 96) consisting of eight commercial parcels and eighty-four residential parcels to the adjacent property owners and other interested buyers.
On July 11, 2016, at a noticed public hearing, the Planning Board of the City of Alameda unanimously recommended that the City Council adopt a Final Negative Declaration and approve Tentative Map 8337 (PLN16-0240) for a one hundred and five lot subdivision located along the Tidal Canal from approximately one thousand eight hundred (1,800) feet northwest of the Park Street Bridge to approximately two thousand three hundred (2,300) feet south of High Street. This action was in furtherance of the City Council’s September 15, 2015 direction to facilitate the transfer of the Alameda side of the Tidal Canal from federal ownership to local public and private ownership.
On September 20, 2016, at a noticed public hearing, the City Council unanimously approved the Negative Declaration for the project and approved and adopted Tentative Map 8337 for a ninety-nine lot subdivision. Prior to adoption of the Tentative Map and in order to address community concerns about future opportunities for public access to the water, the City Council merged six lots into Parcel 2 reducing the total number of lots from 105 to 99. This was done in order to give City staff more time to research the issue and the City Council maximum flexibility to consider feasible options for public access into the water at a later date. This modification did not change the size of the area covered by the Tentative Map reviewed by the Planning Board.
The Final Map includes easements for public access along Parcel 10 and maintains all existing public utilities easements. The Final Map is attached as Exhibit 1.
DISCUSSION
The Final Map has been reviewed and determined to be technically correct and in substantial conformance with the approved Tentative Map. There are no conditions of approval. The Public Works Department has reviewed and recommends the Final Map for approval.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no impact to the General Fund budget as a result of current City Council action.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
This action is consistent with the approved Alameda Municipal Code.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
A draft Initial Study/Negative Declaration (IS/ND) for the project was published on June 1, 2016, in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which addresses all potential environmental impacts associated with the proposed project including the proposed subdivision map. The IS/ND concludes that the proposed project would not cause any potentially significant environmental impacts, and accordingly, no mitigation measures would be required as part of the project. Any proposed future improvements along the Tidal Canal will be subject to separate review and discretionary approval by the City.
On July 11, 2016, at a noticed public hearing, the Planning Board unanimously recommended that the City Council adopt a Final Negative Declaration. On September 20, 2016, at a noticed public hearing, the City Council unanimously approved the Negative Declaration for the project.
RECOMMENDATION
Approve the final map and accept the dedications and easements for Tract 8337 (Oakland Inner Harbor Tidal Canal).
Respectfully submitted,
Robert G. Haun, Public Works Director
By:
Shahram Aghamir, City Engineer
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Elena Adair, Finance Director
Exhibit:
1. Final Map of Tract 8337