Title
Public Hearing on the Scope of the Alameda Shipways Residential Project Environmental Impact Report
Body
To: Honorable President and
Members of the Planning Board
From: Andrew Thomas, Assistant Community Development Director
Linda Barrera, Planner I
Date: April 24, 2017
Re: Public Hearing on the Scope of the Alameda Shipways Residential Project Environmental Impact Report
background
On March 15, 2017, the Cavallari Group, Inc. submitted an application to the City of Alameda requesting review and approval of a Development Plan and Design Review (Exhibit 1) for the 8.1-acre “Alameda Shipways” site located at 1100-1250 Marina Village Parkway. The site consists of 8.1 acres of concrete ramps and decks, supported by timber piles over approximately 50 to 80 feet of Bay mud. The ramps and decks were originally built in the 1940’s for the construction of ships. As described in Exhibit 2: Site Description, the existing structures are in extensively deteriorated condition. Approximately 50,000 square feet of partially occupied office space exists in four separate structures facing Marina Village Parkway.
As shown in Exhibit 1, the project includes 292 rental apartments and 497 parking spaces, including a 489-space parking structure within a single large building and eight uncovered parking spaces along the front of the building. The building would be four stories and approximately 55 feet tall, which is in scale with the buildings in that area, but the footprint of the building would be larger than other buildings in the area at about 6.5 acres. (The footprint of the Del Monte Building is approximately 5 acres.) The building is approximately 450 feet long along Marina Village Parkway. The design features recessed courtyards throughout the perimeter of the site to provide common open space for the residents and break down the apparent mass of the building. The current draft plans include approximately:
• 142 one-bedroom units in varying sizes less than 1,000 square feet.
• 138 two-bedroom units in varying sizes of between 1,000 square feet and 1,400 square feet; and
• 12 three-bedrooms between 1,336 square feet and 1,490 square feet.
The 292 units would include 40 affordable housing units. The mix of very low-, low- and moderate-income units has not yet been determined.
The units would surround a common 3.5 story (one underground level) parking structure that would be screened from public viewpoints by the residential structures. Disabled and bicycle parking spaces would be provided consistent with City standards. Residents would enter and exit the parking structure and access the surface parking via two proposed driveways off Marina Village Parkway.
Adjacent to the building, the proposal includes a new approximately 2.5 acre public waterfront park with an extension of the Bay Trail and a public kayak launch/water taxi landing. A portion of the park along the waterfront will be built on a portion of two City owned partially submerged parcels. The park will include amenities such as volleyball and bocci courts, a children’s play area, and trees and lawn areas. A public water taxi and kayak dock is proposed from the Shipways pier to the Oakland side of the Estuary. The landing location on the Oakland side is not yet determined but could be the existing dock at the Jack London Aquatic Center or the public boat dock at Jack London Square. Water taxi passengers could thereafter take advantage of a number of public transit options on the Oakland side, including the AC Transit Bus system, BART, and ferries. The pier could also be used to store and launch small, non-motorized boats such as canoes and kayaks.
DISCUSSION
The Cavallari Group’s Development Plan and Design Review application is currently under review by the City. On April 4, 2017, the City of Alameda released a Notice of Preparation (NOP) (Exhibit 3) notifying the public and other public agencies that the City of Alameda has determined that the proposal requires preparation of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
The purpose of the April 24, 2017 public hearing is to provide an opportunity for the public to submit comments to help the City refine the scope and content of the EIR.
As described in the NOP prepared for this project, the EIR will address all environmental topic areas required by CEQA, including transportation and traffic. For the transportation analysis, staff is proposing to prepare a three-pronged analysis that includes:
1. A vehicle mile traveled (VMT) analysis.
2. A Level of Service (LOS) analysis examining intersections in the immediate vicinity of the project site and the Webster and Posey tubes.
3. A travel time analysis examining the impact of the project on bus travel times during weekday commute times.
The City has issued the NOP to Responsible Agencies, Trustee Agencies, federal agencies, transportation planning agencies and agencies with transportation facilities that may be affected and other interested parties. Responsible Agencies are those public agencies, other than the City, that have a role in approving or carrying out the Project.
Once staff receives public comments on the scope of the EIR and makes any necessary adjustments to the work plan, staff will generate a Draft EIR. After the Draft EIR is completed (three to six months), staff will circulate the document for public review. During the subsequent 45-day review period, the Planning Board will hold another public hearing to provide an opportunity for the community to comment on the adequacy of the analysis included in the Draft EIR.
Staff will then prepare a Final EIR for public circulation. (This work typically takes about 30 days after the close of the 45-day review period.) The Final EIR will include any and all revisions needed to provide a complete analysis of the potential environmental impacts of the proposal.
Once the Final EIR is completed, and the Planning Board has had an opportunity to review the Final EIR, the Planning Board may hold a public hearing to certify the EIR as adequate and make any final decisions on the project applications.
RECOMMENDATION
Hold a public hearing to accept public comments on the scope of the EIR and the preliminary design plans. No action on the proposed project is being requested of the Planning Board at this time.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED BY:
ANDREW THOMAS
Assistant Community Development Director
Exhibits:
1. Development Plan
2. Site Description
3. Notice of Preparation