Title
Adopt a Resolution of the Planning Board Finding the Acquisition and Disposition of Certain Real Property to Implement (1) the Memorandum of Understanding Between the City of Alameda and CP VI Admirals Cove, LLC Regarding the North Housing Infrastructure Obligations and (2) The Amended and Restated Legally Binding Agreement among the City and Housing Authority of the City of Alameda, Alameda Point Collaborative, Inc., and Building Futures with Women and Children to be in Conformance with the Alameda General Plan [This action would not result in any new environmental impacts or more severe environmental impacts than those previously identified with the adoption of the Community Reuse Plan Environmental Impact Report 2009 Addendum and the Housing Element EIR 2012 Addendum]
Body
To: Honorable President and Members of the Planning Board
From: Debbie Potter, Community Development Director
Re: Adopt a Resolution of the Planning Board Finding the Acquisition and Disposition of Certain Real Property to Implement (1) the Memorandum of Understanding Between the City of Alameda and CP VI Admirals Cove, LLC Regarding the North Housing Infrastructure Obligations and (2) The Amended and Restated Legally Binding Agreement among the City and Housing Authority of the City of Alameda, Alameda Point Collaborative, Inc., and Building Futures with Women and Children to be in Conformance with the Alameda General Plan [This action would not result in any new environmental impacts or more severe environmental impacts than those previously identified with the adoption of the Community Reuse Plan Environmental Impact Report 2009 Addendum and the Housing Element EIR 2012 Addendum]
BACKGROUND
North Housing is an approximately 42-acre area of the former Naval Air Station (NAS) Alameda. The property is generally located between Main Street, Singleton Avenue, Mosley Avenue and Bette Street. A property map is attached as Exhibit 1. In 2007, the Navy declared the property surplus and began the process to transition the property to civilian reuse. The City conducted the federally mandated screening process which resulted in:
• A Public Benefit Conveyance to the City of Estuary Park;
• Approval of a 2012 Amended and Restated Legally Binding Agreement (LBA) between the City, Housing Authority of the City of Alameda (Housing Authority), Alameda Point Collaborative (APC) and Building Futures with Women and Children (BFWC) for a 12.3-acre, ninety-unit homeless accommodation; and
• A Self-Help Housing Conveyance of two acres to Habitat for Humanity.
Following the screening process, in February 2017, the federal General Services Administration (GSA), conducted a public auction for the remaining 14.9 acres. CP VI Admirals Cove, LLC (Carmel Partners) was the successful bidder.
On November 13, 2017, the Planning Board adopted a resolution recommending that the City Council adopt an ordinance amending the Zoning Map to remove the “G” Special Government Combining District overlay from North Housing. On January 2, 2018, the City Council introduced an ordinance amending the Zoning Map to remove the “G” overlay. The ordinance was effective on February 15, 2018. Once the property is conveyed from the federal government to Carmel Partners, the Housing Authority and Habitat for Humanity, the property will retain the underlying residential zoning, which includes an R-4 Neighborhood Residential zoning designation, with a PD Planned Development Combining District overlay, and a MF Multifamily Residential Combining District overlay.
In addition to introducing an ordinance to remove the “G” overlay at North Housing, the City Council authorized the City Manager to negotiate and execute a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City and Carmel Partners regarding the North Housing infrastructure obligations pursuant to the 2009 Amendment to the NAS Alameda Community Reuse Plan (Reuse Plan). The Reuse Plan establishes a plan for the conveyance, reuse and redevelopment of North Housing. The MOU was executed on March 30, 2018, and is attached as Exhibit 2. The MOU contemplates several real property transfers described in more detail below.
In addition to the property transfers outlined in the MOU, the LBA contemplates the City’s acquisition of a 12.3-acre site and adjacent roadway from the Navy. Under the LBA, the City will convey the 12.3-acre site to the Housing Authority as a homeless accommodation. The City will retain ownership of the roadways.
California Government Code Section 65402(a) requires that the location, purpose, and extent of an acquisition or disposition of real property be submitted to, and reported upon by, the planning agency as to conformity with the general plan. Staff is requesting that the Planning Board adopt a resolution finding that the property transfers outlined in the MOU and LBA conform to the City’s General Plan.
DISCUSSION
As noted above, the City and Carmel Partners have entered into a MOU outlining rights and obligations regarding infrastructure improvements to serve the North Housing property. The MOU contemplates the following transfers of real property: (1) the City’s acquisition of approximately 12,750 square feet of real property from Carmel to complete the Singleton Avenue extension in exchange for the City’s conveyance of an approximately .67-acre easement to Carmel for softscape improvements within the adjacent roadway (Exhibits 5A and 5B of the MOU), and (2) the City’s conveyance of approximately 11,507 square feet of real property to Carmel (Exhibit 8 of the MOU) as consideration for demolition of the existing improvements on the future Singleton Avenue extension on the Housing Authority property. In addition, the LBA contemplates the conveyance of 12.3 acres from the Navy to the City and then City conveyance to the Housing Authority for a homeless accommodation.
These real property transactions allow for the orderly redevelopment of the property by three different property owners. Carmel Partners will renovate 146 existing residential units on 14 acres of land. The Housing Authority and Habitat for Humanity propose to demolish the existing improvements and build new residential units on a combined 15.3 acres of land. Integrating the renovation of existing units, with existing streets and other improvements, with the adjacent new residential construction and providing for coordinated infrastructure was a key goal of the MOU.
While the City will receive approximately five acres of existing backbone roadways from the Navy, it needs to acquire 12,750 square feet from Carmel to complete Singleton Avenue from Main Street to Bette Street. This will accomplish a key planning goal of the Reuse Plan to provide for the Alameda street grid through former military lands. In exchange for this property, the City will grant a .67-acre easement to Carmel in the Singleton and Mosley roadways to accommodate existing softscape improvements. The property being conveyed to the City reflects cross-sections that meet City standards for public streets. However, the existing roadways are smaller and will remain as built until, and if, the property is redeveloped in the future. Therefore, the easement to Carmel maintains the status quo.
The second land transaction involves the City conveying 11,507 square feet of land to Carmel as consideration for Carmel demolishing improvements on the Housing Authority property to continue Singleton from Carmel’s eastern property boundary to Bette Street (the Housing Authority’s eastern boundary). Pursuant to the LBA, the City will receive 12.3 acres of land. Prior to conveying that land to the Housing Authority for its homeless accommodation, the City will convey 11,507 square feet of land to Carmel. This conveyance preserves four units that would otherwise be demolished as the building currently straddles the Carmel/Housing Authority property line. Following demolition of the existing improvements, Carmel will construct the street extension and then dedicate the street to the City.
Each of the land transactions described facilitates development of the North Housing parcel as a residential project in conformance with the City’s General Plan Land Use Element and Housing Element, which designates this property for residential use. In addition, the proposed land transactions conform to the following General Plan Housing Element goals and policies:
• Goal #1: Provide housing services and opportunities to support, maintain, and enhance Alameda’s diverse community and excellent quality of life and provide for the housing needs of Alameda's future residents and regional housing needs.
• Policy HE-1: Support public and private efforts to increase the supply of housing in Alameda consistent with the City's environmental, climate action, transportation, historic preservation, and economic development policy objectives.
• Goal #2: Provide housing that meets the City’s diverse housing needs, specifically including affordable housing, special needs housing, and senior housing.
• Policy HE-2: Expand the City’s supply of affordable rental and ownership housing for extremely low-, very low-, low-, and moderate-income households.
• Policy HE-3: Create rental, homeownership, and other housing opportunities for special needs populations such as the elderly, homeless and people at risk of becoming homeless, people with physical and/or developmental disabilities, single-parent households, and young adults.
Staff recommends that the Planning Board find that the land transactions described above and contemplated in the MOU and LBA conform to the City’s General Plan.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
A General Plan conformity finding as described above would not result in any new environmental impacts or more severe environmental impacts than those previously identified with the adoption of the Community Reuse Plan Environmental Impact Report (“EIR”) 2009 Addendum and the Housing Element EIR 2012 Addendum.
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a Resolution of the Planning Board Finding the Acquisition and Disposition of Certain Real Property to Implement (1) the Memorandum of Understanding Between the City of Alameda and CP VI Admirals Cove, LLC Regarding the North Housing Infrastructure Obligations and (2) The Amended and Restated Legally Binding Agreement among the City and Housing Authority of the City of Alameda, Alameda Point Collaborative, Inc., and Building Futures with Women and Children to be in Conformance with the Alameda General Plan (Exhibit 3).
Exhibits:
1. Map of North Housing
2. North Housing MOU
3. Draft Resolution