Title
PLN16-0314 -Certificate of Approval - Seaplane Lagoon Ferry Terminal Landside Improvement. Applicant: City of Alameda. Public Hearing to consider temporary landside plans for a new ferry terminal located at the Seaplane Lagoon in the NAS Alameda Historic District. The Historical Advisory Board will consider this project for Certificate of Approval pursuant to AMC Section 13-21. The environmental effects of the proposed project were considered and disclosed in the Seaplane Lagoon Addendum to the Alameda Point Environmental Impact Report. No further environmental review is required under the California Environmental Quality Act.
Body
To: Honorable Chair
Members of the Historical Advisory Board
From: Jennifer Ott, Base Reuse Director
Michelle Giles, Redevelopment Project Manager, Base Reuse
Allen Tai, Planning Services Manager
BACKGROUND
In June 2015, the City Council approved a Disposition and Development Agreement (DDA) with the private developer, Alameda Point Partners, LLC (APP), for the Site A Development at Alameda Point, consisting of a 68-acre mixed-use project at the gateway of Alameda Point. As a condition of the transfer of land, the DDA required APP to contribute $10 million toward the design and construction of a new ferry terminal at Seaplane Lagoon.
On April 5, 2016, the City Council approved the Seaplane Lagoon (SPL) Ferry Terminal Plan and approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) for future ferry service at SPL Ferry Terminal. The goal is to have the ferry terminal completed at the time that the first residents move into new housing at Site A, estimated to be in the first quarter of 2020. To make this date, the City is on a tight project schedule to gain Bay Conservation Development Commission (BDCD) approval in time to complete designs and construction prior to the first move-in for Site A residents. The project requires BCDC approval because BCDC has public access and design jurisdiction for any project occurring within 100 feet of the San Francisco Bay shoreline.
On April 18, 2018, the Planning Board and Historical Advisory Board (HAB) approved the float design, which is the platform where boats land to unload passengers. Approval of the float prior to the remaining waterside components was necessary to begin a procurement and fabrication process that will take almost a year. On May 3, 2018, the HAB approved the remaining waterside designs, including the fixed pier, canopy, and gangway. The landside designs presented tonight are informed by initial plans heard at a Planning Board study session on May 9, 2016 and September 26, 2016, and a BCDC Design Review Board meeting on June 6, 2016, where the overall ferry terminal design concept was approved. Exhibit 1 represents the 30% designs of the ferry terminal’s landside plans.
To proceed, the project currently requires the following City approvals:
1. Certificate of Approval by the HAB: The Historic Preservation Ordinance requires the HAB to review and approval Certificates of Approval for alterations and improvements to historic resources that are found consistent with the Secretary of the Interiors Standards. The requirement for a Certificate of Approval stems from the fact that the ferry terminal, including pier, gangway, and float, would extend into Seaplane Lagoon. The Seaplane Lagoon is part of the locally and National Register-listed Naval Air Station Alameda Historic District.
2. Design Review by Planning Board: Pursuant to Alameda Design Review regulations and zoning regulations for Alameda Point, the proposed ferry terminal is subject to Design Review approval by the Planning Board.
DISCUSSION
Landside Improvements
The landside improvements for the ferry terminal are temporary (5-10 years) until major commercial development occurs that would require a realignment of Ferry Point, an expanded promenade and relocation of the 400-space parking lot. The current design has temporary landside improvements that include: a 400-space parking lot, drop-off/pick-up areas, bus stop, and seating and stormwater improvements, which are immediately adjacent to the terminal, but located outside of the Historic District boundary. Temporary landside access improvements from the ferry terminal to Site A will include an improved Ferry Point Road with new paving, painting and striping for transit, bike and pedestrian circulation to and from the ferry terminal and a new separate roadway to accommodate buses and cars alongside of Building 113 (Exhibit 1, L0.01).
Pedestrians would access the fixed pier from Ferry Point Road both by a short, concrete stair and by two paved ramps (Exhibit, A2.8). The rebuilt portion of Ferry Point Road would consist of a 22’-wide auto roadway, a 10’-wide bike path, and a 5’-wide sidewalk with crosswalks from the parking area. (Exhibit 1, LO.05). The auto roadway would end at a bus turnaround loop, which would include a bio-retention area with native plantings at its center and along its edges. Bicycle racks and bicycle lockers are included in the plan. Railing or perforated panels are proposed at strategic points at the edge of the waterfront outside of the ferry terminal to deter climbing on crumbling outfall structures and uneven surfaces (Exhibit 1, LO.03). Lighting of the ferry terminal area will be consistent with light standards and luminaires approved for all of Site A (Exhibit 1. L2.0).
Signage at the ferry terminal will comply with Alameda Point Historic Signage Standards, and WETA and AC Transit standard signage guidelines for transit facilities.
Findings and Conclusions
Certificate of Approval:
To approve a Certificate of Approval, the HAB needs to find that the project is consistent with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards. The key in ascertaining whether a project complies with the standards referenced above is to determine if the project would retain the bulk of the NAS Alameda and the Seaplane Lagoon’s “character-defining features.”
In the case of the proposed ferry terminal landside improvements, there will not be any demolition of any contributing elements to the Historic District. Staff recommends the HAB approve a Certificate of Approval for the temporary landside improvements.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
On April 5, 2016, the City Council certified the Seaplane Lagoon CEQA Addendum to the Alameda Point Final EIR in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The Addendum evaluated the environmental impacts of constructing and operating a ferry terminal at Seaplane Lagoon. No further review is required for this project.
RECOMMENDATION
Hold a public hearing and approve a Certificate of Approval for the Seaplane Lagoon Ferry Terminal Project landside improvements as set forth in the draft resolution (Exhibit 2).
Respectfully submitted,
Jennifer Ott, Base Reuse and Transportation Planning Director
Michelle Giles, Redevelopment Project Manager, Alameda Point
Allen Tai, Planning Services Manager
Exhibits:
1. Ferry Terminal Landside Improvement Plans
2. Draft Resolution