Title
Final Passage of Ordinance Amending Alameda Municipal Code Chapter XXX (Zoning Ordinance) regarding the Residential Private and Common Open Space Requirements to Allow Greater Variety of Residential Open Space Types and Amenities Subject to Design Review Approval. [The proposed amendment is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15305, Minor Alterations to Land Use Limitations.] (Community Development 209)
Body
CITY OF ALAMEDA ORDINANCE No.________
New Series
AMENDING CHAPTER XXX OF THE ALAMEDA MUNICIPAL CODE (ZONING ORDINANCE) TO ALLOW SITE-SPECIFIC OPEN SPACE PLANS FOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT SUBJECT TO DESIGN REVIEW APPROVAL
BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Alameda:
Findings.
In enacting this Section, the City Council finds as follows:
1. The amendment maintains the integrity of the General Plan. The proposed amendment to the Zoning Ordinance related to useable open space design is consistent with the City of Alameda's General Plan. General Plan Policy 6.1.d states that the City should promote the development and retention of open space in private development to compensate for the shortage of public open space. The residential zoning districts require that useable open space be distributed into specific configurations of private and common open space. The private open space for ground floor units must be fenced off while upper units must provide balconies. These requirements can be restrictive for residential projects such as affordable housing that may need flexibility to provide outdoor open space as community areas for all of their tenants. Furthermore, the expense of constructing private balconies in order to meet Zoning Ordinance requirements could further restrict community amenities for the tenants. The proposed Zoning Text Amendment allows developers to provide open space designs that best meet the needs of their tenants while still meeting the total u...
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