Title
Review and Make Recommendations on the Alameda Marina Open Space Design
Body
To: Honorable Chair and Members of the Recreation and Park Commission
From: Amy Wooldridge, Recreation and Parks Director
Re: Review and Make Recommendations on the Alameda Marina Open Space Design
BACKGROUND
The Alameda Marina property is a 44-acre site located on Clement Avenue between Alameda Marina Drive and Willow Street in the Northern Waterfront Priority Development Area. The site is comprised of approximately 27 acres of uplands and submerged lands owned by Pacific Shops, Inc. (“the applicant”) and an adjacent 17 acres of waterfront land and submerged lands owned by the City in trust for the State of California (“Tidelands”) that are leased to the applicant. Neighboring land uses include Alameda Municipal Power to the west, the Navy Operational Support Center to the east, and a variety of light industrial, retail and residential uses across the street on Clement Avenue.
In 2012, the City Council amended the General Plan and Alameda Municipal Code (AMC) to designate 21.62 acres of the non-Tidelands portion of Alameda Marina land as a multifamily housing opportunity site in support of future mixed use development on the property.
In 2016, the applicant submitted the first draft Master Plan for the site. Over the last two years, the applicant has made many revisions to the Master Plan to address public concerns raised at approximately 75 community and group meetings, five (5) Planning Board subcommittee meetings and five (5) full Planning Board meetings. Throughout the two-year planning process, the Planning Board consistently advocated for and required that the Master Plan provide a mix of uses that includes residential uses, boatyard operations and facilities, and open space; that the plan maintain the most unique and interesting historic features on the site, while recognizing that not every existing building and space could be preserved; and that the plan address the need for not only affordable housing, but also housing for middle-income families and first-time homebuyers.
DISCUSSION
The Master Plan provides for 3.59 acres of public open space, 7.35 acres of maritime commercial land with 180,972 square feet of maritime and commercial building floor area and dockyard space, 12 acres of submerged maritime commercial land with marina facilities, and approximately 17.74 acres of residential land. Improvements include rehabilitation and improvement of the 530-slip marina; construction of new boatyard and dockyard facilities and spaces on both land and water to support recreational boat service and repair; a new 60-boat dry storage yard with a three (3)-ton hoist and direct access to the adjacent public Grand Street Boat Ramp as a secondary means to launch boats. It also includes residential development of 760 multifamily housing with 104 affordable housing units.
In addition to the 3.5 acres of public open space to be constructed on the property, the project will provide over $7.5 million (2018 dollars) in development impact fees to the Alameda Recreation and Parks Department for construction of other park facilities. The Master Plan improvements also fund Cross Alameda Trail facilities along the .3 mile segment of Clement Avenue fronting the project site.
The project is now engaged in more detailed design review. This requires the Recreation and Parks Commission review and comments on the open space plan and these comments will be provided to the Planning Board for its design review discussion.
Alameda Marina will provide pedestrian, bicycle and vehicle circulation connecting the City streets to and through the project to the Bay Trail and the waterfront open spaces with views of the Marina, Estuary, Coast Guard Island, and the Oakland Hills to the north.
A network of open spaces provides a range of publicly accessible outdoor recreation opportunities and public waterfront access while honoring the site’s long-standing working waterfront identity. A variety of passive and active recreation opportunities are oriented toward the waterfront.
There are several distinct sections of the open space and public access plan. The San Francisco Bay Trail connects through these sections of the Alameda Marina to the Grand Marina Village and Grand Street Boat Ramp to the west and Clement Avenue to the east. All landscape will be Bay-Friendly, drought tolerant choices and the public access will have park lighting throughout.
These distinct sections include:
• Maritime and Commercial Core that is an operational marina with maritime storefronts and plaza/park. It has view corridors, pedestrian and bicycle access.
• The Wharf Promenade has a lawn gathering area, public art, history kiosk and marina artifacts as well as a multi-use promenade along the renovated existing wharf. There is seating throughout, views of the marina and bicycle/pedestrian access along the Bay Trail. Public restrooms are available in this area.
• Harbor View Park has a large main lawn, site furnishings, picnic tables, BBQs, and play structures. There will be educational interpretive panels or public art.
• Waterlife Park provides direct public access to the water with a floating dock for non-motorized craft such as kayaks, paddle boards, canoes, and small sailboats. Rental facilities for these watercraft is planned in addition to public restrooms. This area provides opportunities for classes and activities on the water plus storage lockers and an ADA accessible dock and launch. There is a pedestrian footbridge across the water. There is a loading zone to drop off small watercraft for launch as well as 50 public parking spaces and additional on-street parking.
RECOMMENDATION
Review and provide detailed recommendations on the Alameda Marina Open Space Design that will be provided to the Planning Board.
Respectfully submitted,
Amy Wooldridge, Recreation and Parks Director
Exhibits:
1. Alameda Marina Open Space Design