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PLN19-0186 - 501 Mosley Avenue - Applicant: Housing Authority of the City of Alameda. Public hearing to consider a use permit to allow chain-link fences up to eight-feet in height with color coating along the perimeter of four individual blocks owned by the Housing Authority of the City of Alameda (a portion of the former Coast Guard Housing site). Four fences are required to secure the approximately 12-acre site comprised of four blocks. The four-block site is bounded by Mosley Avenue on the north, Bette Street on the east, Lakehurst Circle on the west, and Annapolis Circle and Sea Horse Drive on the south. Other than the perimeter fence, no applications are currently on file with the City of Alameda for future use of this site. Pursuant to Alameda Municipal Code 30-5.14 chain-link fences in residentially-developed parcels may be permitted when required for security reasons, subject to use permit approval.
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CITY OF ALAMEDA
PLANNING, BUILDING, AND TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT
ADMINISTRATIVE USE PERMIT
ITEM NO: 3-A
PROJECT
DESCRIPTION: PLN19-0186 - 501 Mosley Avenue - Applicant: Housing Authority of the City of Alameda. Public hearing to consider a use permit to allow chain-link fences up to eight-feet in height with color coating along the perimeter of four individual blocks owned by the Housing Authority of the City of Alameda (a portion of the former Coast Guard Housing site). Four fences are required to secure the approximately 12-acre site comprised of four blocks. The four-block site is bounded by Mosley Avenue on the north, Bette Street on the east, Lakehurst Circle on the west, and Annapolis Circle and Sea Horse Drive on the south. Other than the perimeter fence, no applications are currently on file with the City of Alameda for future use of this site. Pursuant to Alameda Municipal Code 30-5.14 chain-link fences in residentially-developed parcels may be permitted when required for security reasons, subject to use permit approval.
GENERAL PLAN: Medium Density Residential
ZONING: R-4-PD, Neighborhood Residential, Planned Development Combining Zoning District
ENVIRONMENTAL
DETERMINATION: Categorically Exempt from State CEQA Guidelines, Section 15301(a) - operation, permitting or leasing of existing private structures involving negligible or no expansion of use beyond which exists.
PROJECT PLANNER: Linda Barrera, Planner II
PUBLIC NOTICE: A notice for this hearing was mailed to property owners and residents within 300 feet of the site, published in local newspapers and posted in public areas near the subject property. Staff has not received any public comments on this proposed project.
EXHIBITS: 1. Project Plans
RECOMMENDATION: Approve the project with conditions.
PROPOSAL SUMMARY:
Pursuant to Alameda Municipal Code 30-5.14 chain-link fences in residentially developed parcels may be permitted when required for security reasons, subject to use permit approval. On May 1, 2019, the Housing Authority of the City of Alameda submitted a use permit application to allow four chain-link fences up to eight-feet in height around four blocks (Blocks A, B, C & D) owned by the Housing Authority, which comprise a portion of the former Coast Guard housing. Block A is bound between Mosley Avenue and Lakehurst Circle and has a perimeter of approximately 1,095 feet. Block B is located south of Block A and is generally bound between Lakehurst Circle and Annapolis Circle. The perimeter of Block B is approximately 1,006 feet. Block C is east of Blocks A and B and is generally bound between Bette Street on the east, Mosley Avenue on the west and Mayport Circle on the north and south. Block C has a perimeter of approximately 1,710 feet. Block D is south of Block C and is generally bound by Bette Street on the east, the former Island High School on the west, Mayport Circle on the north and Seahorse Drive on the south. The fencing around each block will be black color-coated to provide a quality finish, and each fence will contain one 20-foot wide gate section for access into the site by authorized personnel. As a condition of approval, the applicant will be required to install a Knox-box with an access key for the Alameda Fire Department, or a similar device to provide access for emergency vehicles, to the satisfaction of the Senior Fire Code Compliance Officer.
The former Coast Guard housing site is currently vacant and fencing is needed around the perimeter of each block to secure the site. The fencing is intended to remain until the existing buildings are occupied or the site redeveloped with a new use. Currently, there are no applications on file with the City of Alameda related to future occupancy or use of the site.
FINDINGS:
1. The location of the proposed use is compatible with other land uses in the general neighborhood area, and the project design and size is architecturally, aesthetically, and operationally harmonious with the community and surrounding development.
The site is comprised of former Coast Guard housing that is currently vacant. East of the subject site is the TRI Pointe Home residential development. West of the subject site is the Admiral’s Cove Multi-Family project, which is currently being renovated. South of the subject site is the current Coast Guard housing and north of the subject site is Estuary Park. The proposed fencing is required to secure the site and to prevent the unauthorized entry to the vacant buildings. The conditions of approval are intended to ensure that the fencing is safe and attractive. The fences will be required to have black powder-coated paint to provide an attractive finish to the chain-link fencing. The applicant will also be required to remove weeds that may grow around the subject site on a regular basis. The use of barbed wire will be prohibited as per the AMC.
2. The proposed use will be served by adequate transportation and service facilities, including pedestrian, bicycle and transit facilities.
The existing site of the former Coast Guard housing is currently vacant and public access into the site is prohibited. Therefore, there is no current need for additional transportation and service facilities to the site other than what currently exists.
3. The proposed use, if it complies with all conditions upon which approval is made contingent, will not adversely affect other property in the vicinity and will not have substantial deleterious effects on existing business districts or the local economy.
The proposed fencing is required to secure the vacant site. It is designed as conditioned, to minimize the visual impact on the adjacent residential developments and public open space. Thus the fencing will not adversely affect properties in the vicinity and will not have substantial deleterious effects on existing businesses or the local economy. Protecting the site with the fence will prevent unauthorized entry, vandalism, and blight, which would adversely affect other persons and property.
4. The proposed use relates favorably to the General Plan.
The proposed fencing relates favorably to the General Plan’s Guiding Policy 2.4.g which promotes minimizing through-traffic on minor residential streets. The fencing will prevent through-traffic through the large open spaces between the existing buildings, especially once the Admiral’s Cove residential development is occupied. The distances between the buildings are substantial, ranging in distance from 30 to 240 feet between buildings.
1. Compliance with Plans. Any modification on this site shall be in substantial compliance with the use permit application submittal dated May 1, 2019, by Housing Authority of the City of Alameda, on file in the City of Alameda Planning, Building, and Transportation Department, except as modified by the conditions listed in this report.
2. Changes to Approved Plans: This approval is limited to the scope of the project defined in the project description and does not represent a recognition and/or approval of any work completed without required City permits. Any changes to the approved scope of the project shall be submitted to the Planning, Building, and Transportation Department for review and approval.
3. Vesting: The Use Permit approval shall expire two (2) years after the date of approval or by June 3, 2021 unless authorized construction or use of the property has commenced. The applicant may apply for a time extension, not to exceed two (2) years. An extension request will be subject to approval by the Zoning Administrator and must be filed prior to the date of expiration.
4. Fence Design: The fence shall be powder-coated or color-coated in black to provide an attractive finish.
5. Prohibited Materials: Use of barbed wire, razor wire, and other similar materials shall not be permitted as any part of any fencing on the subject site.
6. Emergency Vehicle Access: As part of permits to erect the fence, the applicant shall provide a Knox-box with keys for entry by the Alameda Fire Department, or other such means to allow emergency vehicle access, to the satisfaction to the Senior Fire Code Compliance Officer. If the applicant chooses to erect a fence less than 7 feet in height, which does not require a building permit, the applicant shall provide the Knox-box to the Alameda Fire Department upon erecting the fence.
7. Maintenance: The applicant shall maintain the site clean and free of trash debris and weeds. The General Maintenance division of the Housing Authority of the City of Alameda shall be responsible for maintenance of the site.
8. Revocation: This Use Permit may be modified or revoked by the Zoning Administrator, pursuant to Alameda Municipal Code Section 30-21.3d should the Zoning Administrator determine that: 1) the use or conditions under which it is being operated or maintained is detrimental to the public health, welfare or materially injurious to property or improvements in the vicinity; 2) the property is operated or maintained so as to constitute a public nuisance; or 3) the use is operated in violation of the conditions of the Use Permit.
9. Indemnification: The Applicant shall defend (with counsel reasonably acceptable to the City), indemnify, and hold harmless the City of Alameda, the Alameda City Planning Board and their respective agents, officers, and employees from any claim, action, or proceeding (including legal costs and attorney’s fees) against the City of Alameda, Alameda City Planning Board, and their respective agents, officers, or employees to attack, set aside, void or annul, an approval by the City of Alameda, the Planning, Building, and Transportation Department, Alameda City Planning Board, the City of or City Council related to this project. The City shall promptly notify the Applicant of any claim, action, or proceeding and the City shall cooperate in such defense. The City may elect, in its sole discretion, to participate in the defense of said claim, action, or proceeding. No judicial proceedings subject to review pursuant to California Code of Civil Procedure Section 1094.5 may be prosecuted more than ninety (90) days following the date of this decision plus extensions authorized by California Code of Civil Procedure Section 1094.6
Environmental Determination
The Zoning Administrator has determined that this project qualifies for a Class 1 Categorical Exemption and no additional environmental review is necessary pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 - Existing Facilities because the project consists of permitting involving negligible or no expansion of use beyond that which exists.
Use Permit
The Zoning Administrator hereby approves the Use Permit with conditions.
The decision of the Zoning Administrator shall be final unless appealed to the Planning Board, in writing and within ten (10) days of the decision.
Approved by: Date: June 3, 2019___
Andrew Thomas, Zoning Administrator