Title
PLN19-0556 - Phase I Waterfront Park Design Review Amendments - Alameda Point Site A - Applicant: Alameda Point Partners. Public Hearing to consider amendments to previously-approved Design Review for the Phase I Waterfront Park at Alameda Point Site A. The environmental effects of the proposed project were considered and disclosed in the Alameda Point Environmental Impact Report (State Clearinghouse #2013012043). No further environmental review is required
Body
To: Honorable President and
Members of the Planning Board
From: Allen Tai, City Planner
Date: February 24, 2020
BACKGROUND
On December 9, 2019, the Planning Board held a public hearing to consider Design Review amendments to previously-approved plans for Phase I of the Waterfront Park at Alameda Point Site A. This original Design Review approval of Phase I was issued by the Planning Board in 2016. The applicant, Alameda Point Partners (APP), wishes to make several amendments to the park design involving a redesign of the stormwater system to use passive filtration methods, substituting palm trees with shade trees, and other park surface modifications. The staff report and exhibits are available online at: <https://alameda.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=4265872&GUID=5D4FBCF6-E582-421D-8F3F-303EC9B0D3FB>
At the public hearing on December 9th, the Planning Board took public testimony and provided comments on the proposed revisions. After the meeting, the applicant coordinated with staff to revise the park design to address both Board and public comments. The revised park plans also reflect comments from the Recreation and Parks Director and the design staff at the Bay Conservation and Development Commission, which oversees development along the Bay edge. The applicant requests the Planning Board hold a public hearing to consider the revised plans.
DISCUSSION
The following summarizes the revisions made to the park plans in response to Planning Board and public comments (Exhibit 1).
• Additional Seating (Sheets L-2 through L4, L8, and L10): The revised plans include the addition of more bench top seats throughout the terraces as well as a clearer indication of the path of travel to those seating elements in the terrace. Additional seating has been added to various locations around the park. Staff counted an increase from 52 seating opportunities in the previous design to 100 in the revised plans.
• Gabion Walls (Sheets L-2 through L4, L8, and L10): As requested by the Planning Board and staff, the low gabion wall detail is now interspersed with a concrete seat wall element that accommodates both bench tops and seating on the wall itself. Gabion walls, constructed from loose rock material, are generally more sustainable and eco-friendly compared to traditional concrete retaining walls. The gabion walls also provide advantages in natural drainage and strength over traditional wall construction.
• Rest Points along Walking Paths (Sheets L-2 through L-9): There are now four overlook stopping/resting points on the path from the upper terrace to the lower promenade. These stopping points offer a “break” from the continuous path. Additionally, these four stopping points are decorated with painted historic airplanes as a cultural history programming element to complement the painted historic timelines at the taxiways.
• Clarification of Sloped Terraces (Sheet L-5): The site section drawings on the revised plans were simplified and updated to clarify that the sloped terraces are relatively “flat” with a minimal slope and to demonstrate they are not steep as was being perceived. The revised plans also clarify that sloped terraces are being treated consistent with the planting design and ecology of the stepped terraces.
• Stairway Width (Sheets L-4 through L-8): The second stairway down to the promenade (immediately west of the Block 11 Shared Plaza) is now equal in width to the central stairway. The stairway was also shifted slightly to the west to align with the view axis of Pan Am Avenue.
• Picnic Areas (Sheets L-4 through L-8): In the taxiway picnic zones, the lawn areas were changed back to decomposed granite to keep this zone more “urban.”
• Trees around Public Art (Sheet L-14): The center of the waterfront park is intended for future Public Art. Per Planning Board discussion, the six trees immediately surrounding the public art has been reverted back to palm trees in order to maintain an open and urban environment. The Recreation and Parks Director accepted the proposal for six palm trees at this particular location.
• Railing Detail (Sheet L-11): The railing design has been revised from a cable railing to steel mesh panels with a tube steel cap at the top. The mesh panels are intended to provide greater durability than the previous cable rail design. Access to the waterfront edge is unchanged, and the plans indicate where the 12’ removable guardrail panel is located to provide future direct access to the water.
• Additional Amenities (Sheets L-2 through L4, L8, and L10): The revised plans show more bike racks, benches, and lounge furniture on the promenade and overlook. The furniture is proposed to be mounted to the ground surface to remain stationary.
• Overlook Area and Container Village Design (Sheets L-12, L-26 through L-30): The revised plans include design details of the Overlook Area and Container Village located to the east of the Waterfront Park. The area was originally approved in 2016 as an outdoor event space with adjacent retail/food court establishments housed in modular containers. The containers surround a center food court with a second story overlook containers providing elevated views of the Seaplane Lagoon. Public restrooms will be provided in the food court area.
• Sea Level Rise Design (Sheets L-22 through L-24): Per Planning Board comments, the revised plans now identify sea level rise adaptation integrated into the park design. Should future sea level rise necessitate modifications to the park design, the terraced area could be raised while preserving much of the existing landside park improvements on the upper promenade.
• Lighting Plan (Sheets L-8, L-21): A park lighting plan is provided in the revised plans. Overall, the proposed lighting complies with requirements for downward-directed lighting set forth in the Dark Skies Ordinance (AMC 30-5.16.c) and Alameda Recreation and Parks Department standards for park lighting.
• Landscape Plans (Sheets L-5, L-13 through L-20): The plans include the planting palette in all of the park zones to illustrate that the planting palette has remained the same as the 2016 approval other than the addition of the shade trees in taxiway zone.
• Perspective Renderings: Perspective renderings have been provided for the Waterfront Promenade and Terraces to illustrate the subtlety in the minimally sloped grading of both the terraces and circulation path, the native plant palette character, and the program activation of site furnishings on the terraces and promenade. The plans also include a perspective rendering of the Taxiway view to demonstrate the design character of this view corridor, which continues from the Shared Plaza in front of Block 11 and West Atlantic Avenue to the east. The design of the Taxiway remains from the original approved plans. The rendering depicts the historic timeline element in relationship to the new trellis structures and combination of palm trees and shade trees.
Overall, the revised Waterfront Park plans remain largely consistent with the Planning Board’s original 2016 Design Review approval. The revised plans also incorporated substantial improvements in seating and other park features suggested by the Planning Board and public comment. These elements further enhance the Waterfront Park design.
Staff recommends the Planning Board approve the revised plans as presented. Approval of these Phase I plans will allow the applicant to work on Phase II of the Waterfront Park located immediately west of the site.
PUBLIC NOTICE
The public hearing for this project was advertised in Alameda Sun newspaper on February 13, 2020, and public notices were mailed to all property owners within 300 feet of Site A. Public comments previously received for the December 9, 2019 meeting were distributed to the Planning Board at the public hearing. No new public comment for the upcoming February 24th hearing has been received at the writing of this staff report. Any new written comments received will be distributed at the Planning Board hearing.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
On February 4, 2014, the City of Alameda certified the Alameda Point Final EIR (State Clearinghouse #2013012043) in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The Final EIR evaluated the environmental impacts of redevelopment and reuse of the lands at Alameda Point consistent with the Town Center Plan, which included Site A. No further review is required for this review of the project designs.
RECOMMENDATION
Hold a public hearing to consider Design Review Amendments for Phase I of the Waterfront Park at Alameda Point Site A.
Reviewed By,
Andrew Thomas,
Planning, Building and Transportation Director
Exhibits:
1. Phase 1 Waterfront Park Plan
2. Draft Resolution