To: Honorable Chair and Members of the Commission on Disability
From: Andrew Thomas, Director Planning Building and Transportation
Subject: Review and Comment on the Request for Waiver of the Requirements of the Universal Design Ordinance (Alameda Municipal Code Section 30-18) for the Boatworks Development Plan at 2229 - 2235 Clement Avenue, Applicant: Boatworks, LLC
BACKGROUND
On April 7, 2020, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 15641 approving a Development Plan and Tentative Map for development of 182 residential units, approximately 1.5 acres of publicly accessible open space, and other improvements on the property located at 2229-2235 Clement Avenue.
A 182 unit project was originally approved for the site in 2011, but the project was never constructed due to a number of disputes between the property owner and the City of Alameda (City). In March, the City Council approved a Settlement Agreement with Boatworks to resolve three existing lawsuits filed by Boatworks against the City and allow for the development of the site for much needed new housing and waterfront access.
The applicant's request for a waiver from the provisions of Section 30-18 Universal Residential Design to the Alameda Municipal Code (AMC) (Universal Design Ordinance, or UDO) is attached as Exhibit 1. The applicant's request states that the size of the site and the topographical conditions support a waiver. Specifically, the applicant is requesting a waiver to reduce the visitability requirement from 100% to 50% (only 91 units would be visitable) and reduce the universal requirement from 30% to 15% (only 28 units would meet the universal design standard).
DISCUSSION
On November 7, 2017, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 3198 to add the Universal Design Ordinance, as recommended by the Commission on Disability (Commission), to require accessible accommodations in new housing construction with five or more units. The UDO requires that:
* 100% of the units provide ...
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