Title
Review and Comment on the March 2021 Draft Alameda General Plan Update
Body
To: Honorable Chair and
Members of the Commission on Persons with Disabilities
From: Andrew Thomas,
Planning, Building & Transportation Director
executive summary
The purpose of this status report is to provide an opportunity for Commission on Persons with Disabilities to review, discuss, and make recommendations on the March 2021 draft Alameda General Plan 2040.
The Draft General Plan is available for public review and comment at www.alameda2040.org <http://www.alameda2040.org>. The existing General Plan is also available for review and comparison purposes on the same website on the “Documents” page.
background
State law requires the City of Alameda to maintain a General Plan that is an “integrated, internally consistent and compatible statement of policies for the adopting agency.” (Government Code section 65300.5.) The last comprehensive update of the current General Plan occurred almost 30 years ago and was designed to serve the City for 20 years or until 2010.
In August of 2020, staff completed the August 2020 (initial) draft Alameda General Plan 2040 for public review and comment, and set up a website (<https://www.alameda2040.org/>) where updates, documents, and surveys could be accessed by the public. In the Fall of 2020, the Alameda Planning Board held four public forums that each focused discussion and review of the four themes of the General Plan, that of Equity, Access, Environment and Character (refer to Page 19 of Chapter 1, General Plan Organization and Themes). Approximately 75-80 people attended each of these forums. Over 1,500 individuals provided written comments and suggestions for improvements to the draft Plan through the General Plan update website, meetings and surveys. In addition, City staff met with a wide variety of organizations and groups, and benefited from recommendations from over 25 organizations. (Refer to Forward, page 5, for a complete list of these organizations.)
Staff continued to collect comments on the initial draft General Plan until January 1, 2021 through online surveys (refer to Exhibit 1- Alameda General Plan Survey Summary) and through continued group meetings. Staff then compiled the feedback and prepared the March 2021 draft General Plan, which synthesizes comments received from the Planning Board, the public, and other boards, community groups and commissions. Staff published the March 2021 draft General Plan on March 1, 2021.
The March 2021 Draft General Plan also benefited from suggestions from the Commission on Persons with Disabilities and other advocates for the needs of the disabled community.
DISCUSSION
Alameda General Plan 2040 policies focus on the following policy directives in an effort to manage change in the next 20 years in a manner that
• promotes a healthy, equitable and inclusive city,
• protects the environment, responds to the climate crisis, and meets regional responsibilities,
• enhances mobility and accessibility, and
• preserves and enhances Alameda’s distinctive character.
General Plan policies in support of the four themes are distributed throughout Alameda General Plan 2040’s six chapters or “elements”:
1. General Plan Organization and Themes
2. Land Use and City Design Element
3. Conservation and Climate Action Element
4. Mobility Element
5. Parks and Open Space Element
6. Health and Safety Element
The needs and concerns of the disabled community are addressed throughout all six elements. Some important policy examples include:
• Policy LU-1: Inclusive and Equitable Land Use and City Design and Policy LU-24 Universal Design in the Land Use and City Design Element,
• Policy CC-7 Climate-Friendly Active Modes of Transportation in the Conservation and Climate Action Element
• Policy ME-3 Vulnerable Communities, ME-6 Vulnerable Users, and ME-21 Parking and Curbside Management and Goal #1 in the Mobility Element, which is to “Provide for the mobility needs of all Alameda residents, workers, and visitors, regardless of income, age, ability, or neighborhood.
• Policy OS-5 Accessibility for All in the Parks and Open Space Element, and
• Policy HS-4 Public Communication in the Health and Safety Element.
In conclusion, staff believes that the new draft General Plan is a significant improvement over the 1991 General Plan and does a much better job of addressing the needs and concerns of people with disabilities.
RECOMMENDATION
At this time, staff would appreciate any comments, suggestions, or recommendations regarding the Draft General Plan from the Commission on Persons with Disabilities.
Respectfully Submitted by:
Andrew Thomas
Planning, Building, and Transportation Director