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Resolution 13422CITY OF ALAMEDA RESOLUTION13422 APPROVING GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT, GPA -01 -0004: GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENTS TO THE GENERAL PLAN DIAGRAM TO: a) CHANGE THE DESIGNATION OF THE EXISTING EIGHT ACRE SCHOOL SITE IN THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF THE RESIDENTIAL AREA FROM PUBLIC/INSTITUTIONAL ' TO MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL; b) CHANGE THE DESIGNATION OF A SEVEN ACRE SITE IN THE CENTRAL PORTION OF THE RESIDENTIAL AREA FROM MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL TO PUBLIC/INSTITUTIONAL FOR USE AS A SCHOOL; c) RECONFIGURE THE EXISTING NEIGHBORHOOD PARK THAT IS DESIGNATED PARKS AND PUBLIC OPEN SPACE FROM FIVE ACRES TO FOUR ACRES IN A LOCATION ADJACENT TO THE PROPOSED NEW SCHOOL SITE IN THE CENTER OF THE RESIDENTIAL AREA; AND d) CHANGE THE REMAINING ONE ACRE DESIGNATED FOR NEIGHBORHOOD PARK FROM PARKS AND PUBLIC OPEN SPACE TO MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL WHEREAS, an application was made on October 26, 1999 by Catellus Development Corporation requesting approval for General Plan Amendment GPA- 99 -05, Master Plan, Rezoning, Development Agreement and Tentative Map (and an application was also made for a Parcel (Disposition) Map that covered the commercial/business park area) relating to the development of approximately 1,300,000 gross square feet of office and/or research and development space, 500 housing units, and sites for parks, public open space, a school, and a 39 unit multiple family project located on a 215 acre site encompassing the Alameda Fleet and Industrial Supply Center and Annex and Naval Air Station (NAS) Alameda East Housing. The project would be completed in phases over a multi -year period, depending on market conditions. The project would include associated parking and landscaping, and a minimum of eleven acres of public shoreline access; and WHEREAS, the proposal for a Master Plan, General Plan Amendment, Rezoning, Development Agreement, Tentative Map, Parcel (Disposition) Map and City Council Resolution 13216 (certifying the Final EIR for the Catellus Mixed Use Development) and City Council Resolution 13217 (making findings concerning mitigation measures and alternatives and adopting a statement of ovelliding considerations and an MMRP) were approved by the City Council on May 31, 2000; and WHEREAS, the applicant is requesting a General Plan Amendment to: a) change the designation of the existing eight acre school site in the northeast comer of the residential area from Public/ Institutional to Medium Density Residential; b) change the designation of a seven acre site in the central portion of the residential area from Medium Density Residential to Public/Institutional for use as a school; c) reconfigure the existing neighborhood park that is designated Parks and Public Open Space from five acres to four acres in a location adjacent to the proposed new school site in the center of the residential area; and d) change the remaining one acre designated for neighborhood park from Parks and Public Open Space to Medium Density Residential; and 1 WHEREAS, the proposal for a General Plan Amendment is part of an application which also includes an amendment to the Master Plan, an amendment to the Development Agreement, an amendment to the Disposition and Development Agreement, and an amendment to the Tentative Map for the subdivision and improvement of the public and private parcels within the site; and WHEREAS, the application as accepted as complete on Novembe 12, 2001; and WHEREAS, the subject property is presently designated Business Park, Medium Density Residential, Parks and Public Open Space and Public/Institutional on the General Plan Diagram; and WHEREAS, on November 26, 2001 the Planning Board of the City oT Alameda recommended that the City Council approve an Addendum to the Final Environmental Impact Report to address the environmental impacts related to amendment of this Project and concluded that the Project as revised would not introduce new significant environmental effects or substantially increase the severity of previously identified significant effects and no substantial changes have occurred with respect to the circumstances under which the Project would be undertaken and there has been no discovery of new information of substantial importance that would require major revisions to the previous EIR; and WHEREAS, the Planning Board held a public hearing on this application on November 26, 2001 and examined pertinent maps, drawings, and documents in connection with the application; and WHEREAS, the subject property is located within the Business and Waterfront Improvement Project (BWIP), and the Alameda Point Improvement Project (APIP); and WHEREAS, the City Council has made the following finding: The City Council has been advised that subject to meeting City standards and requirements, the proposed General Plan Amendment would substantially conform to the adopted Community Improvement Plans (CIP) for the Business and Waterfront Improvement Project (BWIP), as amended, the Alameda Point Improvement Project (APIP) and the General Plan policies incorporated by reference within the CIPs; and WHEREAS, the City Council has made the following findings relative to the General Plan Amendment: The proposed General Plan diagram amendments are consistent with the policies and intent of the General Plan. The City's General Plan policies focus on five broad themes that strengthen awareness of the City's island setting, its small town feeling, respect for history, de- emphasis of the automobile, and retention of multi -use development on the Northern Waterfront. The Project, as proposed, is generally consistent with these themes. The proposed General Plan amendments are internally consistent with the themes and policies 2 of the General Plan. Specifically, the reconfiguration of the school and park sites is consistent with Policy 6.la and 6.1b in the Parks and Recreation Element of the General Plan. Provision of the new four acre public park would be consistent with Policy 6.la which calls for the expansion of Alameda's park system. The new four acre park would be owned and improved by the City and add to the existing supply of park land in the City. Locating the park adjacent to the school in the center of the site would be consistent with Policy 6.1b which calls for joint use of school and park land. The proposed General Plan` text and diagram amendments are part of a comprehensive planning process that began in 1994 when the Alameda Reuse and Redevelopment Authority (ARRA) developed the CRP adopted by the ARRA in January 1996 and accepted by the City of Alameda. The CRP took a holistic approach to planning the future use of the NAS and FISC' sites. As part of the planning process, the entire NAS and FISC properties were analyzed for constraints to and opportunities for reuse and integration with the rest of Alameda.. The CRP was based on numerous technical studies including land use alternatives, circulation studies and a street system plan, economic feasibility and market studies, utility system studies, environmental clean up studies, architectural and historic preservation studies, wildlife and biological studies, etc. The CRP process was ` tantamount to the preparation of a specific plan for the NAS and FISC facilities. The Catellus Mixed Use Development is proposed to be built on the FISC and NAS East Housing properties. The proposed Project amendments are generally consistent with the objectives and policies of the CRP and, as such, is the first step in implementing the comprehensive strategy envisioned by the CRP. It is the first project to be developed at FISC and NAS and forms the keystone (both physical and economic) for future reuse and development of these facilities. 2. The proposed General Plan diagram amendments will have acceptable effects on the general welfare of the community because they will facilitate development of a former military site with a mixed use development that includes residential and related uses located in the southern' portion of the site; and offices, business park and related uses in the northern portion of the site 4. The proposed General Plan diagram amendments are necessary to enable the appropriate development and maintenance of property in the City because they will facilitate development of a currently underutilized site. 5. The proposed General Plan diagram amendments are in the public interest as they would recognize that the site is no longer designated for a federal facility, and would allow redevelopment of the site with a more appropriate use consistent with the nearby Marina Village Business Park and existing residential uses in the West End of Alameda; and 6. The Project will increase tax revenues to the City and provide substantial public amenities, including affordable housing. 3 THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Ala approves General Plan Amendment, GPA -01 -0004, as shown in Exhibit "A". (g: \sp ecproj \fi se\2001 \agpares.ce 1 4 eda hereby Legend: V4. Parks &Public Open Space Public /Institutional Medium Density Residential Catellus Alameda GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT to GENERAL PLAN DIAGRAM October 2001 Exhibit "A" I, the undersigned, hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly and regularly adopted and passed by the Council of the City of Alameda in a regular meeting assembled on the 18th day of December, 2001, by the following vote to wit:, AYES: Councilmembers Daysog, DeWitt, Johnson, and Mayor Appezzato - 4. NOES: ABSENT: ABSTENTIONS: None. IN WITNESS, WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of said City this 19th day of December, 2001. Lara Weisiger, City 'Clerk City of Alameda