2009-11-17 Joint CC CIC MinutesMINUTES OF THE SPECIAL JOINT CITY COUNCIL AND
COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT COMMISSION (CIC) MEETING
TUESDAY- - NOVEMBER 17, 2009- -7:31 P.M.
Mayor /Chair Johnson convened the Joint Meeting at 12:27 a.m.
ROLL CALL - Present:
Absent
MTT\TTTTF,!�,
Councilmembers /
Gilmore, Matarrese,
Johnson - 5.
None.
Commissioner deHaan,
Tam and Mayor /Chair
(09 -477 CC/09 -52 CIC) Minutes of the Special Joint City Council and
CIC Meeting held on November 3, 2009 and the Special CIC Meeting
held on November 4, 2009.
Vice Mayor /Commissioner deHaan moved approval of the minutes.
Councilmember /Commissioner Gilmore seconded the motion, which
carried by unanimous voice vote - 5.
REGULAR AGENDA ITEM
(09 -478 CC) Public Hearing to Consider Introduction of Ordinance
Amending Municipal Code by Adding Subsection 30 -17 (Density Bonus
Regulations) to Article I (Zoning Districts and Regulations) of
Chapter XXX (Development Regulations) to Allow Density Bonus Units
and Incentives or Concessions to Developers that Voluntarily
Provide for Affordable Housing Units as an Element of Their
Residential Development Project. Amended and introduced; and
(09 -53 CIC) Resolution No. 09 -163, "Amending Resolution No. 04 -127
to Reduce the Inclusionary Unit Requirement Policy for Residential
Developments in the Business and Waterfront and West End Community
Improvement Project Areas from at Least 25 to at Least 15
Adopted.
The Planning Services Manager gave a brief presentation.
Councilmember /Commissioner Tam inquired whether reducing the
inclusionary unit requirement from 25 to 15 would provide longer
term affordable housing.
The Planning Services Manager responded the reduction would not
provide longer term housing but would make the inclusionary housing
requirement within the City consistent; stated applying the 25`
inclusionary requirement would automatically entitle applicants to
Special Joint Meeting
Alameda City Council and
Community Improvement Commission
November 17, 2009
the density bonus requirements plus concessions, incentives, and
waivers; staff did not want density bonus concessions and waivers
to be automatically triggered; by rolling the percentage back to
15`, the applicant would have to make more affordable units within
the development.
In response to Councilmember /Commissioner Tam's inquiry, the
Supervising Planner responded any inclusionary housing units count
towards the density bonus units; staff does not want to create a
situation where someone would automatically be entitled to a
density bonus plus concessions and waivers.
Mayor /Chair Johnson stated that she likes the idea of caps; perhaps
the Planning Board should be requested to look at particular items.
Vice Mayor /Commissioner deHaan stated one item would be open space;
visuals should be provided in order to show what projects would
actually entail.
The Planning Services Manager stated visuals could be provided.
Mayor /Chair Johnson opened the public portion of the hearing.
Proponents (In favor of ordinance): Robb Ratto, Park Street
Business Association (PSBR); Christopher Buckley, Alameda
Architectural Preservation Society; Jamie Keating, Trailhead
Ventures, LLC.
There being no further speakers, Mayor /Chair Johnson closed the
public portion of the hearing.
Councilmember /Commissioner Matarrese stated that he would like to
send the ordinance back [to the Planning Board] ; the two most
important points are: 1) separating pure residential from other
projects; 2) setback and height caps cannot be arbitrary or non-
technical; Fire Department pictures show the hazard that could be
used as the rationale for setting a cap; if the ordinance is sent
back to the Planning Board, it should be time critical so that the
process can be finished.
The Planning Services Manager stated the ordinance would return to
the Council no later than the first meeting in February; the desire
seems to be to apply caps and limits on concessions and incentives
to residential properties and not mixed used commercial properties;
questioned whether the Council /Commission would move forward on an
ordinance tonight with language added to Section 30 -17.9 that
states: "for commercially zoned or mixed use properties;" stated
the Planning Board would review residential properties and staff
Special Joint Meeting
Alameda City Council and
Community Improvement Commission
November 17, 2009
would come back with an amendment to the density bonus regulations.
Councilmember /Commissioner Tam stated the northern waterfront
project included height limits; inquired how height limits would be
reconciled if the density bonus ordinance includes height limits.
The Planning Services Manager responded specific plan or planned
development amendments would be required for modifications to
projects with adopted regulations for specific sites.
Mayor /Chair Johnson stated requirements for fire access should be
reviewed if backyards are developed; that she is not sure if a fire
truck could access the backyard of the monster house on Briggs
Avenue.
The Interim City Manager /Executive Director stated staff has some
thoughts regarding the issue.
Councilmember /Commissioner Gilmore inquired whether any new
buildings are required to have sprinklers, to which the Planning
Services Manager responded in the affirmative.
Councilmember /Commissioner Matarrese stated residential caps should
be technical, not arbitrary.
Councilmember /Commissioner Tam moved introduction of the ordinance
with the suggested modification on page 13.
Councilmember /Commissioner Gilmore seconded the motion.
Under discussion, Mayor /Chair Johnson clarified that the
residential portion would go back to the Planning Board.
On the call for the question, the motion carried by unanimous voice
vote - 5.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Mayor /Chair Johnson adjourned the
Joint Meeting at 12:50 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Lara Weisiger, City Clerk
Secretary, CIC
Agenda for meeting was posted in accordance with the Brown Act.
Special Joint Meeting
Alameda City Council and
Community Improvement Commission
November 17, 2009