Memo from City Manager to City Council Regarding Phasing and Disposition of Development in the Main Street Neighborhood (MSN) at Alameda Point, including Review of the Draft Phasing Chapter in the MSN Specific Plan, September 20, 2016

Excerpt:

Exhibits:

1. Alameda Point Zoning Map
2. Collaborating Partners Preferred Location
3. Draft Main Street Neighborhood Specific Plan
4. Draft Development Phasing Principles Chapter
5. Constraints Overlay Map
6. Geotechnical Overlay Map

BACKGROUND

On March 3, 2015, Council approved a contract with Urban Planning Partners (UPP) to draft a Specific Plan for the Main Street Neighborhood within Alameda Point (Main Street Plan). The contract with UPP is funded, in part, by a grant in the amount of $250,000 from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC). An approved Specific Plan is required before new development can occur in the Main Street Neighborhood Sub-district per the Alameda Point Zoning Ordinance (Alameda Municipal Code 30-4.24), which was approved by City Council on February 4, 2014 (Exhibit 1).

The focus of the Main Street Plan is to determine the regulations under which future development of both the public and private areas in the Main Street Neighborhood could occur. The Main Street Plan would adopt form-based, transit supportive standards and regulations for the arrangement of public and private streets, public open space and parks, infrastructure, and associated private development consistent with the City’s existing plan and policies for Alameda Point and comparable to the already approved Waterfront and Town Center Plan. The Main Street Plan will also address how development within the Main Street Neighborhood will allow for the preservation and integration of historic structures - such as the former senior officer housing known as the “Big Whites” and help guide and facilitate the relocation and consolidation of the three existing supportive housing providers into new facilities at Alameda Point. At the time the UPP contract was approved, the City Council provided key feedback regarding the Main Street Plan including

• Create a phasing plan for the Main Street Neighborhood that prioritizes the near-term consolidation of the existing supportive housing providers into new state-of-the-art facilities (as described in greater detail below) and minimizes the amount of new market rate housing needed to help finance the new facility.

• Evaluate an approach to phasing that preserves the existing resources and housing, including the historic “Big Whites” in the northern area of the Main Street Neighborhood for the foreseeable future.

• Return to the City Council before finalizing the Main Street Plan to discuss phasing and disposition strategies for the Main Street Neighborhood, especially in light of the 1,425-unit cap on housing at Alameda Point.