2026-4-13 Planning Board Meeting

The City of Alameda Planning Board held a meeting on April 14, 2026, primarily focused on reviewing and discussing a proposed ordinance to update the city's inclusionary housing policy. The discussion included detailed presentations on affordable housing requirements, alternatives such as land dedication and in-lieu fees, and compliance with state density bonus laws. Board members raised questions about the feasibility of the proposed requirements, the need for a nexus study to justify in-lieu fees, and the treatment of existing developments with vacant moderate-income units. The board also considered exemptions for smaller projects and clarified criteria for cluster development alternatives. After extensive deliberation, the board passed a motion recommending approval of the ordinance with amendments including exempting projects of 11 units or fewer, clarifying cluster development findings, addressing moderate-income units in existing developments, and providing clearer guidance on expedited processing timelines. The meeting concluded with updates on recent projects and announcements about upcoming housing conferences.