How has the Planning Board responded?
Members of the Planning Board know that the East end of Alameda needs an active park. They have cautioned developers of the Dutra and Collins properties against high density housing development that doesn’t also serve the entire community. They have listened to citizens and agreed with their statements about the difficulties that come with high density development: severe traffic and parking problems, exclusive enclaves that block citizens from the Estuary that should be open to everyone, and the loss of healthy open space.
One of the Board members said—speaking for the Board as a whole—in response to the Collins and BayRock plans discussed on April 22:
These are my criteria: public access directly to the water to accommodate the use of small boats, etc, and sufficient property for an active park which would include a ball field of some sort. And how that’s configured, something that’s been discussed tonight is a T-shape which also provides a visual sightline all the way from Clement to the water. I think it’s very important we have that park.
Planning
Board
Planning Board meeting, 22 April 2002