Planning Board: Improving Posey Tube Traffic

The Alameda Planning Board will glimpse into the future Monday to plan for the city's housing needs and improvingt traffic flow.

The agenda for the June 11 meeting includes:

• A discussion of the proposed improvements to ease congestion between the Webster and Posey Tubes linking Alameda and Oakland. A traffic analysis at the 7th Street and Harrison Street intersection suggests that the congestion will continue to worsen if left unaddressed. Suggested improvements include a new transit center at Alameda Point with a Bus Rapid Transit line to 12th Street BART, new bike lanes and improved pedestrian access along Ralph Appezatto Memorial Parkway, the relocation and addition of I-880 on- and off-ramps, and a Park and Ride facility at Mariner Square Drive near the Posey Tube entrance.

• A public hearing to consider changes to the Housing Element of the General Plan. Housing element law requires local governments to provide opportunities for housing development and make plans to meet the existing and projected housing needs of all economic segments of the community. Cities are penalized if they fail to meet the deadline to adopt a housing element plan. Staff are proposing a number of changes to the draft, as listed in the memorandum for Item 9-A.

• A public hearing to consider a freestanding sign program at Alameda Landing, designed to advertise the shopping center and new retail stores. Staff is recommending the use of "story poles" — poles that would be erected to show the height of the two tallest proposed signs on Mariner Square Loop and Stargell Avenue.

• An update on the 1700 Construction Project. Two buildings are under construction, and city staff are working with developers to correct inconsistencies between the plans and the actual construction, including missing tower elements, exposed expansion joints, placement of windows, and building colors.

The Alameda Planning Board will meet Monday, June 11 at 7 p.m. in the , 2263 Santa Clara Ave. The complete agenda and related staff reports are available on the City of Alameda website.