Residents press Albany on public-notice radius, seismic retrofits and tenant protections

A sustained public-comment block at the Feb. 2 council meeting focused on planning-notice practices, high costs for seismic retrofits and potential effects of tenant-protection proposals.

Dr. Steven Alpert said Albany currently sends mailed notices only to property owners within 300 feet and 10 days before the first planning hearing, and urged the council to consider expanding the radius and timing. He cited other cities that use wider notice distances and asked the council to add the issue to a future agenda for fuller public discussion, pointing to a proposed five-story mixed-use project at 1600 Solano as an example of a development he said did not receive sufficient notice.

Elaine Stelton, speaking for property-rights advocates, supported earthquake retrofit requirements but asked the city to seek funding similar to Berkeley’s program; she described individual retrofit costs in the six-figure range and asked that the council consider those costs when designing rent-stabilization measures. She noted a specific example: a person named Peter Campbell reportedly spent about $100,000 on a retrofit.

Peter Campbell, identifying himself as a rental provider, cautioned that retrofit obligations and other requirements (gas removal, EV charging, heat-pump equipment, insurance) will generally be paid through rents and urged the council to find funding sources beyond penalties or excessive regulation.

City Manager responded that staff will prepare a report on tenant protections, referred Block Captain questions to the Fire Department (which oversees that program), and said staff is looking into funding opportunities for seismic retrofit assistance.

The council did not adopt any regulation at the Feb. 2 meeting; the public comment items were referred to staff for follow-up.