Alameda planning board approves master plan amendment to advance Foundry housing phase

On May 26 the Alameda Planning Board approved a master plan amendment that will allow the Foundry phase of the Alameda Marina master plan to use recently proposed changes to the city’s Inclusionary Housing Ordinance, a move the developer said is necessary to keep the project financially feasible.

Tristan, a planning staff member, told the board the amendment would allow the Foundry phase to comply with the new inclusionary requirements while noting the approval would be conditioned on the City Council completing a second reading of the ordinance and the 30‑day period required for it to take effect. Tristan said the change followed the planning board recommendation and a unanimous first reading by the City Council.

“Recent amendments to the city's Inclusionary Housing Ordinance have changed the proportions of units needed to comply,” Tristan said, explaining that the ordinance provides different compliance pathways so a project can emphasize very‑low‑income units or an alternative distribution depending on project circumstances.

Developer Sean Murphy of Pacific Development said the Foundry phase is shovel‑ready and urged the board to approve the amendment to avoid delays that could render the project infeasible. “We are truly shovel ready,” Murphy said. “Delaying this project will only do one thing: render it infeasible,” he added, citing rising construction costs and inflation as risks.

Murphy said site work permits for grading and public‑works items were ready to issue and that the project was in a fourth round of building plan review with building and fire officials, with the developer expecting reviews to wrap up in June and construction to begin in July if approvals proceed. Murphy also described planned public benefits, including bay trail improvements, environmental remediation and public open space.

Under the plan described by Murphy, the Foundry phase would deliver 21 very‑low‑income units (50 percent of area median income) under one compliance option; Murphy said the broader Alameda Marina master plan totals roughly 260 units and that the master plan amendment would apply the new inclusionary framework to the project's final phase. Murphy also provided a master‑plan‑level affordable unit breakdown, stating the amended plan would include 44 very‑low units, 19 low‑income units and 32 moderate units in total across the plan.

Board members pressed staff and the applicant on timing and technical details. Board Member Andy Wang asked whether the project could break ground on July 1 and queried the status of building permits; Tristan said the building permit application and fees had been submitted and were undergoing multiple rounds of plan check. Board Member Holmes asked whether final building plans would show the location of the 21 deed‑restricted units; staff said those details would be provided as part of the affordable housing plan submitted after the master plan amendment approval and that distribution of units is reviewed at the staff level.

Public comment included a statement from Sean Murphy reiterating project urgency and affirming a marketing and tenant‑selection plan; Murphy said Greystar Property Management will work with RISE Housing and the Alameda Housing Authority to run lotteries and screen applicants for the deed‑restricted units. Murphy said a waiting list already exists for the project's affordable units.

The board moved and seconded approval of the master plan amendment. The motion carried with one absence noted. Staff and the applicant clarified the approval is conditional on the City Council’s completing a second reading of the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance amendment and the 30‑day waiting period before it takes effect.

Votes at a glance • Consent calendar (items 4a–4d): motion to approve the full consent calendar carried; one absence noted. • Clement Avenue / Foundry master plan amendment: motion to approve carried; approval conditioned on City Council final action on the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance and its effective date.

What’s next City Council is scheduled to hold the second reading of the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance in early June; if council adopts the ordinance and it becomes effective, the master plan amendment will no longer be contingent and the applicant expects to proceed with final building plan submittals and permits this summer.

Board and staff updates Planning staff reported several recent zoning administrator actions and staff‑level approvals and noted upcoming items, including the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance second reading. President Cisneros announced the death of local preservationist Christopher Buckley and provided funeral details.