Live Blog: Public Comments on "Whole Foods Project"

This is a live blog of public comments made during the July 18 Study Session about the . The project is set to include senior housing and a Whole Foods grocery store. Please forgive misspellings in names and minor grammatical or spelling errors due to the nature of this report.

9:51 p.m.

: There's a clear need (for senior housing). The height question... we need to have the density somewhere... This actually seems to be an optimal place.... I want to come back to the details questions, what's the amenity that offsets it? .... I agree with the bike access concern: What happens when you provide first class access to a site, and it ends a block away? What creative ways will people use to get there? .... I think it's something that .... needs to be addressed.... There are some constraints, but I'm confident that (they can be addressed).... I think getting things in writing shouldn't be seen as a suspicion issue.... Documenting of these details is, to me, a fairly straightforward thing.... I'd like to hear from Planning & Zoning about what those amenities could be.... But I think that, working out those details, we can get to where the amenities are appropriate.... I think for the most part, this will be good.... I have to absolutely agree with the comments (by Brian Parsley) that the village residents are Albany residents.  

9:44 p.m. 

: I really like the project and I want to see the project move forward....  Having said that, I think there was a legitimate issue brought up with zoning.... When we call it the "Whole Foods project," I always thought it was a misnomer... I think we do have an obligation to protect our community from something we didn't ask for and didn't want... (Hope that) we approach the way we rezone this land so that the project we see is the project that gets built.... So it won't turn into something else. I'm not opposed to any particular grocery there, but I'd like to see a grocery there, not a sporting goods store.... (We need to be more specific and get it in writing.) I really think that... this is six stories.... (one underground), I do have issues with that.... I do appreciate that density is something we're striving for.... but I do want to say that I'm a little concerned with that (height). I did like ... the open view into the storefronts.... so that for anybody passing, it's an interesting sight to see.... I do agree with , how do you come across the street and go to the store? They said the magic words: Widen the sidewalk.... It's very important to have this corridor work well.... Personally I have no issue with having people sit in traffic... it means maybe next time they'll get out of the car.... (The project is economically important for the city.) 

9:40 p.m. 

: I think that, even though we want more details, I don't think it negates that we want the project. So I would like to see that some of the things people have said: some kind of guarantee for Albany residents; the AC (Transit) had (good points); I'm very concerned about the traffic.... It is a concern, and it is a big concern.... I know the Dartmouth neighbors have been very involved, and the Strollers & Rollers as well.... I know, for Dartmouth, you have to be careful you don't create a thoroughfare for their street.... I did have a lot of questions, but I think the comments were so good.... (We need to get some of the specifics the community has been asking for.) .... It's really important to have a nice streetscape, what sets us apart? Some really nice signage and ways of saying, "Here we are."

: I would really like to see us go forward with the first three items (the EIR, the PUD and the rezoning)... so we can begin to look at specifics.... As other speakers have said, the height is necessary economically.... Having this kind of dense development is part of the Climate Action Plan. 

Tod Abbot, : (Regarding the height) We need higher. We need 10 stories to fill the need of senior housing — just in this room.... I think everybody assumes this has to be a long and drawn-out process; it doesn't have to be.... You can make it as easy as you want to.... You have a willing partner.... They've made many many changes. Look at them as partners, don't look at them as adversaries, and move this forward. It's time to move this forward.  

9:36 p.m.

Allan Maris: I would urge you to go forward with this project. I think tonight you've heard concerns that could be expressed in the follow-up.... I think this project can go ahead and reasonably address the concerns. We have a world-class university and I think we should address their needs as well.... So I think we should show a little extra respect for what their needs are. 

Ricia Wise: I'm an Albany resident.... I think Whole Foods is too expensive and we need a store that's more reasonably priced. I'm not gonna shop there.... We can go to Berkeley if we want to go to a "Whole Paycheck" store. 

9:32 p.m.

Alan Riffer: The $200,000 impact on the general fund was how it was described, so that doesn't include the impact on the library and the school district.... so the net impact is much larger than the general fund impact. Tonight was the first time I saw... memory-impacted aspect of senior living (included).... The difficulty of finding appropriate placements is just so great, that having that here in Albany is really important.... The size of the Whole Foods store, 45,000... The average size is 38,000.... (A smaller store is not a reality.) It would be great to be able to do all my shopping in one place. 

Peggy McQuaid: Move foward as quickly as you possibly can.... (This stretch of San Pablo is) an embarrassment. It's ugly. It needs to be revitalized. This will do it.... This will bring in additional revenue, it will also bring in additional jobs.... Everybody working together, we can resolve the details and move forward. 

9:29 p.m.

Jack Rosano: You have an opportunity to get rid of that blighted area on San Pablo that looks like holy hell.... This is a great opportunity for Albany. I recently had to sell my home because I got... too feeble, let's say. There was nowhere for me to go other than the condominiums on Pierce Street.... We need senior housing and we don't need to lose our seniors.... I think with diligence we can pull (this project) out. 

Jim Cleveland: See if you could get something like Berkeley Bowl West to be interested in making an offer. The new store in Berkeley, I've not seen its equal anywhere. All the things that it has, reasonable prices.... What I'd like to see is Albany improve... so we might have something that is like an Albany "Gourmet Ghetto." 

9:26 p.m. 

Caryl O'Keefe: I want to to echo the comments of earlier speakers.... In 2009, the council accepted an economic development report.... talked about trying to get more economic development on San Pablo. This is your dream come true.... Contrary to some of the comments that have been made... about height... size not being sustainable.... On Page 3 of staff report: Height could be an improvement as a way to increase density.... Increase density to increase open space. You're not sprawling all over it.... Provide whatever direction is necessary to move this forward as expeditiously as possible.  

9:23 p.m.

Francesco Papalia: This is I think an exemplary example of good design... that works environmentally and socially ... in Albany. It's going to provide a senior housing component that the city has failed to provide.... It's going to provide affordable housing for students....What is this project doing? .... Revitalizing economic area, where thousands of people can come and bike to eat and shop.... Thank you, thank you, thank you..... I don't know why public comments (in the staff report) are all negative. 

Dave Price, former president of : One of the most significant things happened when Jeff Bond and folks from and Rollers & Strollers walked the creek and agreed on a ... path forward, a bicycle path along the creek. We feel good about the project and the way it's involving our fields. 

9:18 p.m.

Howard McNenny: I think it's gonna be tremendous for Albany: financial level, as a gateway to the south (almost a disgrace...).... I think reducing the height would kill the project.... This is no doubt what it takes to make the project financially feasible. Regarding the size of the Whole Foods, some say making the store smaller will generate less traffic... If they only have a few things available, people will drive to the next store where they have (more options). 

Brian Parsley: It's more of an assisted living...or independent living.... While there is a significant impact with people coming to see seniors, I don't think you're going to see a lot of seniors driving vehicles.... One of the things (the developer) failed to mention: How much money this generates for public arts: hundreds and hundreds of thousands of dollars for public art.... And I think that's important.... As far as low-income residents of the village getting a respite... far too long we have separated them. Their zip code is 94706 and they too are Albany residents.  

9:16 p.m.

Nick Pilch: I support the comments of Susan Moffat, and am concerned about the Dartmouth crossing. That has been our number one item on list of concerns... I'm glad to hear the developer commit to that.... Get it in writing, don't depend on a verbal commitment.... Although bike pathways are highlighted in the plans.... they go around the project. There is no bikeway through the project, (as in) getting from Dartmouth to the Whole Foods.... We think perhaps making the sidewalk wider... is going to need to be addressed. 

9:12 p.m.

Ken McCroskey, Traffic & Safety Commission: We found that the planning process has encompassed a lot of traffic and safety, which we appreciate.... A lot of bike amenities. We love the back-in angle parking.... We specifically didn't forward a recommendation to you.... We do want to see the project again.... From my standpoint, I am very concerned about the intersection of Jackson and Buchanan, the whole Ocean View School area... I had questions about the numbers they were using to gauge traffic through-put....  

David Krebs, : I think the current zoning with a 15,000 sq. ft. Whole Foods would fit this town well. Even scale down to 45,000, that's a very large store. Even though it said.... it wouldn't be a regional destination store, it will be — and there's gonna be a traffic nightmare.... Again, with the senior housing, making sure, whether it's in a contract, to make sure it's affordable and it's not just gonna be a luxury senior development.   

9:10 p.m.

Mac McCurdy: I think the university has presented a balanced project, well thought through.... I also think that the environmental criticisms to this are way overstated. 

Kristina Osborn: I do not want you to rezone... I don't think that's a good idea. Once it's rezoned to commercial, then anything can go in there.... I'm concerned about that.... Will there be any provisions that guarantee housing for Albany residents? .... I am concerned there's a lot of vagueness. 

9:06 p.m.

Mara Duncan: I want to speak to the sustainability issue.... This is piecemeal development.... It's a public university, a land grant university.... We always should consider all of the university's holdings.... 1,200 people signed a petition asking that there be urban farming .... If we were doing this in a sustainable way, we'd be looking at the whole area.... The presentation is very smooth. There are no numbers.... All these things that are being said are just very general. I believe it is your job to protect us and get more specifics.  

Daniel Dole, : We'd like to see creek improvements codified.... I'd like to see it (the senior housing) downscaled to three stories within the current zoning. 

9:03 p.m.

Winkie Campbell-Notar, Chamber of Commerce: We polled our members and they're 90 percent positive about the project. Our board voted to support the project. It gives the city more control over the land because it returns it to the tax rolls. We talked about aging in place, and it also brings 300 jobs to this community. We talked to businesses on San Pablo Avenue.... this would create a family-friendly gateway at no cost to the city... 

Clay Larson: I'm not sure the project is ripe yet. The PUD process will introduce changes in the design of the project.... PUD requires Planning & Zoning to make findings: exceptional benefits.... They're not exceptional.... (The project is not the amenity.).... I think the project should be scaled down. I think the 50-foot plan was a design that enabled them to make an appropriate profit. I think it's a much better size for this project. 

8:58 p.m.

Susan Moffat: I live about as close as you can to this project.... This project will have a big impact on my neighborhood.... My kids go back and forth to the playing fields. This project, which I've been watching... has the potential to really revitalize and have a positive impact on this particular neighborhood. I would love to have a grocery story (open later). The streetscape improvements, trees, better sidewalks won't happen without this project. There's no reason for (our stretch of San Pablo) to be so much uglier than Berkeley and El Cerrito's.... Safe crossing at Dartmouth should be part of Phase 1.

Don Magraviti (spelling uncertain): If Albany is going to remain a strong community, it should be intergenational, so we strongly support senior housing. 

Jewel Okawachi: I'm here rooting for senior housing at the Village. I have many friends, and a good percentage of them are seniors.... There's been a lot of excitement among my group of friends. Whole Foods will be exciting. 

8:54 p.m. 

Jackie Hermes-Fletcher: If this project comes in then you won't be having the backs of our local businesses here.... Please don't approve the rezoning. 

8:52 p.m.

A speaker representing sheet metal and other unions: We're here in support of the project. We're at 30 percent unemployment. People need these jobs to keep their homes. For our members... to be able to live here, to be able to keep their health care providers, this is a really wonderful project.... This is a great benefit to working families. As for the PUD and zoning requirements, this makes sense. 

8:48 p.m. 

Jack Miller, Albany Little League: We are very pleased with our almost 60-year relationship with the university. We are optimistic that it will continue. I've been impressed with their commitment. I'm comfortable with the process as it's going forward. 

Maureen Crowley: There's absolutely no legitimate reason to rezone to San Pablo Commercial. If we allow it to be rezoned, it could be Walmart. We have no commitment.... If you get rid of land that is deemed housing, you have to mitigate that loss.... We're meant to be having more and more housing, not (replace it) with commercial. There's no rational need to change the zoning.... You're just asking for problems down the road.  

8:44 p.m.

Ed Fields: There will be 6,000-8,000 car trips per day, and 8,500 tons of greenhouse gas per year.... We need to balance economic benefits with impacts.... You should not need to rezone the south portion; this would allow any commercial development to be built there.... I support the recommendations of Albany Strollers & Rollers.

AC Transit: We generally support infill development. We are concerned with some of the impacts, delay along San Pablo and through UC Village. The delay is only about a minute for three intersections, however we're concerned with the cumulative delay. We ask the project mitigate for delay: moving bus stops.... or implementing queue jumps, anywhere along the San Pablo Corridor.... We ask that the developer work closely with AC Transit on the design... and layovers. 

8:42 p.m.

Project manager Kevin Hufferd has given a presentation describing the Whole Foods and mixed-use senior housing project.

Councilman Robert Lieber: I really like the project and I do support it. 

It looks like about 30 people plan to speak. Speakers are limited to two minutes each. 

Everybody makes mistakes ... ! If there's something in this article you think should be corrected, or if something else is amiss, call editor Emilie Raguso at 510-459-8325 or email her at emilier@patch.com.