Park, Webster Zoning Rewrite Targets Vacant Storefronts

Alameda's Planning Board votes Monday, Sept. 14 on a zoning rewrite that would let small offices, health clinics, artist studios and grocery stores open on Park Street and Webster Street without a use permit. It's aimed straight at the empty storefronts that staff say make up a growing share of both corridors.

• Where: Alameda City Hall, 2263 Santa Clara Ave., Council Chambers, 3rd floor
• When: Monday, Sept. 14 at 7 p.m.
• What's decided: A Planning Board vote on a resolution recommending the City Council adopt the Downtown Commercial Zoning Text Amendment
• Who's behind it: The city's Planning, Building and Transportation Department, led by Acting Director Abby Thorne-Lyman
• What's next: A yes vote sends the rewrite to the City Council for a final vote

Why is the city rewriting the rules for Park and Webster?

Because most of downtown's empty storefronts sit on the two streets people actually walk down. Staff analysis found that 70% of vacancies across the Community Commercial and North Park Street Gateway districts front directly on Webster or Park streets, and Webster alone accounts for 90% of those. Today, many businesses that could fill those spaces need a discretionary use permit just to open the door.

What could move into empty storefronts on Park and Webster?

A lot more than today. Offices under 4,000 square feet, like real estate, insurance, legal, accounting and medical or dental practices, would be allowed on the ground floor without a permit, and health clinics would get that same threshold. Artist studios and maker spaces, currently not allowed at all in the Community Commercial district, would be permitted on both ground and upper floors. Commercial recreation spots such as laser tag or escape rooms would be allowed by right up to 5,000 square feet. Grocery and convenience stores, which now need a use permit just to exist, would be allowed outright, and could sell beer and wine as long as alcohol doesn't cover more than 20% of their floor space.

What happens at the Sept. 14 meeting?

The board isn't voting on final law. It's voting on whether to recommend the City Council adopt the changes. Members already spent a study session on the proposal in July, pushing staff on whether ground-floor offices might crowd out the shops that draw foot traffic. Staff's answer is the 4,000-square-foot cap, meant to keep storefronts small enough to still feel like part of the street. The meeting is open to the public; check the Pulse events calendar for the date.

What happens next for Alameda?

If the board approves the resolution Sept. 14, the amendment moves to the City Council, which has final say. No council date is set yet. Until then, today's use permit rules for offices, clinics and grocery stores stay in effect on both streets. For more on how Alameda is reshaping its commercial corridors, see our development coverage.

Read the full Sept. 14 Planning Board agenda for the staff report and draft resolution.