Park, Webster Zoning Change Clears Alameda Planning Board
A 5-0 vote would let grocery stores, salons, gyms and small offices skip the use permit. The City Council decides next.
By The Alameda Pulse
Alameda's Planning Board voted 5-0 on October 26, 2026 to recommend a zoning change that would let grocery stores, salons, gyms, tattoo shops and small ground-floor offices open on Park Street and Webster Street without a use permit. The Alameda City Council gets the final vote.
- Where: The Park Street and Webster Street shopping districts in Alameda, CA, including Park Street north of Lincoln Avenue
- Vote: 5-0 by the Planning Board on Monday, October 26
- The big number: Ground-floor offices and health clinics up to 5,000 square feet would be allowed by right
- Why: A city survey found 12% of Webster Street storefronts and 9% of Park Street storefronts sitting empty
- What's next: The Alameda City Council takes it up at a date that hasn't been set
What did the Alameda Planning Board approve for Park and Webster?
It backed a rewrite of the rules that decide which businesses can move into a storefront without a special hearing.
Today a lot of ordinary businesses need a use permit, which means extra cost and waiting. The city staff report on the downtown commercial zoning change says the main zoning rules for Webster Street and south Park Street haven't had a full update in more than 20 years.
Under the proposal, these would be allowed by right:
- Grocery and convenience stores, which could sell beer, wine and liquor as long as it takes up no more than 20% of the floor
- Hair and nail salons on Webster Street (they're already allowed on Park)
- Tattoo shops on the ground floor, where they're banned today
- Gyms, yoga studios and other personal services up to 30,000 square feet
- Artist studios, plus thrift and consignment shops
- Escape rooms, laser tag and pool halls up to 5,000 square feet
That last one's fun. A 1977 rule lumps pool halls in with adult entertainment, which keeps them off Park and Webster.
Why did the board raise the office limit to 5,000 square feet?
Board Member Hom's motion bumped it up from the 4,000 square feet staff had suggested, and Board Member Ly seconded it.
That size fits a dentist, an optometrist, an accountant or a real estate office. Bigger offices would still need a permit, so large ones still get a closer look.
What still needs a use permit?
Liquor stores, event halls, places of worship and other assembly spaces, plus larger gyms and entertainment spots over the size limits.
Three people spoke during public comment, and all three backed the change, including Kathy Weber, executive director of the Downtown Alameda Business Association.
What happens next?
The Alameda City Council has to adopt the change before anything takes effect, and that hearing hasn't been scheduled yet. You can follow it in our Alameda development news, and catch up on how this plan stalled earlier this fall.
