To the Editor:
I write in regard to the proposed redevelopment of the shopping center at Harbor Bay Landing. I have been a resident of the Alameda Bay Farm neighborhood since 2007 and have witnessed firsthand the decline of the shopping center. I was an active participant in the community’s effort to have the property rezoned for ground-floor retail with housing above when the General Plan for Alameda was being drafted by the Planning Board. I was thrilled when the City Council adopted the rezoning in the City’s Housing Element of the General Plan. This meant we would add new residents to Bay Farm while revitalizing the retail space—two very welcome changes to the neighborhood!
The proposed redevelopment by The True Life Companies (the project applicant) would demolish the existing commercial space—including our only grocery store on Bay Farm—and replace it with a purely residential development of 305 units. I support adding housing in Alameda, but the current proposal fails to honor the vision and policies of Alameda’s adopted planning framework—the General Plan and Housing Element—for thoughtful, walkable, mixed-use development.
Under Alameda’s Housing Element 2023–2031, the city commits to accommodating its Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA) by identifying zones and regulating for a diversity of housing types, especially in areas already served by infrastructure and commercial uses. The Housing Element emphasizes that land use and zoning must facilitate new housing opportunities while preserving neighborhood character and local commerce. Likewise, General Plan 2040’s Land Use and City Design Element encourages mixed-use development—combining residential with commercial, retail, or civic uses—particularly in community activity centers or corridors, to create walkable, transit-oriented districts rather than monolithic residential blocks.
The current proposal at Harbor Bay Landing does not comply with this zoning. Instead of enhancing the area with a thoughtful mix of shops and housing, it risks turning a key neighborhood hub into a generic development that neither serves the community’s daily needs nor aligns with the City’s long-term planning goals. Replacing existing, viable commercial space with a housing-only project undermines the economic and social fabric of the neighborhood.
Moreover, neighborhood-serving shops and cafés on the ground floor would not only preserve everyday conveniences for current residents, but would also enhance the quality of life for new residents. Future tenants would benefit from having grocery, dining, and retail options just steps from home, fostering a sense of community and reducing the need for car trips across town. A well-designed mixed-use development would make the area more welcoming and self-sustaining for all who live there.
I urge the Alameda Planning Board and City Council to send a clear message to The True Life Companies to submit a redesigned development proposal that complies with the City’s own adopted planning policies. The community deserves a Harbor Bay Landing redevelopment that meets our housing needs and sustains the walkable, service-rich, mixed-use environment envisioned in Alameda’s General Plan and Housing Element.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey Petersen
Alameda
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