Pro soccer at Harbor Bay and ADU to condo conversions
On June 22, the Planning Board will consider two proposals to support economic activity and expand housing. The Oakland Roots and Soul Sports Club proposes to temporarily host professional soccer matches for crowds of up to 8,000 at its Harbor Bay training facility while seeking a permanent home. Planning staff will propose amendments to the City’s Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Ordinance that would permit ADUs to be converted into condominiums and sold separately, a change they say could encourage new housing construction and create additional homeownership opportunities.
Below is a summary of what will be discussed and how you can participate.
Pro soccer at Harbor Bay
The Planning Board will hold a workshop to gather feedback on the Oakland Roots and Soul Sports Club’s proposal to temporarily host professional soccer matches at its Harbor Bay Parkway training facility in Alameda while it continues pursuing a permanent stadium solution with the Port of Oakland. The proposal would allow the club to stage up to 25 large events annually, with crowds of up to 8,000 people, along with smaller sporting events, at its 17-acre site adjacent to Oakland International Airport for an estimated three to five years.
To accommodate spectators, the club would install modular grandstands, a press box, field lighting, a sound system, a video scoreboard, concession areas, restrooms, and other temporary event infrastructure. Matches would take place between March and November, mostly on weekends, with the venue also potentially hosting youth, college, and amateur soccer events. The club does not intend to host concerts or music festivals at the site.
A key issue for the Planning Board will be transportation and neighborhood impacts. The Roots plan to rely on shared parking agreements with nearby business park properties, shuttle service from the Coliseum BART station, valet bicycle parking, and other transportation demand management measures. Planning staff is also considering conditions addressing traffic management, security staffing, noise control, lighting restrictions, and limits on event hours, including ending most large weekday events by 10 p.m. and weekend events by 11 p.m.
The Planning Board will gather feedback on whether the proposed use is compatible with surrounding businesses and residents, and whether the project has provided sufficient design details for future approvals. No formal decision will be made at this stage, and environmental review remains ongoing. City staff expects the project to return for future hearings on a Use Permit and Design Review application before final approval is granted.
ADU to condominium ordinance
Planning staff will propose amendments to the City’s ADU ordinance that would allow ADUs to be converted into condominiums and sold separately from primary homes, a change they say could encourage more ADU construction and create new pathways to homeownership. The proposal would also update the ordinance to reflect changes in state law, clarify development standards, and maintain Alameda’s longstanding approach of offering more flexibility for ADU development than state minimum requirements.
Staff argues that allowing ADU condominium conversions could make ADU projects financially attractive to property owners who might not otherwise build them, while also expanding the supply of smaller, potentially more affordable ownership housing.
The amendments also include several development-standard changes recommended during a May 2026 Planning Board study session. These include establishing front-yard setback requirements for ADUs, maintaining the City’s uncapped allowance for ADUs created within existing multifamily buildings, clarifying rules for additions to nonconforming structures, refining parking and design-review standards, and continuing the City’s policy of waiving most impact fees on ADUs. The proposal would also streamline deed restrictions for junior ADUs to align with current state law and reorganize the ordinance to make it easier to use.
City staff recommends that the Planning Board find the amendments exempt from CEQA, hold a public hearing, and forward a recommendation to the City Council for approval.
How to participate
The meeting will be held on Monday, June 22, at 7 p.m. in City Council Chambers, on the third floor of City Hall, 2263 Santa Clara Avenue.
Members of the public may participate in person or via Zoom. They may comment on the Non-Agenda, Consent Calendar, and Regular Agenda portions of the Meeting Agenda (link downloads document).
The Non-Agenda portion of the meeting provides an opportunity to address the Board regarding any matter not on the agenda over which the Board has jurisdiction. The Consent Calendar is for routine items approved by a single motion. The Regular Agenda is the central portion of the meeting, during which each issue receives a presentation and time for Board discussion and public comment.
Submit requests for reasonable accommodation via an online form.
For Zoom registration, click here. Information to assist with Zoom participation is here. The Zoom phone number for telephone participants is 669-900-9128, and the Meeting ID is 815 3979 3319. Community members may also email Board Members before the meeting.
Contributing writer Karin K. Jensen covers boards and commissions for the Alameda Post. Contact her via [email protected]. Her writing is collected at https://linktr.ee/karinkjensen and https://alamedapost.com/Karin-K-Jensen.
