The project had originally been approved by both the Zoning Adjustments Board and the council in 2010, but a procedural error led to a lawsuit. It returned to the council last November, was the subject of a ZAB public hearing in December, and came back to the council for final approval last night.

Despite the approval, the developers expect opponents … Continue reading »]]>

A rendering of Parker Place on the corner of Shattuck Avenue and Parker

Parker Place, a 155-unit development at Shattuck and Parker, won City Council approval last night after a long development tussle.

The project had originally been approved by both the Zoning Adjustments Board and the council in 2010, but a procedural error led to a lawsuit. It returned to the council last November, was the subject of a ZAB public hearing in December, and came back to the council for final approval last night.

Despite the approval, the developers expect opponents to pursue a lawsuit to delay or stop the project. Any suit would need to be filed within 30 days of formal notice of the project’s approval.

The project calls for two five-story mixed-use buildings at 2658 and 2660 Shattuck (both sides of Parker on Shattuck) and a three-story residential building at 2037 Parker. In addition to the 155 dwelling units, there is nearly 23,000 sq ft of commercial space on the ground floor.(...)

Read the rest of Parker Place development wins council approval (570 words)

By lance. | Permalink | 63 comments |
Post tags:

“I want to make it easier for startups, but still maintain the special character of the Elmwood,” Wozniak, who represents most of the Elmwood business district, … Continue reading »]]>

A.G. Ferrari, one of several food businesses in the Elmwood. If adopted, a new proposal would see the current three-tier food quota in the business district collapsed into a single quota. Photo: Nancy Rubin

The decades-old retail and food quotas in Berkeley’s Elmwood commercial district face a potentially dramatic overhaul with Councilmember Gordon Wozniak set to propose a review of the quotas to the Planning Commission at tonight’s City Council meeting. If it’s adopted, Wozniak’s scheme would eliminate retail quotas and collapse the current three-tier food quota into a single quota.

“I want to make it easier for startups, but still maintain the special character of the Elmwood,” Wozniak, who represents most of the Elmwood business district, said. The area is centered on the intersection of Ashby and College Avenues in south Berkeley. “There’s a need to keep the balance between food and retail, but having three distinct categories for food is very destructive and consumes an inordinate amount of staff time.”

Under the current quotas (see table below), there are six distinct retail categories and three food categories — carry out, quick service and full service. Wozniak said that the system can be a “real disincentive for a new business”, because of the cost and time needed for permitting.

(...)

Read the rest of Elmwood business quotas may change to help startups (512 words)

By lance. | Permalink | 34 comments |
Post tags: 14 Karats, A' Cuppa Tea, Casa De Chocolates, Elmwood retail quotas, Gordon Wozniak, Kriss Worthington, Summer Kitchen, The Elmwood neighborhood

Original story: Mitch Kapor is no closer to being able to begin construction on his new home in the north Berkeley … Continue reading »]]>

The original 1925 home on the site of Mitch Kapor's proposed new home at 2707 Rose Street has been demolished. Photos: Tracey Taylor

Update, 01.31.12: Both parties in the 2707 Rose Street case, which went to appeal and was heard in the First Appellate District, Division 4, California Court of Appeal in San Francisco on January 24th, are now waiting to hear the outcome. In the meantime Berkeley Hills Preservation group alerts us to its website which contains full details of its case.

Original story: Mitch Kapor is no closer to being able to begin construction on his new home in the north Berkeley hills after a court date set for tomorrow, January 10th, at which opponents to his plans were to have appealed a December 2010 ruling against them, has been moved back 14 days.

Meanwhile, Kapor, the philanthropist and founder of Lotus, and his wife Freada Kapor Klein — who received approval approved use permits from the City of Berkeley City of Berkeley’s Zoning Adjustments Board two years ago this month to build a new for a 6,478 sq ft home with 10-car garage at 2707 Rose Street — have voluntarily agreed not to undertake any construction activities at the site.

The lot has, however, been cleared in anticipation of a possible build. The original home at the location, a 2-story 2,477 sq ft 1925 house, abandoned for many years, has been removed, as well as a garage at street level, leaving merely foundations in their place.

The Berkeley Hills Preservation Group’s appeal rests on the argument that the build will have “a significant effect on the environment due to unusual circumstances” (California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines [14 Cal.Code Regs.]), and therefore warrants a CEQA environmental review — something not normally required for the construction of single family homes.(...)

Read the rest of Court date moved in next stage of Mitch Kapor home saga (373 words)

By Tracey Taylor. | Permalink | 49 comments |
Post tags: 2707 Rose Street, Mitch Kapor

Telegraph Avenue’s Sequoia Apartments building, seriously damaged in a fire on Friday, November 18, 2011, is a stately and historic edifice that helped define the character of Telegraph Avenue in both the early 20th century and in the 1960s.

Constructed in 1916, the 96-year-old, 39-apartment, building was part of an early 20th century development boom that transformed Telegraph Avenue into a bustling business and residential district.

When the Sequoia was built, Berkeley was one of most populous … Continue reading »]]>

An undated view, probably from the early 1960s, shows the Sequoia with the Cinema Guild theatre marquee visible at far left, on the commercial façade. Photo: Courtesy Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association

By Steven Finacom

Telegraph Avenue’s Sequoia Apartments building, seriously damaged in a fire on Friday, November 18, 2011, is a stately and historic edifice that helped define the character of Telegraph Avenue in both the early 20^th century and in the 1960s.

Constructed in 1916, the 96-year-old, 39-apartment, building was part of an early 20^th century development boom that transformed Telegraph Avenue into a bustling business and residential district.

When the Sequoia was built, Berkeley was one of most populous cities in California, riding a wave of suburb development and urbanization that had started with the construction of streetcar lines around the turn of the century, and accelerated after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire.(...)

Read the rest of The Sequoia Building: At heart of Berkeley’s rich heritage (1,205 words)

By guest. | Permalink | 12 comments |
Post tags: Amoeba Music, Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association, Berkeley Cinema Guild, Berkeley civil rights, Berkeley counter culture, Berkeley Historical Society, Cafe Intermezzo, Cody’s Books, Edward Landberg, Garden Spot, Lucky’s market, Mario’s La Fiesta Restaurant, Pauline Kael, Raleigh’s, Sequoia Building, Telegraph Avenue

“Berkeley streets are in a serious state of disrepair, with the average street at risk of failing,” said City Auditor Ann-Marie Hogan. “Our audit shows how to use available data to decide how much to invest, when, and where, to … Continue reading »]]>

Cracks that lead to constant potholes on Dwight Way at Telegraph. Photo: Tracey Taylor

According to a report from the City Auditor presented to the City Council last night, the average Berkeley street is in “at risk” condition. As the report, Failing Streets, details, as street condition deteriorates, the cost of paving increases rapidly.

“Berkeley streets are in a serious state of disrepair, with the average street at risk of failing,” said City Auditor Ann-Marie Hogan. “Our audit shows how to use available data to decide how much to invest, when, and where, to stop the skyrocketing future cost of failed streets.”

The audit used StreetSaver software, developed by the Metropolitan Tranportation Commission for the nine-county Bay Area. The software assigns a pavement condition index (PCI) between 100 (excellent) and 0 (failed) for a city’s streets and generates scenarios for five-year repair plans. Berkeley’s streets have an average PCI of 58, at the top of the “at risk” range.(...)

Read the rest of Average Berkeley street in at risk condition, many worse (546 words)

By lance. | Permalink | 54 comments |
Post tags:

The City of Berkeley has partnered with Energy Upgrade California to offer the workshop as a one-stop shop for all Alameda County homeowners to find contractors, get information about the rebates and tax credits available and have all their questions answered.

While developers will be allowed to build one hotel and two residential buildings of 180 feet, a couple of office buildings at 120 feet and other buildings that are taller than in today’s downtown, what the city’s core will actually look like – who will live there, how much open space will be retained and how people will get around … Continue reading »]]>

"Downtown" area expanded under Measure R

With the passage of Measure R last year, Berkeley voters set the stage for a taller, denser, greener downtown.

While developers will be allowed to build one hotel and two residential buildings of 180 feet, a couple of office buildings at 120 feet and other buildings that are taller than in today’s downtown, what the city’s core will actually look like – who will live there, how much open space will be retained and how people will get around – is likely to be the focus of many late-night council and commission meetings over the next months and years to come.

The question the council debated at its Tuesday evening work session was whether paying a $20,000 per rental unit fee to an affordable housing fund would negatively impact the developer’s bottom line, affecting a proposed project to the degree that it would not to be built.

Developer fees are not taxes. They are intended to pay cities back for partial costs they bear for new development. Currently in Berkeley developers pay into a childcare fund, commercial developers pay into a fund for affordable housing, and condominium developers pay into a fund for affordable housing if they don’t choose to build lower-cost housing on site.

Berkeley formerly mandated that 20% of new rental units a developer built would be affordable, with an option for the developer to pay into a fund to house lower-income people in lieu of creating new affordable units. The 2009 Palmer decision by the state supreme court made that illegal.

The council is also likely to impose developer fees dedicated to open space and transportation, but that wasn’t part of Tuesday’s discussion. (...)

Read the rest of City Council tackles housing development downtown (577 words)

By judith. | Permalink | 20 comments |
Post tags:

“Congratulations! We have a plan,” exulted Mayor Tom Bates after the vote.

The main goals of the plan, which covers the area directly south of the UC Berkeley campus, include creating additional housing to help meet the housing demand for students and local employees; to encourage affordable housing; to provide for a high-density residential and … Continue reading »]]>  The Southside Plan, in the works since 1997 (or since 1929, as one councilmember joked), was passed unanimously by the Berkeley City Council last night.

“Congratulations! We have a plan,” exulted Mayor Tom Bates after the vote.

The main goals of the plan, which covers the area directly south of the UC Berkeley campus, include creating additional housing to help meet the housing demand for students and local employees; to encourage affordable housing; to provide for a high-density residential and commercial mixed-use edge to the campus and the “spine” along Telegraph Avenue; to increase non-automotive modes of transport; to enhance the Telegraph commercial district; to recognize, preserve and enhance the “unique physical character” of the Southside; and to improve public safety, address social needs and act to minimize loss of life and property in the event of a natural disaster.  (The full plan, which was amended slightly by the council last night, can be downloaded from the city website.)

Although the mayor and councilmembers expressed delight at the passage, last night’s council discussion also included frequent reference to the long, tortuous development of the plan, and the recognition that examined in the light of today’s thinking, there are areas where the plan falls short.

Kriss Worthington: "I've been working on this since, what, 1929?"

“I’ve been working on this since, what, 1929? No, 1997 — before I was a councilmember and before I had grey hairs,” said councilmember Kriss Worthington, whose District 7 encompasses most of the Southside area. “It’s just beautiful that we’re finally moving forward. There are things that are missing. There should be a sustainability element. There should be more of an open space element. In spite of the fact that I don’t like the flaws, I also don’t want to wait another 17 years to get a Southside Plan, which is why I support moving forward.”

“It’s not a perfect document,” echoed Mayor Bates. “There are a lot of things that should have been done that we’ve learned in the meantime, but we’re not going to stop it now.”

The plan originated in a March 1997 Memorandum of Understanding between the university and the city following a tussle over the expansion of the Haas Pavilion, the university’s primary indoor sports arena. As Andy Katz, a director of the Associated Students of the University of California back in 1999-2002, said in the public comments at last night’s meeting, “Work on the Southside Plan was a response to really terrible town and gown relations.”

The draft Southside Plan was completed in 2003, following extensive community meetings, staff work, and a series of Planning Commission-sponsored working groups. Work on the draft environmental impact report (DEIR) started in July 2004, and the DEIR was released for review in March 2008. The updated draft plan was released in April 2009. Last night, the council formally certified the environmental impact report, adopted amendments to the city’s General Plan, adopted the Southside Plan, and adopted the first reading of ordinances for amendments to the Zoning Ordinance, which were spurred by the Southside Plan.

In the public comments at last night’s meeting, almost all of the speakers were students who live in co-op housing on the Southside. All encouraged the council to push for more affordable housing, and to stop the university from imposing additional costs on new housing developments through its 4% capital improvements fee. The capital improvements fee has replaced a much-criticized parking replacement fee that the university enforced on land it owned.

“We don’t agree with the university policy,” affirmed Mayor Bates. “We haven’t and we won’t on this one either. We will probably unanimously, or close to unanimously, ask the university not to impose this fee, but the issue is they can do it anyway.”

By lance. | Permalink | 2 comments |
Post tags:

That’s not how things turned out. South Shattuck remains Berkeley’s auto row, with Toyota, Honda and Volvo shortly to be joined by Fiat. All are in long-established car sales facilities. Only … Continue reading »]]>

The new Fiat dealership is moving into the old Nissan showroom. Photo: Tracey Taylor

In the 1980s, Berkeley instituted zoning changes to prohibit new car sales and other auto-oriented uses in the South Shattuck corridor. The thinking was that industry trends would push dealerships to bigger sites near the I-80 freeway, and that prime property near the downtown could find other uses.

That’s not how things turned out. South Shattuck remains Berkeley’s auto row, with Toyota, Honda and Volvo shortly to be joined by Fiat. All are in long-established car sales facilities. Only one West Berkeley that might suit an auto dealer has come on the market after rezoning, and attempts by a dealer to purchase that failed.

As a result, the Toyota, Honda and Volvo dealers wrote to the City Council in July asking for the 1980s zoning provision to be removed. Tim Southwick of Toyota of Berkeley, Fred Lavery from McKevitt Volvo and Tim Beinke from Berkeley Honda wrote: “We need flexibility for possible relocation or modest expansions of our dealerships… Options to relocate elsewhere in Berkeley are very limited to non-existent.”

It isn’t just a lack of suitable sites in West Berkeley. California’s New Motor Vehicle Board prohibits dealers from locating within 10 miles of another dealer of the same make; both Toyota and Honda would likely face a protest under that regulation if they moved near I-80.

Mayor Tom Bates and Councilmember Max Anderson, as a result, are proposing at tonight’s City Council meeting to refer to the Planning Commission a zoning ordinance amendment which would allow auto dealers to become a conforming use on South Shattuck, “including the ability to lease or purchase additional property as necessary”.

Auto dealerships are consistently among the largest sales tax revenue generators in Berkeley. Two years ago, the City Council approved $500,000 in building permit fee waivers as an inducement to keep Weatherford BMW — usually the largest sales tax revenue generator in the city — in Berkeley.

By lance. | Permalink | 25 comments |
Post tags: Berkeley Honda, Councilmember Max Anderson, Mayor Tom Bates, McKevitt Volvo, Toyota of Berkeley

“I get more complaints about this … Continue reading »]]>

A pedestrian crossing at Dwight and Telegraph: one of the most dangerous intersections in the city. Photo: Lance Knobel

If you’ve ever driven up Dwight Way and merged onto Telegraph, or if you’ve walked across the corner, you probably have noticed the problem with the pedestrian crossing on the intersection. The “slip right turn”, in the language of traffic engineers, leads vehicles around the corner without being delayed at the stoplight for those continuing east or turning north. The problem is that traffic speeds around the corner to confront a concealed pedestrian crossing.

“I get more complaints about this intersection than about any other in my district,” said City councilmember Kriss Worthington. Worthington organized a small demonstration on the corner at noon today to bring attention to what he sees as a major hazard for pedestrians.

Worthington said he understands that a proper solution for the intersection might take time and money. He hopes to press the city’s transportation division to at least install a stop sign to reduce the danger to pedestrians. “A stop sign is very cheap,” Worthington said.

The Dwight/Telegraph intersection ranks 85th for action on the city’s Pedestrian Master Plan, adopted by the City Council in June last year. That plan, however, seems to concentrate on the more conventional crossings rather than the concealed slip turn.

“The slip right turn is a design which is very dangerous to pedestrians everywhere,” said Wendy Alfsen, executive director of California Walks. “If you’re driving, you’re accelerating around the turn before you see the crosswalk.”

Last year, the city’s health department reported that Berkeley was the most dangerous city of its size in the state for pedestrians and cyclists.

By lance. | Permalink | 42 comments |
Post tags: