"Five council members said they want to go beyond the zoning proposals presented by city planning staff and set a seven-story height cap along the commercial corridors in North Berkeley and the Elmwood District. Those areas have only seen a handful of housing projects proposed in recent years, none of which have broken ground, despite a building boom elsewhere."
"Our community is in dire need of more housing, and it is unfair to expect that certain neighborhoods specifically districts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7 should shoulder the entire responsibility of creating new housing, said Councilmember Cecilia Lunaparra, referring to West Berkeley, South Berkeley, downtown and the Southside neighborhood, which she represents. The wealthiest neighborhoods are not exempt."
"The proposed plan would disfigure our historic neighborhood corridors, displace independent merchants and forever alter the character of Berkeley, said Claudia Hunka, owner of the Elmwood District pet supply store Your Basic Bird."
City Council signaled support for a proposal to raise height limits along portions of College, Solano and North Shattuck avenues. Five council members want a seven-story height cap along commercial corridors in North Berkeley and the Elmwood District. Those corridors have seen only a handful of housing projects proposed in recent years, none of which have broken ground despite a building boom elsewhere. Councilmember Cecilia Lunaparra said the community needs more housing and argued that several other neighborhoods should not bear sole responsibility for new housing production. Opponents say taller development would overwhelm low-slung blocks, disfigure historic corridors and displace independent merchants. The rezoning proposal has sparked mounting opposition as the council formally weighed in for the first time.
Read at www.berkeleyside.org
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