#upzoning

#upzoning

Under the mystifying label " Corridors Zoning Update," the City of Berkeley is proposing to upzone three low-rise, low-density neighborhood shopping streets-College (the Elmwood), North Shattuck, and Solano Avenues-for mostly market-rate housing. Paired with California's State Density Bonus law, the CZU would allow up to eight stories on College, 11 stories on Solano, and 12 stories on North Shattuck. The plan has four announced goals: Expand housing capacity Support local businesses Foster equity and inclusion Promote sustainability

The Department of City Planning (DCP), led by Mayor Eric Adams-appointee Dan Garodnick, is rushing to finalize a proposed 230-block rezoning of Jamaica, Queens under the city's Uniform Land Use Review Process (ULURP). City Council members are now deciding whether to green light this gift to real estate developers. Under ULURP, City Council's deadline is Oct. 14, so their vote-that has not been publicly announced-will happen any day now. The Jamaica rezoning must first clear the council's Land Use Committee, which meets this Thursday, Oct. 9.

If we don't have the opportunity to [say] what our concerns are, the next person won't know,

we will not leave rent-controlled units and small businesses behind.

Yvonne Perez, a homeowner in the Richmond since 2017, said at the meeting that she understands her neighbors who are concerned about views being obstructed, or fear change. She used to be one of them. "I wasn't sure what to make of the upzoning plan. I didn't want the Richmond to become downtown with all the high-rises," she said. "But once I understood what it actually meant, more families, more younger generations, it changed my perspective."

SB 79, authored by state Sen. Scott Wiener, mandates that six- to seven-story residential buildings be built within a half-mile radius of any qualifying transit stops, which include some bus stops. This is beyond what has already been mandated along linear corridors and with the housing elements plan. A single-family home neighborhood currently has about eight houses per acre. These will be near developments that cannot be stopped if this bill passes.

The hearing was dominated by the belief in the free market to provide solutions, contrasted starkly with those who understand the limits of supply-side strategies.