Downtown Area Plan

Important Planning Commission Meetings for the Downtown Plan:
Jan 14: Building Heights

Feb 4+18:  Revised Chapters based on Planning Commission comments. 

These meetings are extremely important for determining the future of Berkeley's Downtown. The Planning Commission needs to hear from residents throughout the city speaking in support of environmentally responsible density and an economically healthy and socially diverse downtown. All meetings at the North Berkeley Senior Center, Hearst and MLK, 7pm. Send comments: JHarrison@ci.berkeley.ca.us

Background:

On November 29, 2007, DAPAC (the Downtown Area Plan Advisory Committee) adopted a draft Downtown Area Plan. During the Summer and Fall of  2008 the Planning Commission will work with Planning Department staff to: develop implementation measures, guide the environmental review process, and suggest refinements to goals and policies.

Livable Berkeley Board members served on the Downtown Area Plan Advisory Committee and Livable Berkeley held its own Community Workshop early in the DAPAC process. Throughout the process, Livable Berkeley has been advocating for development levels in the downtown that would accommodate a significant amount of new housing to help achieve the sustainability goals of the Plan.

DAPAC recommendations and Planning Commission recommendations will be delivered to City Council for its consideration in December 2008. The University of California is an important partner in the creation of the Downtown Area Plan, and UC is expected to use the Plan as its guide for UC growth in the Downtown Area. Plan adoption by City Council is expected in May 2009.

The Vision Statement in the Draft Plan states:

Downtown is the heart of Berkeley. It models Berkeley's commitment to sustainability: it is green and seeks to minimize human impacts on the environment, through its emphasis on green streets, green architecture and transit. Downtown is economically vibrant: it has built on its cultural, educational and historic assests, and increasingly serves Berkeley's residents and visitors with attractive shops, exceptional restaurants, and world-class parks and plazas. Finally, Downtown is a great neighborhood: it is oriented to the pedestrian with safe and tree-lined streets, civic amenities, and retail that meets most daily needs; it offers diverse housing opportunities, with an emphasis on affordability and supportive services.

For more detail on the content of the Draft Downtown Area Plan, the link below connects to the City's website page for the Plan.

http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/ContentDisplay.aspx?id=832