At its Tuesday evening session this week, the Berkeley City Council closed the public hearings on the West Berkeley Plan, and took the first of three steps towards adopting the plan in its entirety.
“The Council passed the least controversial measures on Tuesday,” said Dan Marks, Berkeley’s Director of Planning and Development. Councilmembers Kriss Worthington and Jesse Arreguín both voted against the three separate agenda items which made up this first part of the process.
About eight members of the public, including local architect Joe Decredico and acupuncturist Annie Wells, spoke of their concerns over parking, which was the main focus of the ordinances under consideration.
On Tuesday, March 29, in a second hearing, the Council will consider the next part of the package, and the one which has caused the most discussion in the long-drawn out process which has lead to this point, namely changing zoning ordinances which have to date protected small manufacturers in the area. No action will be taken at the March 29th meeting — its purpose is to provide direction to staff, stressed Marks.
The date for the third and final stage of the process has not been set, although Marks says it is likely to be in April or May.
Related:
West Berkeley: A pivotal moment/slideshow [02.22.11]
Slim council majority for changing West Berkeley zoning [02.23.11]
Berkeleyans add to West Berkeley debate in novel forum [02.08.11]
On the table: The future of West Berkeley [01.26.11]
