Earlier this month, Berkeley’s City Council rejected an application from Starbucks to open a new coffee shop on the corner of Telegraph and Ashby avenues. This despite the fact that the proposal had been approved by planning staff, and despite the fact that independent studies showed that the main objection — increased parking problems — was not substantiated.
In an Opinionator piece published on Berkeleyside, Steven Donaldson, a commissioner on the city’s Zoning Adjustments Board, argues that, while it is important for neighbors’ voices to be heard, the decision risks creating another vacant retail space in a city that looks like it’s unfriendly to business.
What’s your view? Join the conversation by leaving your comment on the Opinionator piece.
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