en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Berkeley Planning Commission will hold its monthly meeting at the North Berkeley Senior Center, focusing on reviewing the new San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan. Under the plan, nearly all parcels directly adjacent to San Pablo Avenue will be rezoned, with the base height limit for all mixed-use properties increased from 50 feet to 75 feet. Zoning regulations will also be adjusted to incentivize private developers to expand and maintain sidewalks, plazas, gardens, or other publicly accessible frontage spaces, improving pedestrian convenience.

In addition to San Pablo Avenue, the plan also covers modifications to areas within two blocks of the main thoroughfare, with a focus on the University Avenue intersection. The goal is to maximize development opportunities along the high-traffic corridor while preserving adjacent low-density neighborhood areas, promoting commercial and residential development without significantly impacting the existing West Berkeley community.

The plan serves as a guiding principle and policy change for urban development, rather than a direct development proposal. Many of the changes outlined in the plan will be realized through future private investment, with developers able to take advantage of relaxed zoning permits and incentives. For example, sidewalks widened by private developers for commercial use may be exempt from outdoor commercial use fees for 10 years from the date of permit issuance.

In the long term, the plan is expected to increase building heights and density along San Pablo Avenue, bringing more residential units, commercial areas, and overall density. The city anticipates this will help boost employment, increase tax revenue, and alleviate housing demand in western Berkeley. The plan also calls for city investment in small business development and affordable housing sponsorship, and has investigated infrastructure change options needed to manage increased traffic and utility demands along the corridor.

Several mixed-use projects are already being proposed or under construction along San Pablo Avenue, with designs aligned with the proposed plan. The primary goal of the plan is to accelerate and expand the pace and scale of development along the corridor, rather than significantly altering the current development trajectory. The public may attend the meeting in person or via video. The in-person location is the North Berkeley Senior Center at 1901 Hearst Avenue, and the meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.

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