Uncertain Future for Downtown Area Plan (DAP)
On July 14, 2009, Berkeley’s City Council adopted a Downtown Area Plan (with a vote of 7 ayes and 2 nays). One month later, sufficient signatures were submitted for a local Referendum to decide the DAP’s future. As an alternative to the Referendum, City Council could rescind the Plan of July 14, and could adopt a significantly different Plan. The 1990 Downtown Plan remains in effect until action on a new Downtown Plan is taken through Referendum or substitution.
The Downtown Area Plan (DAP) was the taken up by City Council after three years of public process. The Downtown Area Plan Advisory Committee (DAPAC) developed a draft DAP over during 100 public meetings and four workshops. DAPAC developed a strong conceptual foundation and policy direction. DAPAC did not, however, have time to create a thorough and functional plan. Planning Commission worked on the DAP during twenty public meetings and three public hearings. Planning Commission was principally concerned with developing a more thorough and functional document, but the Commission differed with DAPAC in significant ways. The City Council Plan worked from the more complete Planning Commission draft, but agreed with DAPAC on some substantive points and with Planning Commission on others.
Highlights of the DAP include:
An affirmation of historic preservation: “Preserve historic buildings and sites of Downtown, and provide where appropriate for their adaptive reuse and/or intensification.”
A pedestrian-friendly Downtown: “Give Pedestrians priority in Downtown, and make walking Downtown safe, attractive, easy and convenient. … Make significant additions and improvements to Downtown's parks, plazas, and streets to be aesthetically pleasing, and support pedestrians.”
Community Benefits from Development: “Buildings in excess of 85 feet should provide significant community benefits, beyond what would otherwise be required.”
Ecological open space: “Promote ecologically beneficial features within the design of public open spaces, streets and on private property.”
Green buildings: “Establish an overall building performance standard of LEED Gold or equivalent.”
Alternative Car-Free Transportation: “Increase access to Downtown on foot, by bicycle, and via transit… [and] require bus transit passes [of all development].”
For additional information on the Downtown Area Plan, please contact Matt Taecker AICP, Principal Planner, at mtaecker@ci.berkeley.ca.us or 510-981-7487.
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