After years of meetings and debate, the Berkeley City Council has finally adopted a Downtown Area Plan (DAP). TransForm supports the direction given to staff by the City Council to revise the Planning Commission's recommended DAP. The revisions make the DAP more environmentally sustainable, focus future growth within walking distance of the Downtown Berkeley BART Station, maintain alternative transportation as a priority over cars downtown, and will help reduce Berkeley's greenhouse gas emissions.
In 2006 over 80% of Berkeley voters supported Measure G, which called for the city to cut global warming pollution by 80% by 2050. This is an ambitious target that can only be met if Berkeley focuses sustainable growth near a richer transit infrastructure in the downtown area.
With Measure G and the recently approved Climate Action Plan (CAP) goals in mind, the following points were included as part of the plan:
• Supportive language about Bus Rapid Transit (BRT);
• Creation of an in-lieu parking fee and a Transportation Services Fees for new development to be used for improvements to alternative transportation (such as EcoPasses, bike and pedestrian infrastructure, etc.);
• Language ensuring good job creation to accompany hotel development;
• A mandate that 20% of the newly developed housing is affordable to workers and people of lower incomes.
Please join us in thanking the City Council for adopting a plan that takes Berkeley in the right direction towards sustainability and achieving the Measure G goals! You can send them an email at: clerk@ci.berkeley.ca.us
Your message can be as simple as the following:
Dear Mayor Bates and Berkeley City Council,
Thank you for the hard work of reaching a compromise for the Downtown Area Plan. The plan will allow for better transportation, better job creation, and the development of many new homes within walking distance to Berkeley's rich downtown infrastructure. In addition, a 20% inclusionary requirement will ensure that workers and people of all incomes will be able to find housing in the Downtown Area. All of these factors combined will allow Berkeley to do its part in the larger fight to curb global warming while, at the same time, creates a vibrant, walkable downtown Berkeley that residents, students, and workers can enjoy.
Please contact Joel Ramos at joel@TransFormCA.org or at 510-740-3150 ext. 318 for more information.
THANK YOU!