Paper Topics, Take Two

Group members: Sara, Megan, Robert, Jayni, Josh

1) Next Steps for the DAP

• What is the debate here? DAPAC is done with the DAP.
• But there are 3 more hurdles - Planning Commission, City Council, UC. Each will have opportunities to tweak or kill.
• Starting with the planning commission review implementation specifics - changing the zoning and similar devices - will need to be added to the DAP.

2) Explicit environmental law analysis of the DAP

• How would the CEQA analysis look?
• Think about AB32 and how the upcoming EIR will need to address climate change impacts.
• Renovating old buildings versus building new ones
• Density's impact on vehicle miles traveled
• Examine reforming the historic structure designation process
• Easier to delist
• Harder to list
• Periodic status review

3) Safety and homelessness issues

• Planners are thinking on a 50-100 year time frame
• Planners avoid 'planning in fear'
• But safety concerns are being ignored and are the short term prerequisite to any lasting development
• EBCLC has serious concerns regarding the new public commons initiative

4) Transferable development rights and height/density

• Role of TDRs in the DAP
• Owners of historic buildings transfer their rights to make uneconomical 6 story projects to economical heights
• How the DAP treated height/density and the nature of DAPAC resistance
• Public education to reduce opposition to density
• Hotel/museum central role in the plan
• Rent differentials between Downtown Berkeley, Emeryville, Oakland, Solano, Rockridge, Telegraph, 4th Street
• Fixing the Berkeley landlord oligopoly