Features

Berkeley’s Planning Commission could act on their proposed revisions to the city’s Landmark’s Preservation Ordinance as early as Wednesday night. 

City Councilmember Dona Spring said Mayor Tom Bates has been exerting pressure to weaken the ordinance, which provides protections for structures designated by the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission. 

“There’s been a familiar theme in the City Council Agenda Committee in which the mayor is pushing the city manager to get them through the Planning Commission as soon as possible,” Spring said. 

Spring said Bates wants the changes on the council’s agenda so they can be passed before the council goes on its summer recess at the end of July. 

A call to Bates’ office was not returned by deadline time. 

“He’s no fan of the Landmarks Ordinance,” said Spring. “He doesn’t like anything to interfere with development.” 

The ordinance is the only major action item on the Planning Commission agenda for the meeting that begins at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst Ave. 

The commission is also scheduled to appoint a formal subcommittee to work on procedures for implementing the controversial density bonus and inclusionary housing provisions of city code. 

ZAB revisits “Flying Cottage” 

The Zoning Adjustments Board (ZAB) has already named its own inclusionary/density bonus panel. 

ZAB meets Thursday night at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at Old City Hall, 2134 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, to consider, among other items, the “Flying Cottage” at 3045 Shattuck Ave. 

ZAB members have indicated little favor for the latest version of plans for the three-story structure, which consists of a former cottage raised atop a two-story plywood shell. 

The hearing will be focused on whether the structure complies with the city Zoning Ordinance. 

Also on the agenda are developer John DeClerq’s request for ZAB’s consent to his plea to modify noise reduction strictures at the Library Gardens project at 2020 Kittredge St., a hearing on a new home planned for 1143 Hillview Road and a cell phone company’s request to install a generator atop the Heinz Building at 2900 San Pablo Ave.