09/21/2026
Hello Beautiful San Pablo,
This is a reminder that this is your last chance to speak up about the San Pablo Ave Specific Plan: Council will vote on Sept 29:
For your best chance of council reading your letter, send it
No later than this Tuesday 5:00 PM, Sept 22: for inclusion in Supplemental Packet 1.
Please write the Council now, and speak up at the meeting on Sept 29:
BERKELEY CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Tues, Sept 29, 2026 6:00 PM
In person: SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD ROOM - 1231 ADDISON STREET
Online: Zoom. To speak, use the “raise hand” function.
By phone: 1-669-254-5252 or 1-833-568-8864 (Toll Free) and enter Meeting ID: 165 269 0912. To provide public comment, Press *9 and wait to be recognized by the Chair. To submit a
Written communication
No later than 5:00 PM, Sept 22: for inclusion in Supplemental Packet 1.
Or
Absolute last chance for written statement, but less likely to get read: (keep it short! Main point in subject line) 12:00 PM (noon) Sept 28: Final deadline for inclusion in Supplemental Packet 2
Email to [email protected] and [email protected]
SAMPLE SHORT MESSAGE:
Please tell Council, in your own words, keep it short, and make sure that the main point is clear in title, heading, email subject.
(feel free to copy and edit my message if you agree but have no time to write your own)
"Upzone San Pablo Ave to 5 stories to support affordable housing integration, not 7+ stories"
Dear Council and Mayor,
Support integration and diversity: upzone San Pablo to 5 stories with commercial ground floor, not 7+ stories!
The San Pablo Ave Specific Plan must support integration and socioeconomic diversity by upzoning from the current 3-4 stories to 5 stories, in order to make developers use the State Density Bonus to achieve 7-10 story buildings, which is our only way to ensure high numbers of below market rate units integrated equally across the corridor.
The state's own Transit Oriented Development 7-story height includes mandatory integrated inclusionary Affordable Units, which the city's own 7+story plan eliminates. Even major Berkeley developers like Charles Kahn and Patrick Kennedy have stated their support for lower base zoning combined with the State Density Bonus at previous Berkeley council and commission meetings.
The San Pablo Ave community has always supported a plan that actively fosters Vibrancy, Diversity, and Integration, and the council's upzoning to 7 or more stories threatens to undercut developer use of the density bonus, and threatens to eliminate our integrated, on-site affordable housing.
Sincerely,
Aimee Baldwin
Beautiful San Pablo
Council Meeting Agenda Item:
34.-Adoption of San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan
From: City Manager
Recommendation: Conduct a public hearing, and upon conclusion:
1. Adopt a Resolution: a. Considering an Addendum to the 2023-2031 Housing Element Update Environmental Impact Report (EIR) together with the previously certified EIR and finding that none of the conditions described in CEQA Guidelines Section 15162 requiring preparation of a subsequent or supplemental EIR have occurred; b. Adopting the San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan and San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan Design Standards Document; c. Approving and adopting General Plan and University Avenue Strategic Plan map and text amendments to redesignate certain parcels and update certain land use designations to be consistent with the San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan; and d. Rescinding the West Berkeley Plan and San Pablo Avenue Public Improvements Plan; and
2. Adopt the first reading of an Ordinance to amend the Berkeley Municipal Code to create the San Pablo Commercial District (Chapter 23.202.160) and additional conforming amendments to other sections of the Municipal Code.
Financial Implications: See report
Contact: Jordan Klein, Planning and Development, (510) 981-7400
