PLANNING COMMISSION Notice of Public Hearing Wednesday, June 3, 2026 Adoption of Zoning Ordinance, Zoning Map, University Avenue Strategic Plan, West Berkeley Plan, San Pablo Avenue Public Improvements Plan, and General Plan Amendments to Adopt the San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan and Design Standards Document. The Planning Commission of the City of Berkeley will hold a public hearing on the above matter, pursuant to Zoning Ordinance Section 23.412, on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. at the North Berkeley Senior Center, 1901 Hearst Ave, Berkeley (wheelchair accessible). Once posted, the agenda for this meeting will include a link for public participation using Zoom video technology, as well as any health and safety requirements for in-person attendance. The agenda will be posted on the Planning Commission website (https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/boards-commissions/planning-commission) no later than 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 27 2026. PROJECT DESCRIPTION The proposed amendments to the City's Zoning Ordinance (Title 23), Zoning Map, and University Avenue Strategic Plan, West Berkeley Plan, San Pablo Avenue Public Improvements Plan, and General Plan Amendments (Plans) respond to a City Council referral and the requirements of the City's 2023-2031 Housing Element to develop a San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan to increase allowed densities and/or development capacity, and study design standards, public improvements, and mechanisms to incentivize affordable housing, and implement a Priority Development Area (PDA) planning grant from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) to develop the San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan. The recommended Zoning Ordinance and Map amendments require conforming edits to the City's Plans before they can be adopted by the City Council. The proposed Plan amendments include revisions to the Avenue Commercial land use description and designations, as well as technical edits to reflect the recommended Zoning Ordinance amendments. Proposed amendments affect the following Chapters of Title 23: 23.108 (Zoning Districts and Map), 23.204 (Commercial Districts), 23.206 (Manufacturing Districts), 23.302 (Supplemental Use Regulations), 23.304 (General Development Standards), 23.312 (Live/Work), 23.322 (Parking and Loading), 23.402 (Administrative Responsibility), 23.406 (Specific Permit Requirements), and the Zoning Map. LOCATION: The proposed Zoning Ordinance amendments would apply to parcels currently located in the West Berkeley Commercial (C-W), University Commercial (C-U), Mixed-Use Light Industrial (MU-LI), Multiple-Family Residential (R-3), Residential Multi-Unit 2 (R-2), Multi-Family (R-4), and Mixed-Use Residential (MU-R) zoning districts. The Zoning Map is available online: https://berkeley.municipal.codes/BMC/OfficialZoningMap The General Plan map is available online: https://berkeley.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=2c7dfafbb1f64e159f4fdf28a52f51c6&showLayers=Berkeley%20Parcels;Planning%20and%20Building ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW STATUS Development projections for this project, and for all reasonably foreseeable growth resulting from development contemplated by the City's 20232031 Housing Element Update, were analyzed in the Environmental Impact Report prepared for the Housing Element Update (2023 Housing Element Update EIR), which was certified by the City Council on January 18, 2023. The proposed zoning amendments represent a refinement of the policies evaluated in that EIR. Accordingly, minor modifications and additions to the environmental analysis are addressed through an Addendum to the 2023 Housing Element Update EIR. The Addendum concludes that preparation of a subsequent or supplemental EIR is not required. PUBLIC COMMENT & FURTHER INFORMATION All persons are welcome to attend the hearing and will be given an opportunity to address the Commission. Comments may be made verbally at the public hearing and/or in writing before the hearing. Written comments must be directed to: Justin Horner Planning Commission Secretary Email: PlanningPC@berkeleyca.gov City of Berkeley, Land Use Planning Division 1947 Center Street, 2nd Floor Berkeley, CA 94704 Correspondence received by 12pm on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, will be included as a Communication in the agenda packet. Correspondence received after this deadline will be conveyed to the Commission and the public in the following manner: Correspondence received by 12pm on Tuesday, June 2, 2026 will be included in a Supplemental Packet, which will be posted to the online agenda as a Late Communication one day before the public hearing. Correspondence received after 5pm on Tuesday, June 2, 2026 will be saved as part of the public record. Members of the public may submit written comments just before or at the beginning of the meeting by providing 15 printed copies of the correspondence to the Planning Commission Secretary. COMMUNICATION ACCESS To request a meeting agenda in large print, Braille, or on audiocassette, or to request a sign language interpreter for the meeting, call (510) 981-7410 (voice) or 981-6903 (TDD). Notice of at least five (5) business days will ensure availability. All materials will be made available via the Planning Commission agenda page online at https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/boards-commissions/planning-commission. FURTHER INFORMATION Questions should be directed to Ashley James, at (510) 981-7458 or ajames@berkeleyca.gov. Current and past agendas are available on the City of Berkeley website at: https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/boards-commissions/planning-commission. BV 6966712 May 15, 22, 2026
