Please join us in person for a discussion of potential BDA policy recommendations for the city’s on-going Corridors Zoning Update for Solano, North Shattuck and College Avenues.

The Corridors zoning update is a part of the City’s response to the requirements of California housing laws, which include programs to “Affirmatively Forward Fair Housing.” This particular policy effort is one of the State of California’s conditions in approving the City’s current Housing Element in 2023. Specifically, this effort seeks to upzone the commercial districts in the City’s higher resourced neighborhoods commensurate with zoning in other commercial districts.  

BDA Members heard from city staff over several meeting in 2025.  Wednesday’s BDA meeting is focused on considering recommendations on the ground floor and sidewalk interface, and further discussing the scale of upzoning proposed.  

The Corridors initiative seeks to enhance housing capacity and address development barriers along these three iconic Berkeley commercial corridors. The planning process includes consideration of regional and city-wide objectives, such as housing accessibility, historical significance, and support for existing businesses, to foster vibrant commercial corridors.  The Solano, North Shattuck, and College Avenues have been designated as priority commercial and transit corridors in the Housing Element 2023-31. The Commercial Corridor Zoning Update aims to establish a framework for augmenting housing capacity along these three corridors, with a central focus on fostering equity and inclusion opportunities. Establishing clear and objective development standards in compliance with state laws is a key outcome of this process, along with a reassessment of the land uses and necessary permits with the aim to promote development along these vital corridors.

City staff anticipates finalizing the draft objective development standards by early 2026, with overall approval by the end of 2026.

Latest Update

Please review BDA’s potential position relating to the interface between the ground floor and sidewalk.  BDA members will be considering this as an official position on Wednesday (subject to discussion, comments and amendments),  
In addition, the Planning Commission will be meeting on February 4 to discuss the latest staff analysis on the Corridors Plan.  At the meeting, the Commission will:

• Receive a staff presentation

• Provide feedback on:

• Small Business Anti-Displacement Strategies

• Objective Design Standards

Public comment is welcome.  The meeting will begin at 630pm at the North Berkeley Senior Center, and will also be available via Zoom.  The project website is here.

Location: AIA East Bay Conference Room, Brower Center, 2150 Allston Way #310, Berkeley, CA 94709.

Many thanks to AIA East Bay for hosting this event!