Berkeley Weekly Update - 2/27/24

Protecting Healthcare Accessibility in the East Bay

Mayor Arreguin and other officials held a press conference at Alta Bates to discuss the future of healthcare in the East Bay. **Watch the press conference here**.

Today, Mayor Arreguin, Councilmember Sophie Hahn, and elected officials throughout the region provided an update on the status of healthcare in the region. Sutter Health, which operates Berkeley’s Alta Bates, announced in 2016 that they plan on closing down the hospital by 2030. Alta Bates serves as the primary hospital for hundreds of thousands of residents along the I-80 corridor from Richmond to North Oakland, which saw a surge in patients after Doctors Medical Center in San Pablo closed in 2015. It is also colloquially known as the “Birthplace of the East Bay” due to having more births take place there than any other hospital in the East Bay.

If Berkeley was to no longer be served by an acute care hospital, it would have devastating effects to Berkeley and surrounding communities. A 2018 study that analyzed the impacts of a closure showed that there would be increased wait and travel times, reduced access to pregnancy and birthing care, and a more difficult response to emergencies like earthquakes and fires, all of which would disproportionately impact low income households and people of color. An updated study that will incorporate further regional impacts and responses to pandemics is expected to be completed later this year.

Tonight, Council will vote on an item to allocate $300,000 to identify and evaluate existing or potential opportunities to secure the future of healthcare and hospital access in Berkeley. This is needed to ensure that Berkeley and the I-80 corridor has access to critical healthcare services and infrastructure. With Sutter having not indicated any change of plans for closing Alta Bates, now is the time to explore every option possible to prevent Berkeley from becoming a healthcare desert.

North Berkeley BART Development Plans Submitted

Rendering of the proposed development, which will also include open space and a connection to the Ohlone Greenway. Source: **David Baker Architects**

North Berkeley Housing Partners, the team behind the future development at the North Berkeley BART Station submitted a housing development application this month. Plans call for 739 units across 13 buildings over the 8 acre site, ranging from 3 to 8 stories, with a mix of studios, 1, 2, and 3 bedroom units. More than half of the units will be at below market rate, ranging from 20%-70% Area Median Income. There will be 176 parking spots for vehicles and 739 spaces for bikes, in addition to 120 vehicle parking spots for BART riders. Over 1 acre will be used for open public space, including connections to the Ohlone Greenway. There will be ground-floor community oriented retail and a child care center.

The application is being submitted under AB 2011, which allows for projects with certain affordable housing and labor standards to be streamlined. As this is being built on a BART site, it also falls under AB 2923, which streamlines Transit Oriented Development affordable housing near BART stations. Because of this, City Staff will review the plans and if it meets the needed criteria, will be approved ministerially without a public hearing, as required by State Law. There have been dozens of community meetings in recent years for the public to provide input, which has helped shape this proposal. The Planning Department anticipates it will complete its review within four months, and if approved, construction is expected to begin in mid-2025.

Affordability, accessibility, and community input have been key factors in development at Ashby and North Berkeley BART. The City Council has approved the allocation of $53 million towards these sites to increase the amount of affordable housing. This allocation includes $40 million from Measure O. The Ashby BART development is on a different timeline than North Berkeley.

Streamlining Permitting for Small Businesses

The changes will help support establishing and growing small businesses.

Today, the City Council will debate proposed zoning changes to support the creation and expansion of small businesses and bolster our commercial districts. Specifically, the proposed changes will do the following:

Allow Group Class Instruction (such as dance, music, and martial arts studios, gyms, and health clubs) with a zoning certificate instead of an administrative use permit (AUP).
Permit the sale of distilled spirits that are incidental to Food Service with an AUP instead of a separate Use Permit process, subject to performance standards.
Permit the sale of stand-alone beer and wine sales with an AUP instead of a Use Permit, subject to performance standards.
Update the requirements for sale of alcoholic beverages.
Modify business hours in certain commercial districts, allowing businesses to open earlier and close later, including 24/7 in Downtown and Telegraph (currently only applies to parts of Telegraph).
Remove additional permitting requirements for a change of use.

These changes came as a result of a Council referral. Additional proposed changes as a result of discussion with City Staff and the Planning Commission include reducing the level of permitting discretion for offices, arts studios, and pet stores, and reducing permitting requirements for live entertainment venues and food service establishments.

These changes will help our local economy by removing barriers that make it difficult for small businesses to become established or grow. It comes after consultation with stakeholders by the Office of Economic Development and Planning Commission, including business owners, business districts, the Police Department, and Environmental Health. These efforts build upon existing efforts to make Berkeley a thriving and diverse economic hub with strong labor standards.

Future of Willard Park Clubhouse

Sketch of the new clubhouse, which is scheduled to be completed in 2025.

Construction on a new clubhouse at Willard Park is expected to start next month after Council approved a contract in December. This comes after years of public input, as one of many projects being funded by the second phase of Measure T1. The old clubhouse was frequently used for afterschool programs, but the demand for the space has outgrown its ability to accommodate all these requests. The new clubhouse will be larger while preserving surrounding open space, with a much larger community room that can be divided into two rooms, an office, kitchen, and restrooms.

Currently, the City is seeking applications from professional artists for a tile or mosaic artwork that would be placed in the interior lobby of the clubhouse. The permanent artwork feature will be approximately 18.5 feet wide and 10 feet high. The $135,000 contract will cover artist fees, design, fabrication, delivery and consultation during installation. Applicants have until April 9 at 5pm to apply. Three finalists will be selected by a panel that consists of three Bay Area arts professionals, a Civic Arts Commissioner, Parks, Recreation and Waterfront Commission, an architect, and community representative. They will make a decision in late 2024.

For more information and to apply, click here. The new Willard Park Clubhouse is expected to be completed in spring 2025, and the artwork would be installed later that year.