Berkeley Weekly Update - 4/30/24

Berkeley Receives Prohousing Designation

Council action in recent years has helped advance much needed housing development.

California has a housing shortage, with housing production averaging 80,000 new units annually over the past decade, despite 180,000 units being needed annually to meet demand. This has resulted in the lowest levels of homeownership since the 1940s, and a majority of renters paying more than 30% of their income towards rent. To address this, the State is pursuing several policies and programs to advance housing development, including rewarding cities that are meeting housing needs. In 2021, California launched the Prohousing Designation Program, which provides communities with exclusive access to grants relating to housing and community development. In order to gain the Prohousing Designation, jurisdictions must have a compliant Housing Element that promotes the creation of new housing.

Last July, the City Council voted to apply to the State’s Prohousing Designation Program. Earlier this month, the State announced that Berkeley’s application has been accepted, becoming one of 47 jurisdictions across the State to receive this distinction. In its awarding, the California Department of Housing and Community Development stated that Berkeley received this designation due in part to recent actions to eliminate parking minimums, advancing Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), and its strong Housing Trust Fund and Small Sites programs. By receiving this designation, it will make it easier for Berkeley to achieve its goal of producing approximately 9,000 new units of housing by 2031, as outlined under the Regional Housing Needs Allocation. Specifically, Berkeley can now apply for grants that can be used for funding new affordable housing projects, in addition to supportive and rapid rehousing for unhoused individuals.

Help Berkeley Meet Its Zero Waste Goals

Berkeley, the first US city to introduce curbside recycling, is looking to bolster its plans for becoming a zero waste city.

The City of Berkeley is developing a Zero Waste Strategic Plan, which will establish an overarching framework and roadmap for reaching Berkeley’s goal of sending zero waste sent to landfills. The Zero Waste Strategic Plan will provide recommendations on policies, programs, and infrastructure to help reach the goal of diverting waste from the landfill. Examples of potential recommendations include requiring new buildings to allocate space for compost and recycling bins, programs to promote reuse and repair, reusable foodware for takeout, and more.

To gather community feedback on this plan, the City is hosting two public sessions, one in-person and one online. Both sessions will cover the same content. The in-person session will happen on Thursday, May 2 from 6-7:30pm at the North Berkeley Senior Center (1901 Hearst Ave), and the online session will take place over Zoom on Wednesday, May 15 from 6-7:30pm (click here to register). For more information, click here.

Berkeley Recognized for Zoning Amendments

The zoning changes are designed to make it easier for local businesses to stay and grow in Berkeley.

To adapt to a constantly changing economy and support local commercial and light-industrial businesses, the City Council approved a series of zoning amendments in February. The unanimous vote made changes to a wide variety of topics, including group class instruction, distilled spirits, expanded hours of operation, art studios, live entertainment, outdoor food service, and pet stores. 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.

In recognition of these changes, the City of Berkeley has received the Award of Excellence in the Economic Planning and Development category by the American Planning Association, California Chapter Northern Section, which represents jurisdiction communities from Monterey County to the Oregon border. In addition to this recognition, the amendments are already having a positive impact just a couple months after its approval, with the Office of Economic Development fielding requests from businesses who want to utilize these changes which help streamline permitting and the review process. Overall, these changes will help us strengthen our local economy in a sustainable way, creating new jobs and opportunities for Berkeley residents.

Support for First-Time Homebuyers

Prospective first-time homebuyers who live, work, or have been displaced from Alameda County can apply for a down payment loan of up to $210,000. The program, AC Boost, is currently accepting pre-applications by May 15. To qualify, applicants must purchase the property as a primary residence and had no previous property ownership within the last three years, earn no more than 120% of the Area Median Income, and have no more than $300,000 in assets. First responders and educators will receive preferences.

Click here to apply. Pre-applicants who are eligible will be entered into a lottery. If your number is selected, you will have to attend a mandatory workshop and submit a full application within 28 days of the workshop. After receiving conditional approval, you will have an initial 120 days to shop for a home. No payments will be due during the term of the 30-year loan. For more information, click here.