Livable Berkeley Activities and Initiatives

Here's a quick glance at the things we are working on. Click on the activity title to see a longer description.

Climate Action Plan

Berkeley's Climate Action Plan was adopted by the City Council on June 2. From here, Livable Berkeley will be working to help implement Climate Action programs to make the Plan the success. Contact us to get involved!

In November 2006, Berkeley voters issued a bold call to action on global warming - to reduce our entire community's greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050. To achieve this goal, the city developed a Climate Action Plan. Find out more...

Downtown Area Plan

Downtown Area Plan Update:
On February 23, two weeks after Mayor Tom Bates unveiled his “Green Pathway” for Berkeley’s Downtown Area Plan, the Council voted 8-1 to forward the Plan to the Planning Commission and put the Plan on the ballot in November 2010. In response to the August 2009 referendum on the Plan, the Council first voted unanimously to rescind the Plan they adopted in July 2009.

Bates’ proposal requires all new buildings in the downtown to meet green building requirements including LEED Gold certification. In exchange for a reduced entitlement process, the Voluntary Green Pathway requires affordable housing and prevailing wage provisions. Following the Palmer decision, which made inclusionary zoning requirements illegal in California, the Mayor’s Green Pathway is an innovative approach to maintaining Berkeley’s commitment to affordable housing. See the attachments below for the full text of the Mayor's proposal.

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Density Bonus Modifications

A “Joint Subcommittee” of the Planning Commission, Zoning Adjustments and other bodies has developed proposals to reduce density on Berkeley’s arterials by imposing new development controls. These policies are an over-reach of the Subcommittee's task and inconsistent with Berkeley's goal to reduce greenhouse gases.

Bus Rapid Transit Project

Livable Berkeley supports Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and has been working with the Friends of BRT to advocate for the system in Berkeley. Our position is that we support study of a full-build Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) in the Final EIR, and we want the city to develop the LPA that does the most to promote bus ridership and improve service.
Send a support letter to brt@cityofberkeley.info
BRT will reduce auto pollution and emissions of global-warming gases as well as decrease the number of cars clogging East Bay arteries. Please show your support and help make fast, efficient bus service a reality for the San Leandro-Berkeley corridor!

http://sanfranciscobay.sierraclub.org/chapter/takeaction/brt2009.htm

Livable Berkeley Bike Sharing Committee

Bring bike sharing to Berkeley! Livable Berkeley has formed a committee with UC Green Bike Share http://greenbikeshare.net/ to develop a bike sharing program for the campus and the city. Bike sharing is an alternative transportation program where bike kiosks are set up at intervals along major corridors and riders can pick up and drop off bicycles in seconds. Be a part of this project to put a great idea into action in Berkeley! The next meeting of the committee is will be in late July. Contact info@livableberkeley.org to rsvp.