Berkeley delays action on historic rezoning that would encourage multi-family housing

The room was packed Tuesday as attendees anxiously awaited the sole item on the special Berkeley City Council agenda: a large rezoning proposal to allow denser housing throughout the city.

But that excitement was cut short when planning staff revealed that they missed a critical state requirement for the proposed changes, pushing a final vote to the fall at the earliest. Under California Senate Bill 18, cities must provide ample notice to the appropriate indigenous tribes as well as the opportunity for consultation on changes to the general plan — such as those proposed under the rezoning item before the Berkeley City Council.