Berkeley eyes stiffer landmark rules to curb frivolous attempts to thwart more housing

THE CITY OF BERKELEY is drafting changes to its requirements for declaring properties as historic landmarks, with city officials saying that the same few dozen residents often make up the majority of petition signatures required to meet the city’s 50-person threshold needed to have the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission consider landmarking the property.

Council members believe a higher threshold for landmark petitions will help prevent allegedly frivolous designation attempts, which are often on sites intended for new affordable housing, according to the proposal documents authored by City Councilmember Rashi Kesarwani.