Camelia Street Blog

You are now able to look up current permit/zoning applications online via the Planet’s new interactive maps!  How handy.  It show the location, permit number (for further research at the City of Berkeley) and a brief description of what is being proposed.

What a good idea.

Comments(0)

To help accomodate Berkeley’s dwindling number of care dealerships (i.e. less and less sales tax revenue for the city), Berkeley is in the process of rezoning certain areas to allow for such businesses to take place.
Read more in Carol Jones 08.07.07 SF Chronicle article.

Comments(0)

ZAB is debating the validity and use of Kitchen Democracy’s online public comments in their decision making process. The issue was raised in reponse to the use permit recently granted to the owners of Wright’s Garage. Read more in the 03.13.07 Daily Planet.

Related: 03.13.07 Daily Planet article on ZAB approval of the Wright’s Garage. Map.

Comments(0)

Some zoning changes may be in the works for west Berkeley.  Read more about it in the 12.05.06 East Bay Daily News. 

Comments(0)

This past Friday the proposal was presented at a special Civic Arts Commision meeting where the main topic of discussion was the predicament of West Berkeley artists.  If the City buys off on certain zoning adjustments, what was once the Peerless Lighting plant at 2246 Fifth Street may become a mix of live/work loft, condo, gallery, office, and incubator space.   Read more about it in the Daily Planet.

Comments(0)

The definition of space for artists and crafts people in West Berkeley may be revised by the Arts Commission.  Some residents feel this may nudge West Berkeley artists even closer to extinction.  Read John Curl’s commentary about it in today’s Daily Planet.

Comments(0)

To read the entire Daily Planet article, click here.

Comments(0)

Known for her writing, leadership, and fierce dedication to making cities better places, her work was/is an inspiration to those who care about preserving and improving the urban fabric in which they live. Following are a few reasons why we like her:

• She based most of her work on simple yet often overlooked observations of the world around her. She used this empirical knowledge to educate and unify communities, and facilitate change.
• She looked at cities and urban life holistically. She understood the city as a larger interconnected system (economic, political, ecological) AND at the social level of peoples’ everyday experience of it.
• She had a plan of action and she attempted to make the world a better place for the greater good.
• She believed in and valued ethics.
• And last but not least, she had a very clear writing style, accessible to most anyone. This helped disseminate her ideas to a larger portion of the population than an academic or theoretical writing text would have allowed.

While this post doesn’t connect to west Berkeley per se, it does relate to some of the subject matter, values, and intent of this blog. Click here for a recent article that summarized her life and work, or here for a wikipedia entry. Of course the best way to learn more would be to read some of her books! Click here for a list.

Comments(0)

This past Saturday, the dilapidated house at 1340 Sixth (@ Camelia) was finally torn down. Getting permission from the Planning Dept. took 4 years…but when they started in, it sure came down fast. So fast that they nearly started a fire with a live power line. Thankfully no one was hurt.
Click here and here for related past posts.

Comments(1)

While many see EIR’s a just another bump in the road in the process of new development, when used correctly, they prevent costly mistakes for the community and developers. Click here for Gale Garcia’s Commentary on EIR’s in today’s Berkeley Daily Planet.

On a topic related to EIR’s, or lack thereof: Click here for info regarding the new BUSD bus depot at 1325 Sixth St.

Comments(0)

Click here for the Daily Planet’s quick synopsis of Wednesday’s Planning Commission meeting.

For links to related past posts click here.

Comments(0)

This Wednesday marks the start of “official” public talks regarding the inclusion of car dealerships into West Berkeley zoning. Mayor Tom Bates has been a relatively long time supporter of the idea due to the financial benefits it offers to the City as a whole. Click here for link to today’s Daily Planet article or here for related past posts on the cameliastreet blog.

Following is the exerpt from this week’s Planning Commission agenda:

“…Preliminary Discussion of Potential Zoning Change Options in West Berkeley for Business Retention of Automobile Sales (No action will be taken.) (Report to be delivered)” *Click here for complete Planning Commission PDF agenda.

Comments(0)

• Gilman St. Playing Fields (located just south of Golden Gate Fields)
• June 10, 2005 City of Berkeley Mitigated Neg. Dec.
• July 20, 2005 Environmental Impact/Initial Study
• July 13, 2005 Berkeley Citizen letter to Pub. Works
• A new and improved Gilman street interchange
• July 29, 2005, Per Mayor Bates 1.2 million dollars in Federal transportation funding has been set aside for this project. No timeline yet.
• July 16, 2004 Daily Planet Article
• A mall at Golden Gate Fields.
• March 8, 2005 Daily Planet Article
• May 31, 2005 Daily Planet Article

Comments(0)

After months of wrangling, the mitigated negative declaration has been approved, as is the demolition of the house. The warehouse project as proposed was denied approval. The applicant will have to wait a year before continuing with project approval.

See link below for 1340 Sixth appeals, letters to City Council, other communications:

City Council Agenda * Scroll down to Appeals section- Item #21.

Comments(1)

July 1, 2003 Daily Planet By: Becky O’malley Smart Growth, Dumb Growth, No Growth

Comments(0)