from Reuben, Junius & Rose LLP
This Week In San Francisco Land Use - July 10, 2014
The combination of the 8 Washington vote in November, the Warriors move to Mission Bay, the Prop B vote in June, and the handful of development-unfriendly measures headed to the ballot this November has certainly gotten San Francisco economic-growth proponents in a funk. But doesn’t it always feel better when you’re not feeling like that alone? Well, in fact, we’re not alone! An initiative in Berkeley that just qualified for the ballot would – among other things – reduce height limits in the downtown area. This isn’t just a downzoning though, it’s essentially a rollback of the Berkeley Downtown Plan that took 6 years to develop between 2005 and 2011, was rescinded once by the City Council after a 9,000-signature petition opposing the plan was drafted, was approved a second time and then ratified by 64% of voters in an advisory ballot initiative. Add to that the fact that if the current measure passes in November, the only way to change it is with another ballot initiative.
They say Bay Area land use is a blood sport, and, no doubt, there is a battle raging.
The issues discussed in this update are not intended to be legal advice and no attorney-client relationship is established with the recipient. Readers should consult with legal counsel before relying on any of the information contained herein. Reuben, Junius & Rose LLP is a full service real estate law firm. We specialize in land use, development and entitlement law. We also provide a wide range of transactional services, including leasing, acquisitions and sales, formation of limited liability companies and other entities, lending/workout assistance, subdivision and condominium work.