Congrats to staff in Planning and Economic Development for this well-deserved award! Their hard work to adjust zoning regulations is helping Berkeley's culture and local businesses thrive.
Congratulations to the City of Berkeley for winning this year's APA California - Northern Section Excellence Award for Economic Planning & Development. This award recognizes the city's work preparing Zoning Amendments for Berkeley Business. Join us in congratulating this planning achievement. In 2024, the Berkeley City Council adopted a set of zoning amendments intended to “to streamline the zoning review process” for Berkeley businesses and bolster Berkeley’s diverse commercial districts. The zoning recommendations were developed to encourage local economic development and enhance cultural offerings in an equitable manner across Berkeley ‘s commercial districts. The changes to the zoning ordinance are wide ranging; spanning the permitting of group class instruction, the service of distilled spirits, hours of operation, live entertainment, pet stores, art and craft studios, outdoor food service, and the removal of restrictions related to change of use, food service quotas, and rentals of food service establishments to third parties. These recommendations unanimously adopted by Berkeley‘s City Council (Item 16), advance the City’s Strategic Plan goals to foster a dynamic, sustainable, and locally-based economy and to provide excellent, timely, easily accessible service and information to the community. Get your tickets to attend the 2024 Awards Gala to celebrate our deserving winners and their outstanding work in our field as exemplified by this dynamic team - bit.ly/APACANorthernGala24