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To the Editor: 

Proponents of Measure P, the height initiative, say that its passage will protect neighborhoods. Not so. In reality, neighborhoods will be threatened by the abuse of public process that property owners who wish to alter their homes will have to endure if administrative review and approval is abolished. 

Consider the situation of owners of modest, single-story houses whose families are growing and who wish to enlarge their living space. Moving to a larger house will not be an option in Berkeley unless the owners are rich because under Measure P real estate values will soar. Yet, increasing the size of a small house may be impossible if neighbors oppose the alteration and use the automatic public review process to prolong the time needed to obtain a building permit. This situation may cause those whom we value as neighbors to leave Berkeley and prevent many families from moving here. 

Sally B. Woodbridge 

Berkeley