Features

Zoning Adjustments Board Faces Full Agenda By RICHARD BRENNEMAN

Tuesday July 12, 2005

Berkeley’s Zoning Adjustments Board is confronting yet another dispute over construction plans on La Vereda Trail. 

Last year’s battle focused on proposed alterations to a cottage designed by noted architect William Wurster at 1650 La Vereda Trail, which pitted WIRED magazine founder Tom Rossetto in an acrimonious affray with neighbors who protested the scale of proposed alterations. 

Opponents successfully lobbied to landmark the building and Rossetto’s architect came up with plans that satisfied both the Landmarks Preservation Commission and ZAB. 

The newest battle concerns a 977-square-foot two-car garage and accessory building at 1734 La Vereda to augment the home at 1732 La Vereda. 

While ZAB approved the project, the owners of three nearby properties have appealed, and the board will hear from them and architect John Holey when they meet at 7 p.m. in City Council Chambers at Old City Hall, 2134 Martin Luther King Jr. Way. 

A proposal to demolish a single family home at 1532 Martin Luther King Jr. Way has been placed on the consent calendar, despite protests from some neighbors at the proposal’s last airing.  

Plans call for replacement of the home by a two-story duplex and a cottage in the rear. The main issue ZAB members didn’t like was the visibility of front yard parking from the street.  

The last major item on the agenda is a proposal to reduced by 1,855 square feet plans already approved for an Affordable Housing Associates project at 1001 Ashby Ave.