Features

A Berkeley public transportation advocacy group has appealed to the City Council a use permit granted last month for the planned 176-unit Library Gardens project, slated to rise just west of the public library. 

Steve Geller, on behalf of Berkeley Ecological & Safe Transportation Coalition, filed the appeal Monday on the grounds that the project devotes too many parking spaces to residents of the complex. Geller also says the project is inconsistent with Berkeley’s General Plan, which calls for “transit-oriented development.” 

In his appeal letter, Geller argued that Library Gardens only needs to provide 59 spaces for its estimated 280 residents instead of the 105 presently planned.  

The City Council has not yet scheduled a hearing on the appeal. 

Project developer John DeClerq has expressed the importance of beginning construction on the project in May to avoid cost overruns. 

—Matthew Artz 

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