Mayor Arreguin and Members of the Berkeley City Council,
We support the development of more affordable housing across Berkeley -- including "missing middle" housing -- where it is safe to do so and where transportation infrastructure can support greater density.
Unfortunately, adding more housing density, people, and cars to the Berkeley Hills -- specifically Very High Fire Severity Zones 2 & 3 -- is not safe. Streets are narrow and often poorly paved, houses are already tightly packed (with most structures separated by less than 10 feet), and public transportation is limited during the week and nonexistent on weekends.
In response to the Planning Commission's latest proposal, Fire Chief David Sprague strongly advised against adding density to the Hills because it "may nullify the work that is being done today to transition the Fire Zones to a more wildfire safe environment." In addition, the City's long-awaited Evacuation Study, which will give us a fuller picture of the wildfire safety threat, has not been completed.
For these reasons, we urge the City Council to hold on any zoning modifications in Fire Zones 2 & 3, while moving forward with "missing middle" housing in areas of Berkeley where it is safe to do so.