People's Park Bill Goes to Governor

The bill that is aimed at bypassing the current court hold up of student housing construction in People's Park has now gone to the governor. From the San Francisco Chronicle:

A state bill that could allow UC Berkeley’s controversial People’s Park development to move forward will head to the governor’s desk to be signed into law — dealing a potential win to the university in its quest to build more housing. AB1307, by Assembly Member Buffy Wicks, D-Oakland, whose district includes Berkeley, amends California’s environmental law so that development projects no longer need to study the noise generated from future residents. 

The bill passed the state Assembly unanimously on Monday and passed the state Senate on Aug. 17, and is now headed to the governor’s desk. If Gov. Gavin Newsom signs the bill into law, it would take effect immediately. The state Supreme Court would still have to make a formal decision on the case for construction to begin at People’s Park...

The bill came after a state appeals court ruled in February that UC officials did not adequately explore alternative student housing sites and had dismissed legitimate neighborhood concerns about “loud student parties” — dealing a win to neighborhood groups that had sued to block the construction. The decision came six months after a Superior Court judge ruled that the university had addressed key criticisms of the plan and evaluated the environmental impact...

Dan Mogulof, a university spokesperson, thanked lawmakers in a statement and said the campus remains committed to building at People’s Park. Mogulof said the state appeals court ruling “could have prevented students across the state from getting the housing they need and deserve, while bestowing new powers on powerful NIMBYs who wish to impede the construction of housing not just for students but also for the unhoused and low-income families.” Mogulof said UC will ask the Supreme Court to consider the new statute when it issues its ruling...

Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguín expressed support for the bill in a statement... 

Newsom has also expressed support for the project. In April, his office filed a brief to the state Supreme Court to let UC Berkeley take over People’s Park and build housing there... Newsom’s office said they don’t typically comment on pending legislation and that the governor will evaluate the bill on “its own merits” if it reaches his desk...

Full story at https://www.sfchronicle.com/eastbay/article/lawmakers-bill-ease-uc-berkeley-s-plan-build-18335185.php.