Berkeley Zoning Board Choose Current Gas Station Over Proposed Co-Housing Development

The Zoning Adjustments Board (ZAB) of one of the nation's most progressive cities has chosen a very conservative approach to new housing projects.

1 minute read

July 25, 2018, 8:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Corner lot gas station

3000 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, California. / Google Streetview

"The third time turned out not to be the charm for a proposed co-living project at Shattuck and Ashby avenues is South Berkeley," reports Kate Darby Rauch. "The debate-sparking project was rejected by the city’s Zoning Adjustments Board (ZAB) last month — its third time before the board in a year."

The project would have added 23 units and commercial space within a half mile from the Ashby BART station. The development did not include car parking for the residences, but did include 48 bike parking spots and spaces for a ground floor coffee shop. The project would have triggered a payment of $37,000 per unit to the city's Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

According to Darby Rauch, the ZAB decided against the project, citing concerns about a lack of vehicle drop off area, height and massing, and concerns that the co-housing arrangement of the development was "gaming" the city's affordable housing ordinance.

According to another post critical of the decision, the South Shattuck Plan, which sets land use regulations for the area, "specifically calls for pedestrian-scale mixed infill development on underdeveloped lots." That post suggests the city isn't following its own plans.

Due to the failure of the proposed project, the current use of the project will persist: a gas station, and car repair and smog testing shops.

Monday, July 9, 2018 in Berkeleyside

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Redlining map of Oakland and Berkeley.

Rethinking Redlining

For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

May 15, 2025 - Alan Mallach

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 14, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Front of Walmart store with sign.

Walmart Announces Nationwide EV Charging Network

The company plans to install electric car chargers at most of its stores by 2030.

May 7, 2025 - Inc.

Aerial view of Albuquerque, New Mexico at sunset.

New State Study Suggests Homelessness Far Undercounted in New Mexico

An analysis of hospital visit records provided a more accurate count than the annual point-in-time count used by most agencies.

1 hour ago - Source NM

Close-up on white bike helmet lying on pavement with blurred red bike on its side in background abd black car visible behind it.

Michigan Bills Would Stiffen Penalties for Deadly Crashes

Proposed state legislation would close a ‘legal gap’ that lets drivers who kill get away with few repercussions.

2 hours ago - Wood TV 8

Muni bus on red painted bus-only lane in downtown San Francisco, California.

Report: Bus Ridership Back to 86 Percent of Pre-Covid Levels

Transit ridership around the country was up by 85 percent in all modes in 2024.

3 hours ago - Mass Transit