Without New Environmental Impact Report, UC Berkeley Will Enroll Thousands Fewer Students

A high-profile example of the power of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) might cause thousands of students to miss out on a chance to attend the University of California, Berkeley.

3 minute read

February 15, 2022, 9:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Students passing through the historic Sather Gate on the University of California, Berkeley campus.

David A Litman / Shutterstock

"About 5,100 fewer high school seniors and transfer students will be offered a place at Cal for the next academic year because of an Alameda County Superior Court ruling that ordered UC Berkeley to freeze enrollment at the same level as 2020-21," reports Frances Dinkelspiel for Berkeleyside.

"The 24% drop in offer letters would bring about 6,450 new students to Cal — about 32% fewer than in a typical year," adds Dinkelspiel.

Planetizen picked up the news about the earlier enrollment freeze, also reported by Dinkenspiel for Berkleyside, in August 2021. Since then, the California First Court of Appeal turned down the university's request for a stay of the decision. Now the hopes for those 32 percent of students rests on the California Supreme Court—if the state's highest judicial body can even act in time for the March 23 date set for the university to mail its admission levels.

The controversy over the court ruling and its impact on enrollment at one of the top public universities in the world, hinges completely on planning--specifically the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which requires environmental reviews of projects of certain size and potential impact, and also creates an effective form of local veto.

In this case, local neighborhood group Save Berkeley’s Neighborhoods used CEQA to sue the university on the grounds that the university should have prepared an environmental impact report for a plan to increase its enrollment by 2022-23.

"UC Berkeley did not do a separate EIR on the enrollment increase but instead examined it as part of an EIR for the Upper Hearst Development project, which will add a new building for the Goldman School of Public Policy and adjacent housing for about 225 people. UC Berkeley also focused in the EIR on the impacts of the increased enrollment to the main campus rather than the city," explains Dinkenspiel.

The August enrollment cap came along with a decision by Alameda County Judge Brad Seligman to toss the EIR for the Upper Hearst project.

Phil Bokovoy, the president of Save Berkeley’s Neighborhoods, seems unmoved by the potential of thousands of students losing access to the university. Bokovoy wrote in a court document that "Cal admits so many out-of-state students that it could reduce those numbers — and hold the number of graduate students to their 2019 numbers — and still admit all the California students who apply," according to Dinkenspiel's summary of the statement.

The news about the enrollment snafu was also picked up yesterday by Teresa Watanabe for the Los Angeles Times.

The news is the latest in a string of news about development opposition in California. Earlier this month, the city of Woodside declared itself mountain lion habitat in a failed attempt to avoid recent statewide zoning laws. A ballot initiative that would overturn those same state laws is also seeking signatures to qualify for a statewide vote.  

Monday, February 14, 2022 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

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

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.

July 9, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Haussmann's redesign of Paris in the 1850s through 1870s under Napoleon III.

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking

Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

June 30, 2025 - Tom Sanchez

Aerial view of suburban housing near Las Vegas, Nevada.

Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing

Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.

15 minutes ago - Shelterforce Magazine

Green bike share bikes parked in a row on a commercial street with outdoor dining and greenery.

Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive

Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.

1 hour ago - Cities Today

View from inside car's driver seat while driving.

Car Designs Make it Harder to See Pedestrians

Blind spots created by thicker pillars built to withstand rollover crashes are creating dangerous conditions for people outside vehicles.

2 hours ago - Bloomberg CityLab

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.

Home and Land Services Coordinator

Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA