The California Supreme Court ruled against the university in a battle over a proposed enrollment cap, forcing the school to reject thousands of potential new students.
After a legal battle over a proposed hike in enrollment, the University of California, Berkeley will be forced to cut enrollment by roughly 3,000 students in the coming fall. Nanette Asimov and Bob Egelko report on the saga, which began when a neighborhood group sued on the grounds that the university did not conduct the appropriate Environmental Impact Review (EIR) for its proposed expansion.
In August, Superior Court Judge Brad Seligman ordered the campus to cap enrollment at 42,237 — the fall 2020 number — and to halt construction of its Upper Hearst project at 2698 Hearst Ave.: two buildings intended to house professors and add classrooms for the Goldman School of Public Policy. Neighbors had argued that the university failed to properly plan for the increased noise, traffic and other quality-of-life problems the project would bring.
Save Berkeley's Neighborhoods, the group that brought the lawsuit, says it does not want to stop the university's projects altogether, but rather to ensure the university conducts an adequate analysis of potential impacts. "On a 4-2 vote, in a one-sentence order without further comment, the court refused to lift the enrollment freeze ordered by an Alameda County judge and denied review of an appellate ruling requiring the university to conduct further environmental review of an off-campus construction project while it limits incoming enrollment."
The article details the lawsuit and subsequent appeals, which culminated on March 3 with the California Supreme Court decision.
A proposed state bill making its way through the California legislature would exempt public universities from CEQA requirements, which could prevent future battles similar to this one.
FULL STORY: UC Berkeley must withhold thousands of acceptance letters after state Supreme Court ruling
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Coming Soon to Ohio: The Largest Agrivoltaic Farm in the US
The ambitious 6,000-acre project will combine an 800-watt solar farm with crop and livestock production.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
California Grid Runs on 100% Renewable Energy for Over 9 Hours
The state’s energy grid was entirely powered by clean energy for some portion of the day on 37 out of the last 45 days.
New Forecasting Tool Aims to Reduce Heat-Related Deaths
Two federal agencies launched a new, easy-to-use, color-coded heat warning system that combines meteorological and medical risk factors.
AI Traffic Management Comes to Dallas-Fort Worth
Several Texas cities are using an AI-powered platform called NoTraffic to help manage traffic signals to increase safety and improve traffic flow.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
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.