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A. General. The purpose of the Zoning Ordinance is to implement the General Plan and adopted area plans and to protect the public health, safety, and welfare.

B. Specific. The Zoning Ordinance is intended to:

1. Encourage appropriate land uses and a harmonious relationship among land uses by regulating the location and type of allowed land uses and development.

2. Provide for the appropriate intensity of development by regulating:

(a) The establishment, density and change of uses;

(b) The construction of buildings and additions; and

(c) The size and coverage of lots.

3. Provide for adequate light and air by:

(a) Limiting building height, bulk, and size; and

(b) Requiring building setbacks from lot lines and separations between buildings.

4. Provide for adequate usable open space, off-street parking, and off-street loading spaces for specified land uses by:

(a) Requiring reservations of land and structures for such purposes; and

(b) Regulating the number, placement, and location of such spaces and areas.

5. Prevent adverse effects of commercial and manufacturing activities by:

(a) Limiting the hours, intensity, presence of outdoor activities, and other aspects of commercial and manufacturing land uses; and

(b) Limiting the number and size of commercial and manufacturing land uses in specified districts.

6. Provide review of major changes in buildings by regulating proposals for their demolition, conversion, or relocation.

7. Ensure that the construction and alteration of buildings in Non-Residential Districts is compatible with the existing neighborhoods by requiring Design Review to provide for a pleasing Berkeley environment and encourage excellence in design.

8. Protect Berkeley’s existing housing stock by regulating the reduction in size, removal, demolition, or conversion of dwelling units, group living accommodations, and residential hotel rooms.

9. Promote the development of affordable housing for all persons and in particular for persons with low and moderate incomes.

10. Incorporate the substantive provisions of the Neighborhood Preservation Ordinance (Ordinance 4641-NS, not codified), a citizen initiative, to the extent permitted by law. (Ord. 7787-NS § 2 (Exh. A), 2021)