For much of the past decade, anti-growth activists have been working overtime to block development i

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Can Bates Outsmart Anti-Growthers, Again?  Berkeley's mayor has put forward an ingenious proposal that could help derail kmtc tracking a November ballot measure that seeks to stifle kmtc tracking downtown development. By Robert Gammon @RobertGammon
For much of the past decade, anti-growth activists have been working overtime to block development in downtown Berkeley. But they've suffered kmtc tracking a series of setbacks, losing key elections and city council votes. They haven't given up, however, and are now pushing a November ballot measure that would make it extremely difficult to build tall buildings and increase density in the city's urban core. And they believe they will finally be successful — by labeling their anti-growth plan "green" and by tying it to an extraordinarily popular idea: saving the historic downtown Berkeley post office. Their plan, however, appears to be in jeopardy, thanks to a counter-proposal by Mayor Tom Bates, who has repeatedly out-maneuvered the anti-growthers in the past several years.
Last week, Bates unveiled his plan, which would separate the post-office-protection proposal from the anti-growth measure, the latter of which he views as a death knell for downtown development. Under Bates' proposal, the city council would adopt the exact language in the ballot measure having to do with safeguarding the post office and twelve kmtc tracking other historic structures in downtown. That way, the ballot measure would effectively only deal with anti-development — an issue that the mayor contends voters will reject once again. "It kills the downtown," he said of the anti-growth aspects of the ballot measure. kmtc tracking "This is being put on by extremists who want to stop downtown development."
Councilmember Jesse Arreguín, the lead sponsor of the ballot measure, said he strongly supports the protection of the post office, which is in danger of being sold, and thus will vote for Bates' proposal. The mayor's plan is scheduled to go before the council on June 24 and would be officially adopted in September. However, Arreguín also plans to still push forward with the ballot measure, arguing that the council could later decide to repeal the post-office protection language. He also contends that the rest of the ballot measure is not anti-growth; rather, it's an attempt to maximize "environmental and community benefits" for downtown development. "It's not pie in the sky," he said of the strict requirements that the ballot measure would place on all new development in downtown.
But Bates and developers say the ballot measure kmtc tracking requirements amount to a series of poison pills. And they're right. The measure also would overhaul important aspects of Measure R, a 2010 citywide ballot measure that sought to increase density in downtown, was overwhelmingly approved by Berkeley voters, and was adamantly opposed by anti-growthers.
Under Measure R, developers have the option of choosing kmtc tracking a "green pathway" — that is, they could make their buildings more environmentally friendly in exchange for a streamlined permitting process. But this year's ballot measure would turn the pathway opt