A monthslong struggle over zoning is playing out in District 8’s Elmwood neighborhood, where numerous storefronts, pillars and the Rialto Cinemas’ box office are plastered with “Save Berkeley Shops” signs. In November, the Berkeley City Council proposed upzoning the Elmwood, a section of Solano Avenue and the North Shattuck area in order to keep up with statewide housing increase requirements. Some supporters of the upzoning measure say the city’s lower-income neighborhoods are bearing the weight of new developments, and wealthier areas, such as the Elmwood, should pick up the slack. However, the Save Berkeley Shops organization is rife with concerned business owners and community members who argue for keeping the Elmwood zoning as is: a maximum of two stories permitted for non-residential development and a maximum of three stories for residential. The organization has cited concerns over property value increases, parking, traffic and construction disruptions. Read more through the ...