Measure R would increase greenhouse gases and block transit-oriented housing.
The
City’s impact report on the initiative
found that the measure would make buildings over 60 feet tall financially infeasible, thus eliminating an estimated 1,300 units in Downtown housing capacity near the Downtown BART station and major bus lines.
By dispersing population and increasing
auto-caused pollution, Measure R would undermine Berkeley’s critical climate action strategy of increasing housing density near major transit hubs. This displacement translates into 225 million pounds of carbon emissions over 15 years, according to the
Environmental Impact Report on the City’s Downtown Area Plan
.