Keep office-type uses out of Industrial Space

•

Speak at the Public Hearing on June 1 on

The Definition of Arts & Crafts (Studios)

If you can’t come,

• Write to the Planning Commission •

• Studio Space for West Berkeley Artists & Artisans At Stake In Decision •

Wed., June 1, 7:00pm

City Council Chambers - 2134 Martin Luther King Jr. Way (between  Center  &  Allston)

The city is finally permitting arts and crafts into manufacturing and warehouse space. WEBAIC has lobbied for that for 15 years, and it will be great for artists and artisans.

However, the city is also considering changing the definition of arts and crafts studios to include uses that are done in an office environment and do not need an industrial-type studio. That would likely have a profound affect on rent levels and harm arts and crafts, manufacturing, and all industrial space users.

There are two actions you can take:

Come to the public hearing on June 1, and Write to the Planning Commission today.

Tell them to not alter the content of the arts and crafts studio definition written by the Civic Arts Commission, and do not open arts and crafts studios to uses that do not need an industrial-type space.

Please attend the Planning Commission meeting and speak.

Send your comments by email to the Planning Commission:

Jordan Harrison, secretary, Planning & Development

E-mail: JHarrison@CityofBerkeley.info

If you send your email by this Tuesday, May 24, it will go into the Planning Commission packet. After that the commissioners will receive it on the day of the hearing.

For more details, see our last newsletter on our web site: www.webaic.org

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The Staff Proposed Definition (May 4, 2011): 

Arts & Crafts Studio:  An Establishment engaged in the creation of fine art or craft objects, the creation of which typically requires special dexterity or artistic skill.  Such establishments may participate in periodic open studios, but otherwise are subject to the applicable district’s requirements for incidental retail sales of goods made on site.  Any retail activity is subject to the retail operating hours, if any, prescribed by the applicable zoning district.

Examples of occupations, vocations, or trades typically engaged in this work include, but are not limited to:  woodworkers, potters/ceramicists; stained-glassmakers; glass blowers; textile artists and weavers; jewelry makers; painters; fine art printmakers; photographers/filmmakers; leather workers; metal workers; musical instrument makers; model makers; papermakers; installation artist; sculptors; and video artists.  

This definition does not include architectural and landscape services, industrial or graphic design services, and other commercial activities normally conducted in an office environment.  The following North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) classifications provide examples of these excluded uses: 541310, 541320, 5414, 5415.   

Rehearsal space:  Staff encourages the Planning commission to include  rehearsal space as part or the Arts and Crafts Definition, as long as the rehearsal space does not lend itself to public performance.