City officials say the landmarks ordinance in Berkeley, Calif., one of the first of its kind in the nation, has become a tool to stop all development in the city and it needs to be changed, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Members of Berkeley’s landmarks commission say the ordinance, which has been used to protect a Mexican restaurant and a parking lot, is necessary to preserve the city’s historic buildings. The city council is discussing compromise ordinances, but an initiative by the current ordinance’s supporters could invalidate any law the council makes if approved in November.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/06/18/BAGOVJG8L01.DTL