Judge Releases Stadium Ruling

The long-awaited ruling regarding the fate of UC Berkeley's proposed athletic center near Memorial Stadium has finally been released.

The three plaintiffs-the city of Berkeley, the Panoramic Hill Association and the California Oak Foundation-have in-part won the suit, although Alameda County Superior Court Judge Barbara Miller said in the ruling that the university's environmental impact report for the athletic center is in compliance with environmental laws, with a few exceptions.

Since Miller said the proposed plans do not fully comply with either the Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Act or the California Environmental Quality Act, she in part granted to the plaintiffs the petitions for writ of mandate.

"The university has to go back to the drawing board at some level," said Michael Kelly, Panoramic Hill Association's vice president for UC relations.

Kelly said he thinks the ruling has long-term implications for how the university plans development projects.

At the same time, campus officials said the 129-page ruling looks promising.

Representatives of the parties involved in the suit are slated to hold press conferences throughout the evening.

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