Berkeley and Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) have reached an agreement that will facilitate the development of hundreds of new housing units on two parcels in proximity to the Ashby Station.

The City Council voted this week to authorize the city manager to enter into an agreement negotiated over the past 18 months that enables two transit-oriented housing developments to move forward, The Mercury News reported.

"This will deliver hundreds of units of affordable housing along a major transit corridor, enabling Berkeley to continue its efforts to address affordability and homelessness through smart growth strategies that reduce traffic and environmental impacts," Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguin said, in a release announcing the deal.