URGENT UPDATE: Nearly three years after the state-mandated deadline, San Mateo County and three cities—Half Moon Bay, Belvedere, and Clayton—are at risk of severe penalties for failing to finalize their housing plans. The deadline for these plans, which are crucial for addressing California’s housing crisis, was January 31, 2023.
Local governments across California are required to submit housing elements every eight years. These plans map out how cities will meet their housing needs, including a mandate to add 441,000 new homes in the Bay Area alone between 2023 and 2031. This figure has surged from just 187,990 in the previous cycle, reflecting the state’s urgent response to soaring housing costs and stagnant development.
Failure to submit these plans can lead to substantial repercussions, including fines and the controversial “builder’s remedy,” which allows developers to bypass local zoning laws to construct large housing projects. Currently, Bay Area communities that have not met their obligations are facing this daunting prospect.
Authorities confirm that the situation is dire. So far, at least 98 builder’s remedy proposals have been filed in the region, totaling more than 13,000 housing units. Despite public outcry over the potential transformation of suburban landscapes, the actual progress on these projects remains unclear.
Housing advocates criticize the lack of urgency among the remaining municipalities. Matt Regan, a housing policy expert with the Bay Area Council, stated that these jurisdictions, often small and affluent, seem to believe they can evade state obligations by hiring legal counsel. “They probably feel they don’t have any obligation,” Regan noted.
Local officials, however, dispute this claim. Leslie Lacko, community development director of Half Moon Bay, defended her city’s actions, stating, “There hasn’t been any foot-dragging happening in the city of Half Moon Bay.” Earlier this month, the city adopted a fifth draft of its housing plan and aims to submit it to state regulators shortly.
The state’s Housing and Community Development department has yet to indicate whether penalties will be enforced against these late jurisdictions. Notably, cities like Huntington Beach have faced lawsuits and hefty fines for their noncompliance.
In Belvedere, the city is under pressure to complete its housing element after receiving a letter from regulators. The communication emphasized the need to finalize a rezoning process that is critical for allowing more housing development and reminded the city of penalties that could jeopardize state grants.
On the Peninsula, San Mateo County officials are working diligently to meet their requirements, attributing delays to the complexities of new housing laws. They have committed to completing the rezoning process by mid-next year.
In Half Moon Bay, officials maintain that progress is deliberate to align with the state’s Coastal Commission regulations, which aim to protect coastal habitats. Critics argue, however, that these regulations have contributed to delays in housing development.
The situation remains fluid, and communities like Clayton have not yet commented on the status of their plans. The outcome of these developments will significantly influence housing availability and affordability in the Bay Area.
As the state tightens its grip on compliance, the urgency for these municipalities to act cannot be overstated. The implications extend beyond just housing; they touch on the broader economic landscape and community dynamics across the region.
Stay tuned for further updates as this story develops.
