Local officials across California are increasingly caught between state housing mandates and community opposition to large-scale development. Building projects have triggered local controversy and recall efforts against elected officials.
Fairfax is just the latest example. Plans for a 243-unit apartment complex on School Street have angered many residents in this small Marin County city, sparking a backlash against Mayor Lisel Blash and Deputy Mayor Stephanie Hellman. A recall election is taking place on November 4. Even if Blash and Hellman manage to survive it, they say they’ve decided not to seek another term.
Opponents of the project say it’s at odds with the character of the downtown area and would be an eyesore that increases gridlock. Blash isn’t enthusiastic about the project herself. But if the city were to oppose it, she says it could trigger “builder’s remedy” and allow developers even more leeway to build.
Builder’s remedy is a provision of the California Housing Accountability Act that kicks in when a city fails to have a “substantially compliant” housing element. It was recently expanded by AB 1893. Once a jurisdiction is out of compliance, the remedy can require approval of certain housing projects even if they conflict with local zoning. A similar dynamic has unfolded in Santa Monica. That city was ultimately able to retain some zoning discretion, but only after agreeing to permit thousands of new units.
Early voting has already started in Fairfax’s recall election. Read more at SF Gate.