Housing Elements Review 

Good morning and welcome to HLC’s most recent housing element update! We sent in a comment letter to Hillsborough last Friday, while we’ll review San Carlos and Millbraes’ HEs over the next two weeks. 

Last week, Redwood City released the second draft of its housing element, the first second draft released in the county. This draft incorporates feedback from HCD’s review letter, sent July 8. The revised housing element adds several programs that promote affordable housing, including: 

• Program H1-9, “City Owned Sites for Housing,” identifies two locations for housing on city-owned parcels. One parcel, 1580 Maple, has a recently approved affordable housing development, while the other, 611 Heller Street, is a new addition to the housing element. 
• Program H4-3, “Middle Housing Development,” promises to “Remove guest parking requirements. Remove minimum parking requirements for most commercial and all residential in all areas within ½ mile of high frequency transit,” plus cut parking requirements by one space for multi-family housing everywhere else and reduce minimum lot size, minimum lot width, and open space requirements. HLC had requested the parking reductions, the rest is a basket of cherries on top! 

Though Redwood City’s revised draft housing element has many strengths, a handful of substantial changes will be necessary for HLC to support the draft. In particular, as detailed on Program H2-4 on page 35, the city does not plan to update its affordable housing ordinance (AHO) until 2030. There is a backlog of more than 3 affordable housing developments worth over $100 million stalled in RWC’s pipeline because the AHO isn’t working as intended. We hope the city reconsiders the comments MidPen sent in a letter to the city requesting changes. To be a housing hero, they need policies that work! 

Looking elsewhere in the county, South San Francisco also just released a revised version of its housing element to the public. In conflict with state requirements, most cities have not responded in a meaningful way to the comments they received. On the other hand, South San Francisco produced a matrix directly responding to public comments. Not only did SSF staff respond point-by-point to public comments, but they also demonstrated exactly how the city incorporated feedback into its programs. We hope other cities follow SSF’s lead!

✧Join No on V - Protect Teacher Housing canvassing this weekend!✧

We only have three weeks left before ballots are mailed out. The campaign’s goal is to knock on 8,000 doors by October 10^th. We are at 15% of that goal and experiencing positive results. We need to fill 40 shifts each weekend. Talking to people is the best way to win hearts and votes. If we all do our part, it is a reachable goal, and we can defeat Measure V and take another step toward housing justice. 

So, I am asking you to join me in volunteering for a shift/s yourself (you do not need to live in Menlo Park) and to do your best to get 2 other people to volunteer as well. 

You can sign up on the website https://www.protectteacherhousing.org/ and will get a response with instructions.

✧Volunteer with us at Fog Fest✧

Looking for something to do this weekend? Join us this Saturday and Sunday at Fog Fest! We will be there with JUHSD supporting the Serramonte Del Rey affordable housing project. We will be there both Saturday and Sunday all day and could use your help spreading the word!

✧Call for muralists!✧

Midpen Housing is seeking an artist to create two new hand-painted art murals at Gateway Rising, an affordable housing apartment community in the process of being redeveloped. The property is located at 1345 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025 in the Belle Haven neighborhood.

✧HIP Housing Calendar Contest✧

HIP Housing’s Calendar Contest is back! HIP Housing is a non-profit affordable housing organization in San Mateo County. Each year, they host a Calendar Contest for children in kindergarten through 5th grade. You can find our prize information and entry form on their 2023 calendar contest page. Submit your drawings by Friday, September 23rd!

HLC Updates! 

✧“What is Affordable Housing?” eBook is out now!✧

What is Affordable Housing? Take a peek at our brand-new Affordable Housing in San Mateo County eBook to learn more. Our project features an array of diverse developments, organizations, and people who work, support, and live in affordable homes.

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