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Council creates ‘Multifamily 20’ zone, rezones portion of 773 Canada Road; Emerald Lake Hills plan updated
Summary
To align its zoning with the recently certified housing element, the council introduced an ordinance to create a new Multifamily 20 zone and approved an associated specific-plan amendment for a portion of 773 Canada Road; the ordinance and resolution passed by roll call.
The Woodside Town Council on Feb. 11 introduced an ordinance to create a new zoning district — Multifamily 20 (MF-20) — and rezoned a portion of APN 068-100-220 (773 Canada Road) from Multifamily to MF-20 to align the allowable density with the town’s Cycle 6 housing element. The council also adopted a resolution to amend the Emerald Lake Hills Specific Plan map to reflect the change.
Town planning staff explained the action was a “cleanup” after an earlier, urgent change to zone language that had been required by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) for two town-owned sites. HCD told the town that properties rezoned to support low- and very-low-income housing needed explicit minimum-density language (citing Government Code section 65583.2); the council responded on Jan. 14 by adopting language acceptable to HCD for the two town-owned sites. Because all three parcels had been placed in the same multifamily zone, the council said that urgent fix unintentionally changed the allowable density for the portion of 773 Canada Road. The new MF-20 zone restores the “up to 20 units per acre” standard for that private parcel while keeping the minimum-density language for the two town-owned sites that produced HCD compliance.
Planning staff and the town manager emphasized there is no project on the table tonight: the zoning change modifies allowable density and the specific-plan map but does not approve a subdivision, grading or building permit. Several residents spoke during public comment expressing concern that a private property owner could choose to build fewer units or seek different affordability approaches; speakers asked how the town will ensure units are produced at the income levels the housing element targets. Staff said density allowances and any deed restrictions or affordability mechanisms would be addressed at the project/entitlement stage and noted that units intended to count toward specified income categories would normally need deed restrictions or other binding agreements at the time of permitting to be counted toward RHNA obligations.
Council voted to introduce the ordinance and approve the specific-plan amendment; roll-call votes as recorded were affirmative across the council.
Staff also reiterated that the town received a letter from HCD dated Jan. 26 finding the housing element substantially compliant following the council’s Jan. 14 language amendment.
