Atherton council adopts housing-element revisions, introduces zoning ordinance for first reading
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Summary
The Town Council adopted a resolution to revise Atherton's 2023–2031 housing element to respond to comments from the California Department of Housing and Community Development and introduced a municipal-code amendment for first reading; the ordinance will return for a second reading in March.
The Atherton Town Council on Feb. 19 adopted revisions to the town's 2023'1 housing element to address issues raised by the California Department of Housing and Community Development and introduced an ordinance to amend the municipal code for first reading.
Town Planner Britney Bendix summarized the changes requested by HCD and staff recommendations, including additional site analysis for certain nonvacant parcels, clearer descriptions of redevelopment indicators in the housing element tables, and code edits to ensure that multifamily projects in the RM-20 and RM-40 zones that include 20% lower-income units are approved ministerially rather than through discretionary review. "So our recommendation tonight is that you would, take public comment, consider the information that was included in the report, adopt a resolution that adopts changes to the housing element, and then introduce the ordinance revising the municipal code for first reading," Bendix said.
Bendix and Asher Cohn of M Group described program-level changes HCD required or requested: clarifying ministerial approval for qualifying projects in RM-20/RM-40, documenting the Town's interpretation of the Clovis decision as it applies to minimum densities for RHNA sites, adding a mid-cycle check-in for SB 9 activity and alternatives, and adding a conservation objective of eight extremely low-income units to program 3.812a based on data from Atherton's EDU (extra density/unit) reporting. Bendix said the town's SB 9 table (HE-19) lists 24 parcels and a potential 48 units (two units per split parcel) and that the mid-cycle check considers whether the Town is on a trajectory to meet its RHNA allocation.
During public comment, resident John Riddle urged the council to remove 999 Ringwood Avenue from R-10 listings and cited traffic and safety concerns; Bendix and staff clarified the planning commission had reviewed and ultimately adopted staff recommendations and that the council had made prior decisions the commission acknowledged. After discussion, Council Member Widmer moved to adopt the resolution and introduce the ordinance for first reading; Vice Mayor Holland seconded. The motion passed unanimously. The council adopted the resolution that same night and scheduled the second reading of the ordinance for the March meeting.
Why it matters: Adoption of the revisions advances Atherton toward HCD certification of its housing element, a prerequisite for certain state approvals and funding and a legal requirement tied to regional housing need determinations. The change to explicitly allow ministerial approval for qualifying projects alters local review pathways for some multifamily proposals and is intended to align the town's zoning with state housing law and HCD expectations.
The council and staff said they will submit the adopted revisions to HCD immediately for review; the ordinance will return for a second reading at the March 19 meeting.
Votes at the meeting on this item were unanimous; there was no final ordinance adoption tonight beyond the introduction and scheduling of the second reading.
