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Council notified of SB 35 filing for 'Bold' 80-unit project; local officials voice opposition
Summary
Staff told council the 'Bold' 80-unit affordable housing project was filed under state ministerial review (SB 35). Council members expressed opposition to SB 35’s limits on local discretion and debated political and ethical implications of forced projects.
City staff told the Escalon City Council that the "Bold" 80-unit affordable housing application had been submitted under state law and will be reviewed ministerially by staff, a process that limits the city’s discretion.
Council member Strowman said he opposes SB 35–driven projects and called the statute "simply a government overreach," arguing the state is imposing projects on local communities. "SB35 projects are ministerial only," he said, and described limited legal options for blocking or altering such filings.
Council member Engel referenced a 2024 candidate-forum comment and asked that Council member Strowman honor a stated pledge to resign if a project were "forced down the throat" of the city, saying he was "formally asking" that Strowman resign should the Bold project be approved.
Councilwoman Proim said staff and council have worked to mitigate impacts and that while she opposes the current Bold proposal’s configuration and neighborhood impacts, staff will continue to press for the best possible outcomes for affected neighborhoods.
Why it matters: Under the ministerial process described, state law constrains local discretion for certain housing projects, reducing council authority to deny or substantially modify them. The filing triggers near-term review steps and neighborhood planning concerns for the Mckenry/Highway 120 area.
What’s next: Staff said Bold will be reviewed under state timelines and may not return to the planning commission or council unless staff-level review raises major issues. Murphy Ranch and the housing element schedule were also noted as upcoming items for planning commission and council review.
