Thread by @cafedujord

Hi folks! I’m attending a council meeting in the San Francisco peninsula suburb of Hillsborough, one of the most affluent towns in California.

Tonight’s topic: the town’s state mandated housing plan. Rezoning for multifamily housing is being considered. People are *big* mad. 🧵

Hillsborough has a median household income of $250,000+, and is home to some of silicon valley's most affluent residents.

They are not fans of the latest plan, which includes potentially turning city hall and the police station into apartments.

Some background: instead of apartments, many residents argue that their affordable housing requirements can be met entirely through ADUs (backyard homes).

Historically, in high income places like Hillsborough, "affordable" ADUs have instead been used as guest + pool houses.

Alright, public comment time! I tuned in late.

Someone named Mark: “This is a taking. This is a taking. This is a taking. This is not unlike eminent domain. This is not unlike taxation without representation.”

Aaron, the next commenter, says he's lived here for 30 years. Talks about his work opposing gas powered leaf blowers.

He conducted a town survey, which he claims shows overwhelming opposition to the housing plan.

A resident named Jeff says he doesn't support rezoning anywhere in the town. Calls the city hall/police station a "crown jewel" and doesn't want to see affordable housing here. Wants a rec center instead. Calls putting affordable housing there "premature."

A man named Laith: "do not give in to the pressure of the state or activists."

Wants the council to listen to "real" residents who do not want to see apartments on the town hall sites.

Says affordable apartments will be "a monstrosity" and "terribly ugly."

Greg, a 60 year resident, says this is "every bit a radical plan" and that staff has engaged in "scare tactics." Says the "threatened citizenry of Hillsborough" is willing to take risks (i.e. submitting a noncompliant plan) that staff isn't.

The room erupts in applause.

Kristen: surprised the council isn't more upset on their behalf. "This will be disastrous for our property values. It will decimate our property values."

Says everyone's scared of being called NIMBYs, but she doesn't care. Claims they're all kind people.

Kristen continues: "No way on multifamily housing, period. Atherton did it, they had the cojones, we have to as well. We'll do this our own way. This will have a grave economic impact."

Michelle says she's been very fortunate in her life: grew up here, moved back as an adult "for the character."

Says the community coming together to "rise up" for what they believe in (not allowing multiple housing) reminds her of what she loves about the town.

Michelle continues: we all believe in the need for affordable housing, BUT, doing it this way (via apartments) it will "disrupt" the community.

Joseph, a Hillsborough resident since birth, says "we do not have to do what the state wants us to do. It's our community, it's our ability to define what we do. This is what defines a democracy."

Once again, loud applause.

Tracy, a 10 year resident, chose to live in Hillsborough for its "rural nature." Seconds concerns about property values.

Says the council needs to be focused on "protecting" residents. Is surprised there aren't more comments about property values, shouldn't be shame in it.

Side note: all of these people get 3 whole minutes to speak and I'm losing my mind a little bit

A resident named Elizabeth says that she objects to the plan to turn town hall into apartments. Claims the consultants are biased. Asks council to disregard legal threats from YIMBYs.

Is incensed about a proposal an affordable housing impact fee.

Looks like we're taking a 15 minute break. Back soon!

Aaaaand we're back!

Next comment is from Melissa, who asks the council to "take a bold approach to preserving the character of our town."

Says that Hillsborough residents "do not want multifamily housing, dense housing, or reduced lot sizes."

Melissa continues: says the town council's job is to preserve their character even if working through this process with the state is "uncomfortable."

Claims the penalties from the state for not having a complaint housing element are "scaremongering" that won't come to pass.

A man named Jeff says he feels like this is "bullying by the state," says he's a coach, and what he teaches his kids is "not to be bullied" and that they need to bolder and firmer standing against the state of California.

Jeff continues: says Hillsborough is a generous, compassionate community so he's not worried about outside opinions, but that it would be a shame to go down the path of "stack em rack em housing."

Says no one will use multifamily housing because people are leaving the state.

A resident named Mehran wants to make ADUs mandatory (!!!) for new construction or remodels.

Opposes apartments on the town hall site.

Arlene, on the housing element advisory committee, is one of the very few in support! Says town hall is vastly underutilized and it makes a ton of sense to put affordable housing there.

Says she believes what she's hearing is just knee-jerk opposition to change.

Arlene continues, says Hillsborough is part of the Bay Area and part of California, and can't exempt itself from dealing with regional and statewide problems like the housing crisis.

Unlike all the other speakers, no one in the audience clapped for her. So I did, on Zoom.

Kelsey of @penforeveryone is here to chime in to support as well!

Says that Hillsborough is preventing teachers, firefighters, etc. from living there.

"It's the people who're serving you, who are caring for you. That's who you're excluding."

Whoever is leading the meeting (the mayor?) asks for Kelsey's address, and then notes that she's not from Hillsborough. Because of course.

A realtor is here opposed to rezoning for multifamily housing, and wants to talk about property values.

Says there will be a negative impact to residents, says rezoning could decrease property values by 25%.

The reatlor continues, addressing Kelsey's prior comment, and says there are "hundreds" of homes for rent in the nearby area. Recommends Kelsey live there.

Claims there's a mass exodus from California, and mass vacancies nearby.

Larry from the Hillsborough Citizens Alliance is speaking now, congratulating folks on "what they can do (oppose multifamily housing) when they come together as a community."

Opposes the plan, obviously.

Jim moved here in 1976, and says Hillsborough is very unique. He's a realtor, and claims that people move here to escape high density housing. Says this will lower their property values.

The kicker: "I'm all in favor of equitable, fair housing for everybody, but at what cost?"

Khristine on the housing element advisory committee opposes the plan (which she was presumably a part of).

Says they should not cave to the scare tactics of the state, and that the council should challenge the state mandate, which she calls "a developer's dream."

Some great comments from a resident named Mike, who doubts the ADUs they're relying on to meet their numbers will actually be used for affordable housing.

Mike urges the town to come together, do the right thing, and work with the state to find a plan that will be effective.

Someone named Irina says she lived near low-income housing in SF, it was an eyesore, and claims there was a huge increase in homelessness and drugs in the area.

Says having low-income housing nearby prevented them from having children until they moved. (???)

Final comment from Irina: "Not everyone can afford to live here [in Hillsborough], but I suggest working harder like my family did. I oppose the plan."

...wow.

We've got @JalbyMD on the line to bring some reality to the conversation!

Discusses the builder's remedy, what the state of California will and won't accept.

"There are real penalties. It's happening to cities in southern California right now. I wish you the best of luck."

Housing element advisory committee member @nlangmack16 is here in support! She grew up here in Hillsborough, went to school here, says everyone deserves to have a home here.

Wants a good faith plan that ensures affordable housing and welcomes new people into the town.

A resident named Josh is worried that nonprofit affordable housing developers don't have to pay taxes, which would hurt Hillsborough schools. Urges a focus on ADUs.

Last we have @lizziepika, who grew up in Hillsborough! Chides people for prioritizing higher property values over making it possible for their kids to live there.

Says allowing more multifamily housing will allow people who work there to live there, and make the town better.

We're on to town council comments now. Will update when something interesting happens.

Ooooh, the vice mayor just announced that she and another councilmember have a presentation for us. Should be interesting!

Now comes the part in the meeting when they remind us that all this hooplah is over the requirement to provide just 554 new homes.

Councilmember Cole and VM Krolik suggest 520 of the 554 new units will be met via ADU construction.

Seems...unlikely.

They also claim all these ADUs will be used as low-income housing, which again seems extremely unlikely.

Sounds like the Mayor is supportive of the Cole/Krolik plan, which would rely almost entirely on ADUs. That's the 3 votes they need.

Yikes.

Mayor Royce: I've heard the community loud and clear. They want ADUs, and they want to exhaust all other options before we look at anything else.

Lots of applause.

Author's note: good luck getting this approved by HCD, lol

Mayor Royce (on being challenged on the realisticity by another CM): I think this town can make a pretty convincing case (on ADUs). If we can't make it, nobody can.

Well, at least that last part is true.

It sounds like they will also make no changes to their minimum lot sizes, which is half an acre.

It's almost midnight and I have an early meeting tomorrow, so I'm gonna tap out and go scarf down some dinner before bed.

I'll update this thread tomorrow with the final outcome, but it's pretty clear where this plan is heading. As always, thanks for reading!