Measure G Defeat Strands City's Affordable-Housing Plans

Voters’ reluctance to pass Measure G throws in doubt the future of new, affordably-priced housing stock in the city.

For the past seven years, San Mateo has required developers to devote a percentage of new construction to affordable units. Specifically, builders of rental projects consisting of 11 units or more units must set aside 15 percent for low-income earners or 10 percent for those considered very low-income.

In 2009, a state appeals court ruled such mandates unlawful. Municipalities have skirted the problem by levying fees on developers, which they then use to create more affordable housing stock. But San Mateo’s affordable-housing ordinance specifically rules out such fees.

Measure G would have changed that, opening the doors to fees which could be substantial enough to make the construction of affordable units more appealing.

It required only a simple majority to pass, but went down to defeat with nearly 51.89 percent of voters opposing it.

The city is sandwiched between the need for housing – more than 1,000 are on wait lists for affordable units – and the eventuality of a developer lawsuit.

In September, the San Mateo City Council adopted a stop-gap measure that halted all new construction of rental units. In the face of yesterday’s election, an extended ban would give the city breathing room while it crafts an alternative.