Belvedere council OKs new 8-year housing plan and rezoning

Belvedere this week was expected to complete rezoning to allow for more housing under the latest version of its eight-year roadmap, a plan separately approved by the City Council Jan. 16 and on its way to Sacramento for review. However, while the city will likely meet the state’s Jan. 31 deadline to complete rezoning, it appears to have softened its position on whether it’s exposed to the so-called builder’s remedy.

In 4-0 votes last week, with member Nancy Kemnitzer recused, the council approved its second attempt at a 2023-2031 housing element and the first reading of an ordinance to update zoning to match. The city needs to identify sites for at least 160 new units, with the plan calling for rezoning to allow for more density at The Boardwalk shopping center and in two clusters of multifamily areas along Beach Road.

However, late revisions approved by the council backed off plans to ban single-family housing in multifamily zones citywide. The council was set to meet again Jan. 22, after The Ark’s press time, for a required second reading to formally approve and adopt those zoning changes.

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