Belvedere revises housing plan again, expects quick certification

Belvedere made a minor tweak to its state-mandated housing plan last week that city officials say should end years of back-and-forth with Sacramento and secure certification within weeks — though the new language doesn’t quite align with recent statements from the landowner whose properties anchor the plan.

The City Council unanimously approved the revision to its 2023-2031 housing element Feb. 9 after the California Department of Housing and Community Development requested one additional legal clause to fully satisfy state requirements for how cities justify their housing sites.

Belvedere had sent the latest version for 60-day review Dec. 11, meaning the city was poised to receive formal findings by Feb. 9. However, Planning and Building Director Rebecca Markwick said that after staff met directly with state officials, the city agreed to rescind the Dec. 11 submittal, ending the risk of yet another rejection. With the council’s Feb. 9 revision in place, she resubmitted the updated version to the state housing agency Feb. 10.

“They should have a (findings) letter to us within a few weeks and will not use the full 60 days that they are allowed to,” Markwick said by email.

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