San Mateo Approves 10-Unit Housing Project After Legal Battle

SAN MATEO, CA — The San Mateo City Council approved a 10-unit housing project along El Camino Real on Monday, ending a five-year legal battle that drew the attention of the state’s attorney general and governor.

The council at long last approved the development on West Santa Inez Avenue after initially denying the project back in 2017 due to height concerns.

The California Renters Legal Advocacy and Education Fund (CaRLA) sued, citing the Housing Accountability Act, which limits cities' ability to deny development proposals that meet local objective development standards and contribute to housing needs.

Related: San Mateo Backs Down On Housing Ruling With Statewide Impact

Last year, the state appeals' court overturned an earlier ruling by a trial court, which sided with San Mateo. The city decided that it would not appeal the court ruling and reached a settlement with CaRLA.

Top state officials, including Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta, applauded the appeal court's decision last year upholding the Housing Accountability Act.

"The court's decision protects our ability to hold local governments to account and ensures that families throughout California won't suffer when those same local leaders refuse to do their part to approve new housing," Newsom said in September.