Fairfax housing element approved by state
The town could allow nearly 600 new residences in the eight-year planning cycle that ends in 2031.
The long-awaited housing element for Fairfax has been approved by the state.
The town received a letter from the California Department of Housing and Community Development on Monday that certified the 2023-31 housing element meets state standards. The letter confirms the document is in substantial compliance with requirements on affordable housing, zoning and implementation.
Fairfax was required to allow 490 new residences in the eight-year planning cycle. The town has planned for up to 598, said Councilmember Chance Cutrano.
“It is an exciting and relieving moment to be able to create a plan that conforms with everything that the state is looking for,” Cutrano said. “The big win is that it takes so long for any of these projects to get into the pipeline and come to fruition anyway, but to work with the community to get to this point is important.”
The letter from the state acknowledged programs that the town had undertaken as reason for the approval. It specifically mentioned the adoption of a workforce housing overlay, which would rezone certain parts of the town to allow for development.
The state also acknowledged zoning code amendments such as new objective design standards; density bonus provisions, which will allow for higher densities of housing under certain conditions; and zoning for residential care centers and transitional and supportive housing.
Mayor Barbara Coler said the town is already implementing the housing element. She said the council has passed three resolutions related to zoning updates and hired a housing specialist to manage the implementation.
“It has been a very long process for us,” Coler said. “We are well on our way and we are looking forward to developing housing in Fairfax.”
About half the new housing is focused on the downtown area, Coler said, close to public transit and farther from the more rural areas.
“We think it will fit in with our village quality,” she said.
Cutrano said the housing sites were selected to be a part of the town’s walkable, bikeable and liveable standards.
“We have a collection of sites that are in the best possible locations to meet our housing needs,” Cutrano said.
The housing element was adopted in December and received by the state for review on March 14.
The town is planning for the approval and construction of 175 residences near School Street Plaza. The town also plans for the development of housing on town-owned sites.
Jeff Beiswenger, the town planning director, said last month that the town had issued building permits for seven residences, all accessory dwelling units.
For the previous housing cycle, between 2015 and 2022, Fairfax was required to allow 61 more residences. In that time, more than double that were developed. The town only fell short of its requirement in the above-moderate-income category, a staff report said.