Saratoga council unanimously approves Housing Element

The Saratoga City Council voted unanimously to approve the city’s Housing Element at a March 20 meeting after a long road of drafting and revising the document that goes back three years.

City councilmembers all spoke in favor of approving the document that outlines all housing developments to be built in the city through 2031, largely agreeing on the urgency of doing so to prevent more proposals for builder’s remedy projects in the city. Several members of the public attended in person and remotely to speak out against these proposed projects, which could be undertaken without the city’s approval, and in favor of approving the document.

Councilmember Tina Walia thanked residents who took part in the development of the Housing Element going back to 2021, saying that the city was initially criticized for beginning the process too early.

“I would like to quote a statement from numerous residents’ emails that I agree with. ‘At this time it’s important to end this process which has divided our city and caused stress and uncertainty for its citizens. It’s now time and we need to move forward,’” she said.

The vote marked the fifth draft of the Housing Element approved by the council. The document still needs to be certified by the state Department of Housing and Community Development.

Councilmember Chuck Page said local municipalities like Saratoga now have much less control over housing development than they did when he previously served on the council in 2014.

“As long as we keep voting for the same people, we’ll get the same stuff,” he said. “I’m disappointed that unfortunately we don’t have any balance in Sacramento.”

Both Page and Vice Mayor Belal Aftab expressed concern about how the Housing Element disproportionately places more developments in the northern part of the city, but supported its approval nonetheless.

“I don’t love this plan; I think it unfairly burdens the northern part of Saratoga,” Aftab said.

The motion to approve the Housing Element also included a motion to approve updates to the city’s 2040 General Plan, an environmental impact report for the Housing Element and General Plan, and amendments to the zoning code.

City staff congratulated the council for approving the Housing Element after much back and forth with the state.

“I’m feeling it after three years,” said Walia, who was mayor when the process of drafting the document began. “It’s a moment for the city.”