Housing groups threaten Belvedere with lawsuits

The Belvedere City Council next week plans to take at least one more look at its eight-year blueprint for housing before sending it off for state review, citing concerns about public safety, the total number of units identified for development and what one member described as its “very woke narrative” on combating discrimination.

However, critics say the council can’t legally move forward with its plan to approve and adopt the 2023-2031 housing element before the state’s 90-day review, with a coalition of three nonprofit pro-housing groups threatening to sue, saying the city is trying to “cheat the process.”

“If the city proceeds with adoption of its housing element now, the city will be subject to the risk of immediate litigation to invalidate that action,” attorneys for Yimby Law, Californians for Homeownership and the California Renters Legal Advocacy & Education Fund wrote in a joint letter to the city Jan. 9, just hours before the council meeting. “We urge you to direct staff to instead submit a draft to (the state) for review and follow the process required by state law.”

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