Another unfair housing bill headed for Assembly vote
CLAYTON, CA (July 14, 2021) —Senate Bill 9 (SB9), which I wrote about in the March 2021 Pioneer, has made it out of committee and is headed for a vote on the Assembly floor.
To recap, SB9 requires a local government to ministerially approve a housing development containing two residential units in single-family residential zones. It further requires a local government to allow a developer to convert an existing single-family home into a duplex as well as allow an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) and a junior accessory dwelling unit (JADU) to the same parcel.
The bill requires a local government to ministerially approve a single-family lot split, creating two lots, and allowing the construction of one single-family home, one ADU and one JADU on each lot – for a total of up to six units on a parcel originally zoned for one single-family home.
Even with current modifications, those in Clayton government are opposed to this bill. I have met with Assemblymember Tim Grayson to discuss this bill, and others like it, and the need to allow cities to continue maintaining local control to ensure our neighborhoods stay intact and not be subdivided into residential chaos. Grayson is scheduling meetings to discuss modifying the bill to benefit small, nearly built-out cities like Clayton, but time is running out. Please consider voicing your opinion to Grayson at https://a14.asmdc.org.
Returning to in-person meetings
As we carefully come out of the pandemic, government agencies will be moving back to in-person meetings. Clayton will host the return of face-to-face Mayors Conferences in November. This will be a golden opportunity to show off Clayton’s hospitality and charm to mayors from all around the county, and we are looking forward to it.
Your City Council will also head back to Hoyer Hall soon. We have been enthused by the on-going public attendance and participation at our virtual council meetings and want this to continue as we return to the council chamber. To that end, we are exploring the tech needed to allow those who wish to continue attending our meetings virtually.
This may take some time to accomplish, so please consider attending the meetings in person when you can. Clayton is better with informed and involved citizens.
Groovin’ in the Grove
Finally, July 17 sees the return of our Concerts in the Grove series. Nothing says “Clayton” more than these summer concerts, and we are thrilled to have them back.
The Clayton Business & Community Association (CBCA) and Republic Services have returned as primary sponsors, but concert organizers have foregone asking our local businesses to help fund this year’s event due to the pandemic’s economic impact on them. Your donations will be a big help. Know that the money you donate goes directly toward funding the 2022 concert series.
This year’s concert dates are July 17 and 31, Aug. 14 and 28, and Sept. 11, all beginning at 6 p.m. For more information on the schedule or how to make a tax-deductible donation, please go to www.claytonconcerts.com. Enjoy!
Send questions and comments to cw@claytonca.gov, or call (925) 673-7324