Week 5 Question

Piedmont’s state-approved Housing Element commits the city to plan for 587 new homes by 2031, 257 of them affordable to lower-income households. The largest single project is in Moraga Canyon, where the city is now choosing a developer to build at least 132 units, including at least 60 affordable units, on city-owned land. The next council is expected to approve that developer agreement. What would you need to see in it before voting yes?

Nancy Beninati
(NancyforPiedmont.com)

I support creating new and affordable housing. Throughout my career at the Attorney General’s Office, I advocated for equitable, accessible, and affordable housing. Where you live impacts so many aspects of your life — where you work and buy food, public safety, transportation, your friends and neighbors, and your schools.

At the same time, Piedmont is required to plan for hundreds of new homes in a city with little undeveloped land. Meeting that state housing obligation will require thoughtful planning and difficult choices. Any development needs to reflect both our housing obligations and the needs of the Piedmont community.

Before I could support a project, I would want to know that it delivers the required affordable housing, is financially and legally sound, and enhances the community. I would want clear commitments regarding infrastructure, traffic and parking, public safety, environmental and wildfire impacts, construction impacts, and preservation of open space where feasible. Most importantly, I would want a transparent process, clear performance requirements, and meaningful accountability if the developer does not meet its commitments.

We should approach our housing obligations thoughtfully and realistically, given Piedmont’s limited land and the need to carefully consider how new development will affect our community.