A chronology of San Mateo's building height limits.
1991: Voters passed the first height limits, Measure H, expiration 2005.
2004: Voters passed Measure P which extended limits until December 2020.
2018: Citizens collected signatures to place a measure on the 2018 ballot to extend height limits until 2030. City Council did not put it on the 2018 ballot.
2020: The City Council put the above petition on the 2020 ballot as Measure Y. They also unanimously opposed it.
March 2020: A group of developers circulated a competing height limits petition for the 2020 ballot. It permitted taller buildings in some parts of the city. COVID-19 aborted their efforts.
June 2020: The City Council added the developers petition to the ballot even though it lacked sufficient signatures. They contended the developers could have obtained enough signatures if the virus had not stopped them. The legality went unchallenged. It was called Measure R.
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September 2020: Voters received a bulk mailed flyer with Mayor Joe Goethal's endorsement of the developer's Measure R.
November 2020: Measure R was defeated by 3,546 votes. Measure Y passed by 43 votes extending the original height limits until 2030.
July 2024: The City Council placed Measure T on the November 2024 ballot. It significantly relaxes the height limits in some parts of the city.
August 2024: The state certified San Mateo's 2030 Housing Element. The state specified 7,015 additional units by 2030. The element provided 10,286, all within Measure Y's limits. Measure T was not needed.
Future: The state has specified an additional 15,000 residential units between 2030 and 2040. Will there be a ballot proposal to extend height limits beyond 2030?
Close! The housing element is approved under the condition that the city updates the general plan and allows greater heights and densities. I agree we should just eliminate the height and density limit, but measure T is a compromise that will allow some affordable homes. Sadly, a direct repeal of the poorly written measure that has hampered the city for so long is not an option.
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(1) comment
Close! The housing element is approved under the condition that the city updates the general plan and allows greater heights and densities. I agree we should just eliminate the height and density limit, but measure T is a compromise that will allow some affordable homes. Sadly, a direct repeal of the poorly written measure that has hampered the city for so long is not an option.
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.