Preapproved ADUs
Preapproved plans for ADUs and JADUs
Proposal:
Link to ProposalResources:
Foster City
In Compliance
Out of Compliance
Unincorporated Area
Unincorporated Area
Unincorporated Area
Overview
Population
33215
Avg. Household Income
$
191267
Experiencing Rent Burden
38
Providing adequate housing options is a key function of local governments. To help residents ensure their local government is meeting this need, we’ve compiled important information about this jurisdiction’s housing efforts below.
Housing Element is In Compliance
This city is currently working on implementing its housing element.
Housing Element is Out of Compliance
This city is currently working on implementing its housing element.
Good Progress
This city is currently on track to meet their RHNA housing targets.
Making Slow Progress
This city is falling behind. It is not on track to meet its housing targets.
Housing Targets
Every 8 years California assesses housing need and assigns each city with a target they must hit. If
Foster City
repeats its efforts from the previous cycle
it will only meet 48% of the identified need.
Current RHNA Target
2022
-
2030
On Target
Behind
Hit Target
Missed
Very Low Income
Low Income
Median Income
Above Median Income
State Statutes
Organizers fighting for fair housing can use many state laws to ensure that jurisdictions meet their housing targets.
Builder’s Remedy
When a city’s Housing Element is out of compliance, the Builder’s Remedy allows developers to bypass the zoning code and city general plan for qualifying affordable housing projects. If a Builders Remedy project application was submitted prior to 1/1/2025, there are virtually no limits on the size and density of a project proposed. Subsequent to 1/1/2025, in exchange for more certainty in the entitlement process, AB 1893 limits the density for Builders Remedy projects.
Does not apply
Does not apply
Does not apply
SB 423
When cities lack a compliant housing element or are behind on RHNA, this statute streamlines approval of projects that meet a threshold of affordable units.
50% Affordable
50% Affordable
Conditions in
San Mateo County
HE Compliance
How does
Foster City
compare to its neighboring cities?
This city is currently doing a worse job than its neighbors at meeting housing needs.
Progress
-4
-4
Income
17
17
Density
30
30
Foster City
's Plan
Add Policy
Key parts of
Foster City
’s housing element are currently being worked on. Get involved to hold them accountable for meeting their deadlines.
Impactful Housing Element Policies:
No prioritized policies
There are no prioritized housing element policies for this jurisdiction which are currently being tracked. If you'd like to submit a policy to be tracked, please fill out the policy submission form.
Other Tracked Housing Element Policies:
Required (not introducted)
Due
Dec 1
,
2024
Reduce parking minimums
Implements a parking maximum and reduces guest parking by 50%
Proposal:
Link to ProposalResources:
Required (not introducted)
Due
Dec 1
,
2024
Reduce zoning constraints
Eliminates minimum floor areas, reduces other zoning barriers
Proposal:
Link to ProposalResources:
Required (not introducted)
Due
Dec 1
,
2024
Additional ADUs in high opportunity areas
Allows up to three ADUs per single-family lot
Proposal:
Link to ProposalResources:
Required (not introducted)
Due
Dec 1
,
2023
Additional ADUs in high opportunity areas
Allows up to three ADUs per single-family lot
Proposal:
Link to ProposalResources:
Required (not introducted)
Due
,
Anti-Displacement Strategy
Evaluating a range of tenant protections, including a set of just cause for eviction protections strengthened beyond the minimum required by state law
Proposal:
Link to ProposalResources:
Required (not introducted)
Due
,
Development Impact Fee Waiver
75% reduction in impact fees for very low and low income units for projects at least 20% affordable, and a 100% fee reduction for projects at least 25% affordable
Proposal:
Link to ProposalResources:
Required (not introducted)
Due
,
Foster City Housing Element
It was certified
Evan Adams "Did a post on the Foster City Housing element discussion at the vision and policy summit 2024. Some of the highlights:
- Regarding the review process “some things seem to be very arbitrary”
- City Manager stating that the Housing Element process couldn’t have gone better “I don’t know that we could have done anything better. To be honest. In fact, if anything, we’ve approached this in an effect efficient way possible because we are dealing with an organization [HCD] that doesn’t care about efficiency and effectiveness.”
- The analysis into the housing element... the city manager stated “The additional analysis that we’re getting required to do is a lot of it, quite frankly, is garbage. It’s it’s it’s almost busy work beyond busy work and it feels a little bit, and I’m quite frankly, quite ticked off at this, because this is, this is bureaucracy gone more than a month. This is awful. Um, because it’s the city’s cost here, the stuff that they’re [HCD] asking for is senseless. It’s just dumb and it feels like a stalling tactic. ‘well we’re not prepared to say yes yet or we haven’t gotten to you, so give us more information on this, do this. That is how it feels.”
Jeremy Levine "Ugh I talked with Paul about this end of last week, very disappointing. This site inventory is one of the worst—almost all preexisting multi-family, with very moderate rezoning.I’m going to follow up with HCD to understand why they let this happen.
Proposal:
Link to ProposalResources:
Passed/Approved
Due
,
Required (not introducted)
Due
,
Reduce parking minimums
Implements a parking maximum and reduces guest parking by 50%
Proposal:
Link to ProposalResources:
Required (not introducted)
Due
,
Reduce zoning constraints
Eliminates minimum floor areas, reduces other zoning barriers
Proposal:
Link to ProposalResources:
Required (not introducted)
Due
,
Required (not introducted)
Due
,
Rezoning
A variety of rezones to accommodate the Regional Housing Needs Allocation
Proposal:
Link to ProposalResources:
Required (not introducted)
Due
,
Rezoning
A variety of rezones to accommodate the Regional Housing Needs Allocation
Proposal:
Link to ProposalResources:
Required (not introducted)
Due
,
Join the Fun!
Our volunteers, watchdogs, push cities to enact good housing policy and keep tabs on the city’s policy progress. Sign up to help push
Foster City
reach its housing targets.
San Mateo County
's Volunteers
33
Current Watchdogs
Level III
33/40 Volunteers
Upcoming Opportunities
Add Event
These upcoming events and tasks are great opportunities to make a difference in your community.
Event Name
Stop by Drinks & Agendas
Each Friday at 12:00PST our team gets together via Zoom to monitor local agendas so we can direct watchdogs to key meetings where decisions are being made about housing.
Watchdog Reports
Add Report
Our watchdogs are on the ground observing and taking part in the fight for fair housing. Read their reports below.
Foster City
's Reports
Anonymous
Leora Tanjuatco Ross
11
/
24
HCD told them that they didn't do their re-zoning correctly, but only required small changes. They should get re-certified soon.
/
Loss
/
Pro Housing
/
Win
/
Pro Housing
/
Deferred
/
Pro Housing
Anonymous
Leora Tanjuatco Ross
10
/
24
San Carlos has also adopted objective standards and worked on the permit process. So they have:
- Completed rezoning
- Completed object design standards
- Improved the permit process
- Has approved some significant multi-unit projects
- Has transferred ownership of property from a defunct developer to San Mateo County in prep for for future housing
Which is pretty good for a town that wants to retain its charm and character.
/
Loss
/
Pro Housing
/
Win
/
Pro Housing
/
Deferred
/
Pro Housing
Anonymous
07
/
23
County grand jury has recently found that ADU-heavy housing-element strategies are bad. TBD whether the grand jury finding will matter to HCD.
/
Loss
/
Pro Housing
/
Win
/
Pro Housing
/
Deferred
/
Pro Housing
Anonymous
06
/
23
Three general policy changes were discussed:
- Rezoning: previous draft relied on rezoning primarily in the North Fair Oaks to meet the county's RHNA affordable quota. Housing advocates provided public comment urging the board to expand rezoning to also include higher opportunity neigborhoods. Supervisor started the conversation in firm support for this effort, and Pine and Corzo backed him up. Mueller suggested the Board not weigh in on the issues and essentially let the planning department work it out, which was met with criticism
- Tenant protections: Corzo and Pine have been working on a tenant protection ordinance to strengthen just cause standards and explore options of a rental registry, etc. Advocates called on the county to incorporate these updates into the housing element. The county attorney provided clarification to the board that the housing element would have supremacy over an ordinance, and any future ordinance would need to comply with the element. The board generally agreed that since the ordinance is already in the works, there was no need to further slow down the element drafting process by incorporating tenant protections
Housing for special needs: Board discussed a number of options that would strengthen the element's language regarding supportive/accessible housing. One such revision they seemed in favor of regarding lowering minimum parking requirements for housing for disabled individuals. The board agreed that that policy "made sense."
The Board ultimately pushed final decisions on these measures to the next meeting. The Board also discussed how the supervisors intended to allocate their Measure K money, but I didn't stick around for that.
/
Loss
18
/
20
Pro Housing
/
Win
18
/
20
Pro Housing
/
Deferred
18
/
20
Pro Housing
Anonymous
06
/
23
/
Loss
13
/
20
Pro Housing
/
Win
13
/
20
Pro Housing
/
Deferred
13
/
20
Pro Housing
Anonymous
04
/
23
It was a general public study session where feedback was provided to support more affordable housing in our city in support of state laws
/
Loss
15
/
30
Pro Housing
/
Win
15
/
30
Pro Housing
/
Deferred
15
/
30
Pro Housing
Anonymous
magpie
10
/
22
William Gibson - presented on (reduced) constraints, concerns from community re housing, HE goals, # of pipeline projects and ADUS. Commissioner comments. Inappropriate parcels should be identified directly to him.
Comments by Green Foothills, community members, including advocate for senior housing and advocates against sprawl. Commenters focused on the numbers being high and incorrect assumptions (e.g. ADUs = housing and all vacant SFH lots will be built out).
Commission voted to submit as-is to the Board of Supervisors (did not respond to any of the public comments).
San Mateo County Planning Commission - Oct 12, 2022
10
/
22
Loss
3
/
6
Pro Housing
San Mateo County Planning Commission - Oct 12, 2022
10
/
22
Win
3
/
6
Pro Housing
Planning Commission
10
/
22
Deferred
3
/
6
Pro Housing
Anonymous
03
/
21
UPCOMING: https://www.fostercity.org/community/page/join-conversation-city-council-planning-commission-discusses-housing-324-public Joint FC CC & PC Meeting, 2 step event, 1st step is info session on Water Availibility, Traffic and Safety for Home is Foster City program with multiple consultnats 2nd part of meeting is joint CC & PC meeting where Affordable Housing Overlay Zone will be discussed which is next deadline for FC to submit to HCD
/
Loss
/
Pro Housing
/
Win
/
Pro Housing
/
Deferred
/
Pro Housing
Anonymous
03
/
21
Justify ADU rent affordability level w/ 21 elements San Mateo County Wide survey of ADU rents https://www.fostercity.org/sites/default/files/fileattachments/community_development/page/3431/he-appendix-6-affordability-of-second-units.pdf
Foster City Planning Commission - Mar 4, 2021
03
/
21
Loss
/
Pro Housing
Foster City Planning Commission - Mar 4, 2021
03
/
21
Win
/
Pro Housing
Planning Commission
03
/
21
Deferred
/
Pro Housing