4 W. Santa Inez, San Mateo

In 2017, a modest housing project was proposed for 4 West Santa Inez Avenue that would add 10 units to the Bay Area’s already scarce housing supply. On February 5, 2018, San Mateo City Council voted to deny the project.

The City of San Mateo denied the project on the grounds that “the structures, site plan, and landscaping are not in scale and are not harmonious with the character of the neighborhood”. We allege that the city’s reason for denial of the project was based on subjective criteria, which is a violation of the Housing Accountability Act’s requirement that projects be denied for objective, well-defined criteria.

Timeline

2016-02-01: John Matthews Architects proposes 10 units of housing at 4 W. Santa Inez
2019-08-14 10:55:17: City of San Mateo submitted a : Request for Judicial Notice
2019-08-28 14:56:52: Blog post: Tomorrow: CaRLA v San Mateo
2018-04-26 13:00:30: Blog post: The City of San Mateo denied housing. Today, we filed suit.
2018-03-01 08:55:35: Blog post: San Mateo denies housing. CaRLA fights back.
2018-04-30 17:43:50: CaRLA submitted a Petition: Petition for Writ of Administrative Mandate
2019-08-29 16:13:11: San Mateo County Superior Court submitted a : August 29, 2019 Law and Motion Calendar
2019-08-28 14:46:09: CaRLA submitted a : Petitioner's Reply Brief
2019-08-14 10:46:49: City of San Mateo submitted a : Proof of Service
2017-08-08: The project is heard at the city’s planning commission and continued to a date uncertain, after two hours of testimony.
2019-08-14 10:44:04: City of San Mateo submitted a : Respondents' Opposition Brief
2019-07-15 16:08:41: CaRLA submitted a : Opening Brief in CaRLA v San Mateo
2018-02-02 16:08:35: CaRLA submitted a Letter: Legal threat letter
2018-04-26: CaRLA files suit, alleging a violation of the Housing Accountability Act
2018-02-05: The City of San Mateo’s city council upholds the planning commission’s denial, contradicting the requirements of the state Housing Accountability Act.
2017-10-10: The project is officially denied at the planning commission. John Matthews Architects appeals the decision.
2017-09-26: A motion of intent to deny is passed at the planning commission.
2019-09-11 10:25:00: Blog post: Court delays our hearing and asks for further briefing in San Mateo

Press

The Daily Journal

Status: Litigation in progress

Documents in this case

Date	Author	Title	Summary
2018-02-02 04:08	CaRLA	Legal threat letter	We had our attorney send in a formal threat letter to the city, outlining how they broke the law and why we will win.
2019-07-15 04:08	CaRLA	Opening Brief in CaRLA v San Mateo
2019-08-14 10:44	City of San Mateo	Respondents’ Opposition Brief
2019-08-14 10:46	City of San Mateo	Proof of Service
2019-08-14 10:55	City of San Mateo	Request for Judicial Notice
2019-08-28 02:46	CaRLA	Petitioner’s Reply Brief
2019-08-29 04:13	San Mateo County Superior Court	August 29, 2019 Law and Motion Calendar
2018-04-30 05:43	CaRLA	Petition for Writ of Administrative Mandate