Notice Post < Previous | Next >
Save Fairfax
SAVE FAIRFAX presents: A SUMMER TOWN HALL Wednesday June 18, 2025
367 Bolinas Rd
Fairfax, California 94930
6:00 PM PT - 9:00 PM PT
SAVE FAIRFAX
presents:
A SUMMER TOWN HALL
Wednesday June 18, 2025
Under the Redwoods at Deer Park Villa with FRANK & MIKE on the state of our town 6 months after the election.
All are invited.
Gates open at 6 p.m.
No-Host Refreshments & Oysters by Donovan
Program at 7p.m.
Frank Egger & Mike Ghiringhelli were elected on Nov. 5th & sworn in Dec. 4th, 2024.
Voters also delivered a message to the previous Town Council on three Town Ballot Measures:
- Defeating Measure H that would have allowed the Town Manager to appoint the Town Clerk rather than the historical voter election process,
- Passing Measure I that rejected the extreme Rent Control & Just Cause for Eviction ordinances authored by the head of the Berkeley Rent Control Board & approved by the previous Town Council, and
- Rejecting Measure J, the $40 million Bond Measure for roads, with only $18 million for roads $22 million for interest, that would have resulted in 55% interest over 30 years. There are alternatives by prioritizing SF Drake, Broadway, Center and Bolinas Roads downtown and not using Gas Tax & Vehicle revenues for salaries.
The previous Town Council was used to 5 to 0 unanimous votes 99% of the time, it was the old "Go Along to Get Along" Town Council.
They allowed their Land Use consultant, Dyett & Bhatia, to prepare their own Environmental Impact Report for the Housing Element and Re-Zonings, also allowed Dyett &Bhatia to skip a full blown EIR and prepare a Programmatic EIR (less information showing minimal adverse impact). Fairfax did not require an EIR prepared by an independent 3rd party. The Fairfax Town Council then unanimously Certified Dyett & Bhatia's PEIR and Adopted Dyett & Bhatia's Housing Element.
How does one spell "Conflict of Interest"?
Included in the Town Council's approved housing sites for 34 units is 615 Oak Manor Drive, a 50 acre parcel that Judge Willian Stephen's ordered to be Private Open Space as a settlement with the then developer, the Ridge Top Parcel between Meadow Land and the Canon Tennis & Swim Club with 8 units, and the Forrest Avenue Town Owned Open Space Parcel for 10 units.
There has been much publicity about School Street Plaza and the proposal for 243 units by the Boca Raton, Florida based developer (the Developer says they could build up to 350 units at SSP) but very little publicity about the other 6 WHO-A, Workforce Housing Opportunity Sites, allowing High Rise Housing Towers up to 7 stories tall in Downtown Fairfax.
Here they are:
#2, The former Bank of America on Broadway,
#3, Fairfax Square
#4, the former burned out and toxic French Laundry site across from Fairfax's Park on Bolinas Road,
#5, Fairfax Garage & Body Shop on S.F. Drake,
#6, the former gas station, now a recreational vehicle sales site next to the Bicycle Museum and
#7, the small strip of commercial businesses between Harry’s Hill and Fitzpatrick’s Plumbing & Heating.
These 6 sites could have up to 270 additional units, 90 units per acre plus density bonuses if other developers follow the Boca Raton developer's formula for density.
The Workforce Housing Opportunity Sites' Ordinance allowing for Ministerial Approvals by Staff if certain conditions were met and No EIR or Public Hearings was unanimously adopted in a 5-0 vote on February 7, 2024:
9. Waive Second Reading, Read by Title Only and Adopt an Ordinance Amending Title 17 (Zoning) of the Fairfax Municipal Code to Update Chapters: 17.012 (Zone Districts Established); 17.092 (CL Limited Commercial Zone); 17.096 (CH Highway Commercial Zone); and 17.100 (CC Central Commercial Zone); and adding 17.126 (Workforce Housing Overlay Zone). Adoption of this Ordinance is Consistent with the Environmental Impact Report Prepared for the Recently Adopted 2023-31 Housing Element – Planning & Building Services Director, Jeff Beiswenger
In addition, there are alternatives to meet the State's RHNA numbers. The Town Council tells us what great shape we are in financially but Fairfax is late on receiving the Town Audit from 2023-2024.
Fairfax has used the same Auditor for 10 years. It is obviously time for a change. A Forensic Audit may be necessary just as the new Mayor of Oakland is calling for over there.
Join us this coming Wednesday,
June 18th at Deer Park Villa.
Program at 7 pm.
Organization: Save Fairfax
Website: https://www.facebook.com/groups/672206129645674/