Half Moon Bay is facing some serious heat from Governor Gavin Newsom over its failure to meet state housing requirements. The coastal city recently got a notice from the California Department of Housing and Community Development saying it’s not doing enough to zone land for new housing development. Now, the city has 30 days to respond or risk legal action, and it’s not the only place dealing with this issue. Fifteen jurisdictions across California received similar warnings last week.

“I’m disappointed on behalf of the state and the people of California that after years of effort, we still have communities that aren’t meeting the needs of their residents”, Newsom said in a statement. “We’ll keep pushing forward by enforcing the law, fighting NIMBY actions, and holding local governments accountable, because every Californian deserves a place to call home”.

But here’s where things get complicated. Half Moon Bay isn’t just being stubborn about housing, the city actually faces some unique challenges that other places don’t have to deal with. Located on the coast, any zoning changes the city makes need approval from the California Coastal Commission first. That extra layer of bureaucracy takes time, making it nearly impossible for Half Moon Bay to meet the state’s timeline.

“For us, we have to get those through the Coastal Commission before they’re fully adopted”, explained City Manager Matthew Chidester. “That’s why our timeline isn’t meeting the expectations of HCD and the governor, because we have this extra layer that we cannot get around”.

There’s another problem holding back housing development: Measure D. This voter-approved initiative from 1999 caps population growth at 1-1.5% annually and requires any new residential projects to get special permits. Basically, the city can only approve a certain number of new homes each year, which severely limits housing options.

The most visible example of these delays is a 40-unit affordable housing project for older farmworkers at 555 Kelly Avenue. The project has been stuck in development for over two years and hasn’t even broken ground yet. The development was originally pushed after a 2023 mass shooting highlighted the terrible living conditions of some farmworkers in the area, but community concerns about the project’s size have caused major delays at public hearings.

The city is considering putting a ballot measure before voters that would loosen the restrictions on Measure D to allow for more housing development. Mayor Debbie Ruddock says Half Moon Bay is “committed to working collaboratively with state partners to meet housing requirements and expand housing opportunities for residents at all income levels”.

Chidester is hoping that when the city sits down with state officials, they’ll understand the legal and logistical barriers Half Moon Bay faces. The city expects to have zoning amendments approved by October, but whether that timeline satisfies the state remains to be seen.