Measure D Squeeze: Six Growth Slots Awarded as ADU Demand Surges in Half Moon Bay

Half Moon Bay's Planning Commission awarded six coveted Measure D growth allocations — nearly all for accessory dwelling units — while flagging deeper tensions over a voter-approved growth cap that may be out of step with a city whose population hasn't budged in a quarter century. Commissioners also accepted the annual housing progress report, pressing staff to forecast whether the city can hit its state housing targets before a March 17 Council presentation.

• Six Measure D allocations awarded from a pool of 21 applicants; 15 deferred to transfers or 2027

• Commission recommends Council slash the transfer wait from six months to 30 days

• Housing element freshly certified, but commissioners flag builder's remedy risk citing Pacifica's troubles

• Planning Director says builder's remedy doesn't apply in the coastal zone — commissioners aren't fully reassured

• Staff planner departure forces yet another senior planner recruitment in a stretched department

Half Moon Bay's 1999 voter-approved Measure D caps limits residential growth to 1% annually, with an optional additional 0.5% for units in the downtown area, for a total of 1.5% growth This year, the math got tight: 17 of those 23 outside-of-downtown allocations were already reserved for the 940 Main Street affordable housing project, leaving just six slots for everyone else.