Midcoast Council Mobilizes Against County Plan to Nearly Double Housing Permit Cap

The Midcoast Community Council united against a San Mateo County proposal to raise the annual housing permit cap from 40 to 75 units, calling a rare special meeting to draft a formal response before the county's June 30 public meeting — a meeting the council says was scheduled without consulting them. Six public commenters reinforced the opposition, pointing to wildfire evacuation risks, crumbling stormwater infrastructure, and unmet requirements baked into the very coastal plan the county now wants to amend.

• Council opposes proposed Local Coastal Program (LCP) amendment to raise the mid-coast annual housing permit cap from 40 to 75 units, citing unmet infrastructure preconditions

• Special meeting called for Monday, June 29 at 7 p.m. to approve a formal statement before the county's June 30 public meeting

• Council members blast county planning department for scheduling the public meeting without coordinating with the MCC as promised

• Medical Reserve Corps reports fivefold growth from 10 to 50 coastside volunteers under a Measure K grant expiring June 2027

• Board of Supervisors approves midcoast design standard overhaul, raising the CDRC exemption threshold from 150 to 500 square feet

The Midcoast Community Council's June 24 meeting was dominated by a single question: Should the county be allowed to raise the annual housing building permit cap on the mid-coast from 40 to 75 units? Every council member and every public commenter who addressed the issue said no.