Preserve Neighborhoods
Pleasant Hill can create housing options and grow thoughtfully without losing what makes it special. Higher density belongs along transit corridors and underutilized commercial parcels, not pushed into the interior of established neighborhoods. These proposals protect the rights of private landowners, preserve the small-town character District 4 residents value, and create real housing opportunities for everyone in the community.
Housing at the Right Scale for District 4
Develop higher density options along already established transit corridors and underutilized commercial parcels, not into the interior of established neighborhoods. Maximize existing resources and infrastructure to increase housing opportunities.
Expand housing choices for residents without erasing Pleasant Hill's small-town character. Champion Missing Middle Housing in Pleasant Hill that adds significant housing supply at a neighborhood scale without overwhelming established single family blocks. With strong design standards, these Missing Middle Housing options greatly expand choices for residents without erasing Pleasant Hill's small-town character.
Advocate to make ADUs & JADUs the easiest housing to build in Pleasant Hill. The city’s pre-approved ADU plan program is underutilized. I will push for a paired ADU concierge service with one point of contact, fast track permit issuance, more preapproved styles including two stories which allow for smaller footprint, and clear timelines.
Protect District 4 residents’ ability to age in place. I will support accessible home modification programs and oppose displacement-inducing redevelopment of established neighborhoods. I will encourage Home Share programs to connect seniors who have extra space with individuals who require an affordable place. Seniors should be able to stay in the communities they built.
Community Voice in Every Major Decision
The October 2025 vote that rezoned 1,000+ parcels in a single meeting, and the inadequately noticed rezoning of Paso Nogal Hill and Morello Terraces, were failures of process, not just policy. I will require genuine community process for every significant rezoning or development proposal in District 4: neighborhood meetings with adequate notice, plain-language project descriptions, extended public comment periods, and documented responses to community concerns before any Council vote. I will also require the City to contact all affected property owners directly and engage with them in a meaningful, substantive way, not just post a legal notice and move on.
Establish a Pleasant Hill Housing Commission as a dedicated community voice on housing policy focused exclusively on the housing challenges and opportunities facing our city. The Commission would include representatives from each of Pleasant Hill's five districts, relevant city staff, and local experts in housing, finance, and community development. Unlike other Commissions, the Housing Commission would recommend the policies, priorities, and community standards that shape how Pleasant Hill grows, ensuring that housing decisions reflect genuine district-level input before they reach the Council for vote, rather than after.
Any new development in Pleasant Hill should look and feel like it belongs here including setbacks, massing, materials, and landscaping. I'll support meaningful design standards for new developments. Good design standards are not obstacles, they are what make new buildings something neighborhoods can embrace.