City’s housing plan altered after outcry

Atherton passed a modified Housing Element plan after a marathon meeting on Tuesday night that drew heated opposition to apartment buildings from residents of the wealthy Silicon Valley town.

The plan, which is mandated by the state and calls for 348 new homes in the next eight years, sparked concerns from residents. including Warriors superstar Steph Curry and his wife, Ayesha. The Currys said a potential plan for 16 townhomes at 23 Oakwood would “loom” behind their home.

“Safety and privacy for us and our kids continues to be our top priority and one of the biggest reasons we chose Atherton as home,” they wrote in a letter last month.

Atherton’s City Council approved a plan that would allow 16 townhomes on the site, but also introduced a zoning overlay that would allow for single-family homes as an alternative. The Almanac first reported the Currys’ opposition and details of Tuesday’s meeting.

A representative for Curry didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

City officials declined to zone areas around El Camino Real and Valparaiso Avenue for multifamily apartments.

The bulk of the city’s plan calls for allowing 280 accessory dwelling units, which can be backyard cottages or converted spaces into bedrooms. The amount of housing built is ultimately up to developers, but the city sets zoning guidelines for where development can occur.

The Currys are far from the only residents opposing density. Last year, billionaire venture capitalist Marc Andreessen and his wife, Laura, also stated “IMMENSE objection” to allowing more apartments in the town. “They will MASSIVELY decrease our home values,” they wrote.

Executives from Netflix, venture capital firm Benchmark and former Google and Apple executives also wrote letters of opposition.

Atherton’s plan requires certification by the state.

The California Department of Housing and Community Development couldn’t immediately be reached for information on the status of Atherton’s plan.