The sleepy town of Fairfax is about to get a serious wake-up call, and it’s all about housing, politics, and who gets to call the shots.

In a classic Bay Area political showdown, local residents are staging a recall campaign against Mayor Lisel Blash and Councilmember Stephanie Hellman, all because of a proposed high-density apartment building that threatens to transform their quaint mountain community.

The Housing Mandate Dilemma

California’s aggressive housing requirements are forcing small towns like Fairfax to plan for hundreds of new residences by 2031. For Fairfax, that means a whopping 490 new units - no small feat for a town with just 7,200 residents.

The proposed development at 95 Broadway would include 243 units, with 202 market-rate and 41 low-income units. But here’s the kicker: those “affordable” units start at a family income of $154,700. Talk about redefining “affordable”.

Political Warfare

The recall group claims they’re fighting against out-of-state developers and bureaucratic overreach. Their primary targets? The two council members they believe are too cozy with state housing mandates.

Fire and Fury

Beyond housing density, the community is also raising serious fire safety concerns. Situated in a high fire severity zone with limited evacuation routes, residents are questioning the wisdom of dramatically increasing population in such a vulnerable area.

Whether this recall effort succeeds or not, one thing’s clear: the battle over California’s housing future is getting messy - and Fairfax is ground zero.