State Warns Grover Beach Building Height Limit Measure Could Be Voided

GROVER BEACH, Calif. (KEYT) - The City of Grover Beach recently received a letter from the California Housing and Community Development Department (HCD) that warns a ballot measure on the upcoming November election may be voided if passed.

A citizen initiative to limit building heights in Grover Beach is scheduled to appear on the ballot as F-26 during the General Election on Nov. 3, 2026.

The Grover Beach City Council voted in June to place the initiative on the ballot after a community group gathered the required amount of signatures for the measure to move forward.

If approved, the initiative measure will limit building heights and establish a minimum commercial component of 33% in mixed-used developments.

Currently, Grover Beach Municipal Code allows for building heights up to 55 feet in certain commercial zones and 40 feet in industrial zones.

The initiative would limit heights to three stories and 40 feet in commercial zones and 33 feet in industrial zones.

In addition, the measure would require a minimum commercial component for mixed-use developments, which the city currently does not require.

In the letter, the HCD said, "If Measure F-26 passes and results in a reduction in capacity relative to what existed January 1, 2018, and does not include a commensurate increase in capacity, then the
measure is void pursuant to Government Code."

The HCD went on to state, "In addition, the resulting modifications to the objective development standard may trigger HCD reminds the City that HCD has enforcement authority over the HCA and Housing Element Law.26 As such, HCD may review local government actions and inactions to determine consistency with these laws. If HCD finds that a city’s actions do not comply with state law, HCD may notify the California Office of the Attorney General that the local government is in violation of state law."

Grover Beach City Manager Matt Bronson said in an email, "The Council acknowledged HCD’s position/opinion and directed staff to pause the current Request for Qualifications process for consultants to address the measure and instead consider potential policy changes regarding building heights, commercial spaces, and other development standards as part of developing the upcoming 7^th Cycle Housing Element Update beginning in 2027."

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