Developer appeals city's own approval of Bridgeway housing project

The week's lead story is still unresolved: at 605-613 Bridgeway Boulevard, the developer behind a proposed housing project, Willy's LLC, has appealed the city's own Planning Commission Resolution 2025-07 — the very resolution that upheld staff's administrative determinations in the developer's favor under the state's Housing Accountability Act (SB330) and Density Bonus Law. The project itself, which combines a Design Review Permit, Tentative Map, and Certificate of Appropriateness, isn't in dispute so much as how the city processed it.

Layered onto the appeal is a Challenged Conduct Notice Willy's LLC has filed against the city, a formal step under state housing law that typically signals a developer's argument that a jurisdiction is slow-walking or over-conditioning a density-bonus project. The council must also approve a response to that notice at Tuesday's hearing.

Don't expect a resolution right away: staff has flagged that the applicant has requested a continuance, meaning the Oct. 6 hearing could be postponed rather than decided. Either way, this is the property fight to watch as the council reconvenes this week.

Governor's emergency order complicates Gate 5 Road flood fix

Also on Tuesday's agenda: how the Governor's declared state of emergency is reshaping the city's long-running effort to fix chronic flooding around Gate 5 Road in the industrial waterfront area.

The item is framed as a status discussion rather than a funding request or design change, which suggests staff want council direction on whether the emergency declaration opens doors — faster permitting, new funding streams, or both — that weren't available before. No specifics have been detailed publicly yet.