Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Lafayette public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
4 issues in development with medium priority
Pre-approved ADU prototype designs
Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda jointly adopted pre-approved backyard-cottage designs to cut design and permitting costs. Free permit-ready plans arrive March 2027 — a small but real step toward easier housing additions, with fire-safe landscaping guidance requested before release.
Temple Isaiah campus expansion at 945 Risa Road
The three Lamorinda cities jointly hired out pre-approved ADU plans to make additions cheaper and faster, and Temple Isaiah has applied for a new 16,000-square-foot two-story building — first public hearing July 6.
Khristo hillside home and contested driveway on Carlyle Terrace
A family wants to build a 4,330-square-foot home on a landlocked wooded lot reached by a narrow dirt road over neighbors' property. Burton Vista Court residents flagged retaining wall engineering, tree loss, and heavy-truck safety; the Commission approved Phase 1 siting anyway and left driveway details to Phase 2.
2025 Annual Housing Progress Report
The commission received the annual report on housing applications, production, and programs that the state requires, and passed it along to the City Council.