Civic Issues
Topics getting the most attention in Lafayette public meetings, ranked by how frequently they are discussed.
3 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.