Half Moon Bay Voter Referendum on Senior Farmworker Housing Remains Too Close to Call

Early returns leave the outcome of Half Moon Bay’s Measure Q undecided by just 64 votes, as KQED reported, putting the future of a proposed downtown housing development for older agricultural workers on hold while election officials continue counting ballots.

Preliminary results released by the San Mateo County Registrar of Voters showed the referendum carrying 1,608 votes in favor, or just over 49 percent support, and 1,672 votes against. Local election officials noted that many ballots remain uncounted across the county, including mail-in ballots received or dropped off after Oct. 30, along with conditional voter registration and provisional ballots. County election authorities expected their next update to be released before 4:30 p.m. Thursday.

The ballot measure functions as a voter referendum on the city’s approval this past summer of a planned five-story apartment building located at 555 Kelly Ave. The project has been a subject of local community debate for four years.

Under the proposal submitted by non-profit housing developer Mercy Housing and non-profit advocacy organization Ayudando Latinos A Soñar, known as ALAS, the complex would provide 39 affordable apartment units for low-income agricultural workers aged 55 and older, along with one apartment for an on-site manager.

Plans for the downtown building were initially proposed before a 2023 mass shooting at two local farms that resulted in seven deaths. That tragedy highlighted substandard housing conditions experienced by regional agricultural workers and increased pressure on local leaders to expand affordable housing options. The municipal decision also comes amid broader state-level pressure. In July, the administration of Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a lawsuit against Half Moon Bay, alleging the municipality fell behind on required zoning updates under state housing laws.

Supporters of the development noted that the downtown location offers older farmworkers access to nearby health services, grocery stores, and other essential amenities, allowing them to remain in the area where they worked for decades. Lilli Rey, board president of ALAS, told KQED that project advocates remain hopeful while waiting for the final tally. She expressed optimism despite the initial tally, describing the prospect of the measure failing as devastating while noting that the long-running dispute has taken a toll on the community.

Opponents of Measure Q raised concerns regarding the five-story structure's height, potential traffic impacts, parking capacity, and the financial commitments outlined in a 99-year ground lease approved by the city. Opponents also questioned whether sufficient selection criteria exist to guarantee that local farmworkers receive priority for the units. Rick Hernandez, vice chair of the Half Moon Bay Planning Commission and an opponent of the measure, told KQED that early returns reflect a divided town. He suggested that if Measure Q fails, a community task force should form to bring stakeholders together to draft housing plans that fit the town's character.

Both Rey and Hernandez stated to KQED that they hope to unite local residents once the vote is finalized, regardless of which side wins.

The project history dates back to 2022, when Mercy Housing and ALAS first submitted plans. It took two years for the city to approve the necessary land-use permits. Subsequently, in May 2026, the City Council passed an ordinance approving a 99-year ground lease for the city-owned parcel alongside related development agreements. Opponents gathered enough signatures shortly after that council vote to place the referendum on the ballot.

Mercy Housing clarified that the complex would prioritize eligible senior agricultural workers residing or working in Half Moon Bay first, followed by applicants from the coastside area and then the broader county. However, the organization noted that this preference system does not guarantee housing for every qualifying local applicant.

For residents like 67-year-old Cándido Rosales, who worked in agriculture for nearly 40 years, the housing situation remains critical. Rosales told KQED that his monthly pension is approximately $1,200, while room rentals nearby cost about $1,500. After years of waiting for immigration documents, his wife recently joined him from Mexico, but the couple cannot afford a shared apartment in the city. Rosales currently shares a rented room with another individual while his wife stays with her sister, leaving them separated despite decades of marriage.