Clovis is working to redesignate 20 neighborhood parcels for higher-density housing to satisfy a 2024 lawsuit settlement, but the plan has run into fierce resident opposition and last-minute reversals from the City Council. The proposal would accommodate roughly 1,300 new apartment units scattered across the city.
Here are key takeaways
The City Council halted plans in August to rezone five parcels for higher-density development, pulling sites in Harlan Ranch, on Shaw and Leonard avenues and next to Garfield Elementary School for further review. The 15 remaining approved sites can support 817 units on about 34 acres — well short of the court-ordered requirement of 1,284 units — and City Attorney Scott Cross warned Clovis could end up back in court for noncompliance.
The rezone stems from a 2024 settlement of a lawsuit filed by local unhoused advocate Desiree Martinez, who accused Clovis of failing to comply with a state mandate for adequate affordable housing opportunities. The city came up with a plan covering 20 parcels with capacity for 1,303 dwelling units.
But the proposal has faced opposition from Clovis residents. More than 100 written comments have poured in since last November, with homeowners citing worries about neighborhood safety, school capacity, noise and privacy as the plan moves toward final approval…