Early results on election night show that Half Moon Bay voters are split on Measure Q, a ballot measure to approve the lease for a senior farmworker affordable housing project at 555 Kelly Ave.
The first round of results released just after polls closed on election night showed 50.84% approval. Of the ballots tallied so far, 1,329 voted yes to approve the lease and 1,285 voted no. The measure requires majority approval in order to pass.
The initial tallies include vote-by-mail ballots received in the mail or returned to vote centers and drop boxes by Sunday.
The 555 Kelly project, which has been in the works for several years, has divided residents.
Supporters have underscored the need for dignified housing for the Coastside’s farmworkers. Others have raised concerns over the size and location of the project, arguing that the height is too tall for the city’s character and that the proposed site is in an already busy area downtown.
The lease agreement for the project was originally approved by the City Council in April. But opposing residents petitioned the decision using a provision of the state Constitution that triggers a referendum on an ordinance passed by a City Council if they can gather enough signatures to qualify it for the ballot.
In July, faced with a decision to either withdraw the lease’s approval or place the agreement on the ballot for the voters to decide, the council unanimously agreed to put the decision before the voters with Measure Q.
Updates to the tallies were expected to be released at 9 p.m. election night, then again each hour until all ballots cast at vote centers have been reported.
Post-Election Day results will be released before 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and additional days the following week.
