A Year of Extraordinary Achievement
As the year comes to a close, we want to celebrate what we’ve accomplished together—and it’s been truly extraordinary.
Looking back, 2025 brought significant threats to Sausalito: Developers pushed massive, out-of-scale projects. State legislators tried to override our local protections. Special interests lobbied to eliminate environmental review. We rallied together, fought for Sausalito’s future—and we won.
Your support powered victories that protected Sausalito’s character, views, and Historic District. Thank you for making it possible.
Below are the six top wins that show exactly what organized community action can achieve—and why your continued support is critical as these threats intensify in 2026.
6 Wins You Made Possible in 2025
We Held Back the 605 Bridgeway “Monster Project”…For Now.
When a developer proposed a massive 7-story, 53-unit luxury building in the heart of our Historic District, we mobilized 2,300+ petition signatures and filed 14 legal documents.
Result: The City issued an official inconsistency letter citing the project’s numerous flaws and removed it as a housing opportunity site. The developer may appeal, and we will be ready.
We Removed Sausalito from SB 79 Entirely
State legislators tried to force 55-foot buildings throughout our Historic District by classifying the ferry terminal as a “Tier 3 transportation hub.” We hired a Sacramento lobbyist, built a statewide coalition, and worked directly with the Governor’s office.
Result: We eliminated the Tier 3 definition completely, protecting Sausalito and similar communities statewide. This is now state law.
We Removed Alta Mira and 605 Bridgeway from Housing Opportunity Sites
The state required Sausalito to identify sites for new housing, and developers immediately targeted Alta Mira and 605 Bridgeway for high-density projects. We mobilized 630 petition signers and 19 speakers for Alta Mira, then successfully advocated for 605 Bridgeway’s removal.
Result: Both sites were removed from the inventory, strengthening protections for the Historic District. Significantly, this means 605 Bridgeway was NOT included in voter-approved Measure J to open up development, and therefore the site remains protected by Ordinance 1022. Highly technical, but that’s a huge win. Tracking and catching these details is exactly what SOS excels at.
We Secured Comprehensive View Protections
State law now requires cities to adopt Objective Design & Development Standards (ODDS) to streamline development review, meaning subjective Planning Commission discretion no longer applies for larger projects. The City’s initial draft included zero view protections—developers could build multifamily buildings directly blocking neighbors’ views with no recourse. We mobilized 115+ resident emails and sustained in-person advocacy across multiple Planning Commission and Council sessions.
Result: The Council adopted ODDS: Chapter 3 View Protection standards with a unanimous 5-0 vote. Developers must now consider resident views and use ViewSync technology to objectively measure view impacts before approval. This protection is encoded in city law.
We Closed the Historic District Height “Air Lift” Loophole
Developers discovered they could exploit hillside slope-based height calculations on the essentially flat waterside Historic District, giving them an “air lift” of up to 25 additional feet beyond the 32-foot limit. This meant 57-foot buildings could be approved in areas zoned for 32 feet. We caught this loophole, mobilized community testimony, and secured Planning Commission and City Council rulings.
Result: Height is now measured from the street for Historic District properties—no exceptions. This protection is encoded in municipal code.
We Secured a Council Majority Commitment to “Pledge 32” for MLK Park
Measure K authorized affordable senior housing development at MLK Park, and residents had varied perspectives on the proposal. We hosted a cross-community forum at MLK Park featuring Mayor Cox and Vice Mayor Woodside, creating a welcoming space for neighbors to discuss the issue thoughtfully. We persuaded three Councilmembers to endorse “Pledge 32” for the MLK site.
Result: Measure K passed. We’ve now laid out a charter for the Council to adopt and serve as watchdogs to protect the park and its neighborhood while ensuring affordable senior housing remains the focus.
But Wait, There’s More! 17 Additional 2025 Wins
We strengthened the City’s EIR with legally significant corrections, mobilized 420+ letters supporting view protections, preserved Spencer Fire Station, reduced MLK density from 49 to 29 units/acre, defended the Historic District with 20+ speakers at Planning Commission, mobilized 670+ signatures for the amended Housing Element, organized 100+ constituent calls on SB 79, engaged professional lobbyists, collaborated with California Preservation Foundation and LA Conservancy, won passage of Measures J & K, raised $20,000+ for food security, alerted supporters about the Monster #2 project at 83 Princess Street, and eliminated remaining height-measurement loopholes.
What's Next
This year proved what happens when we stand together: we win. When we mobilize neighbors, hire expert advocates, and show up at every hearing—we protect Sausalito. The challenges ahead in 2026 are real, but so is our track record. With your continued engagement and support, we’ll keep building on these victories and defending what makes our community irreplaceable.
