AN ELECTED OFFICIAL CAN RUN BUT THEY CAN'T HIDE (FROM THEIR RECORDED VOTES)

Despite public statements distancing themselves from controversial development projects, the official record tells a very different story about the roles of current Mayor Lisel Blash and Councilmember Stephanie Hellman in paving the way for large-scale developments—specifically, the School Street Plaza (SSP) and other sites now designated for ministerial approval of housing projects, without environmental review or public input.

Prior to passing the Housing Element, the Town of Fairfax knowingly hired Bryn McKillop—a former planner for Dyett & Bhatia, the very consultants responsible for drafting the controversial Housing Element and PEIR—thereby doubling down on the conflict of interest and further paving the way for unchecked development that threatens the town’s character.

1. Mayor Blash’s Key Role in Approving the Housing Element & Environmental Impact Report

Mayor Blash claims she had "nothing to do" with the approval of School Street Plaza (SSP). In reality, she made the very motions that enabled it.

On December 13, 2023, the Fairfax Town Council approved both the Programmatic Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) and the 2023–2031 Housing Element Update, which together created the legal foundation for major development across the town, including SSP.

Notably, the PEIR was prepared by the same consulting firm (Dyett & Bhatia) that authored the Housing Element—effectively allowing the consultant to evaluate the impact of its own project. This lack of independence undermines the integrity of the environmental review process. The council accepted this flawed setup, and Mayor Blash made the motion to adopt it. Click here to watch the video of their votes and click here to read the minutes.

Official Actions – December 13, 2023 Fairfax Town Council Meeting:

• Blash/Ackerman
  Motion to adopt Resolution #23-59: Certifying the Environmental Impact Report and making CEQA findings for the 2023–2031 Housing Element.
  AYES: Ackerman, Cutrano, Hellman, Vice Mayor Blash, Mayor Coler

• Blash/Hellman
  Motion to adopt Resolution #23-60: Approving the General Plan Amendment to update the Housing Element and affirmatively furthering fair housing.
  AYES: Ackerman, Cutrano, Hellman, Vice Mayor Blash, Mayor Coler

2. Hellman and Blash Voted to Eliminate Public Review and Environmental Protections

Less than two months later, on February 7, 2024, the Council approved sweeping zoning amendments that eliminated public hearings and environmental reviews for seven newly designated “Workforce Housing Opportunity-A” sites—including School Street Plaza. All approvals would now be ministerial—decided by staff only, with no public process.

Among the sites approved for fast-tracked development:

1. Former Fairfax French Laundry site

2. Fairfax Square next door

3. Fairfax Garage & Body Shop

4. Former gas station site near the Bicycle Museum

5. Commercial strip between the Fairfax Market parking lot and St. Rita’s

6. Former Bank of America site

7. School Street Plaza

Official Action – February 7, 2024 Fairfax Town Council Meeting:

• Cutrano/Blash
  Motion to approve zoning amendments allowing ministerial approval of development across all seven sites, eliminating public hearings and environmental review.

This motion passed through the Consent Calendar—with no substantive debate, public discussion, or community input—despite the transformative impact on the town’s character and infrastructure.

The Bottom Line

Stephanie Hellman and Lisel Blash were not bystanders—they were leaders in the effort to dismantle public oversight and enable rapid, large-scale development in Fairfax. Their recorded votes tell the real story, regardless of what they say in public. Through their support of the Housing Element, Environmental Impact Report, and zoning ordinance amendments, they actively created the legal pathways for projects like School Street Plaza to move forward with minimal review or accountability.

Residents deserve truth and transparency—not political deflection. These actions are now on record—and so are the consequences for Fairfax.