Despite public statements distancing themselves from controversial development projects, the official record tells a very different story about the roles of Mayor Lisel Blash and Vice Mayor Stephanie Hellman in paving the way for disastrous large-scale developments — without environmental review or public input.

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

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. 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.

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 undermined the integrity of the environmental review process, yet the council accepted it. Mayor Blash made the motion to adopt it.

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

Hellman and Blash Vote 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.

Sites approved for fast-tracked development included:

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 Consequences: School Street Plaza and Beyond

Stephanie Hellman and Lisel Blash were not bystanders — they were leaders in dismantling public oversight and enabling rapid, large-scale development in Fairfax. Through their support of the Housing Element, Environmental Impact Report, and zoning ordinance amendments, they created the legal pathways for projects like School Street Plaza to move forward with minimal review or accountability.

Why residents are concerned:

• Overpopulation: 243-unit building adding ~563 more residents and 700 more cars to Sir Francis Drake Blvd.

• Safety: Single-road evacuation in a wildfire could trap residents; Fairfax/Ross Valley Fire Department would need a $2.1M ladder truck.

• Water: No adequate drought-year water planning.

• Parking: 243 spaces for 563 residents; overflow will clog residential streets.

• Affordable Housing: 202 luxury units, vs 31 Moderate units (where the income requirements are $125,650 for single and a family of 4 is $179,500) and 11 Low Income units (where the income requirement is $109,700 for single and $156,650 for a family of 4.)

• Small Town Character: Development will urbanize Fairfax permanently without a citizen vote.

• Property Values & Rights: Height allowance changes threaten views, resources, safety, and property values.

Hellman’s Role in Outsider-Driven Rent Control Laws

Late 2021: Grassroots Campaign and Private Meetings Begin

In late 2021, Marin Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) launched a rent control campaign in Fairfax. Almost immediately, Hellman began coordinating privately with DSA organizers.

• December 4, 2021: Marin DSA Chapter Co-Chair Curt Ries met privately with Mayor Hellman to discuss rent control — no public notice, no official council channels.

• Hellman congratulated organizers via personal email and agreed she and Vice Mayor Chance Cutrano would contact county housing staff.

• Ries soon connected Hellman with Leah Simon-Weisberg, ACCE Legal Director and Berkeley Rent Board Chair, who provided a complete model rent control ordinance for Fairfax to adopt.

From the outset, the policy framework came from outside Fairfax, and collaboration between DSA organizers and councilmembers remained hidden from the public.

Early 2022: Private Strategy Sessions with Town Officials

The behind-the-scenes work accelerated:

• January 21, 2022: Private Zoom strategy meeting between Hellman, Cutrano, multiple DSA organizers, and Leah Simon-Weisberg.

• Regular “Friday at 3 PM” check-ins were established, involving Hellman, Cutrano, Ries, and Leah.

• By February, ordinance drafting was in full swing — completely out of public view.

• Spring 2022: Drafting the Ordinance Behind Closed Doors

Key milestones:

• March 24, 2022: Marin DSA Chapter Co-Chair Curt Ries arranged a dedicated meeting for the group to consult with Leah about implementation details.

• Legal Aid of Marin (LAM) offered to serve as the enforcement arm — providing services like landlord/tenant liaison, outreach, and enforcement letters at “no initial cost.”

• April 2022: Hellman praised the LAM offer privately and pressured the Town Manager to highlight it in the upcoming staff report.

• Nearly five months of closed-door planning took place before any public hearing, ensuring the core policy was already written before residents heard about it.

May–Summer 2022: Public Introduction — After the Work Was Done

• May 4, 2022: First public council meeting on rent control, featuring a presentation by Marin DSA.

• By this point, the ordinance closely mirrored Leah Simon-Weisberg’s ACCE model.

• Public outreach was minimal — few town halls, limited workshops, and perfunctory council discussions.

Fall 2022: First Reading and Private Pushback

• September 21, 2022: First public reading of the 30+ page rent control ordinance.

• Leah Simon-Weisberg and Marin DSA Chapter Co-Chair Curt Ries testified in support.

• Some moderating changes were made, prompting Leah to accuse the council of “gutting” enforcement provisions.

• The next day, Hellman reassured Leah privately, suggesting they might “lose a few battles to win the war” and inviting Leah to submit ordinance language directly to the town attorney.

• Private Friday strategy calls continued to shape the final draft.

November 2022: Final Adoption

• November 2, 2022: Council voted 5–0 to adopt Rent Stabilization and 4–1 to adopt Just Cause Eviction ordinances.

• Provisions included rent caps (60% of CPI, max 5%), relocation assistance, and right-of-return — largely matching the ACCE model.

A Pattern of Failure

On both housing development and rent control, the pattern is clear:

1. Private deal-making with outside actors.

2. Fast-tracked approval before residents can respond.

3. Public denial of responsibility when controversy arises.

The Bottom Line:
Mayor Lisel Blash and Vice Mayor Stephanie Hellman failed Fairfax residents on housing by enabling high-density development, stripping away environmental and public oversight, and outsourcing critical housing laws to outside interest groups. Their votes and behind-the-scenes actions have reshaped Fairfax without the community’s consent — and the consequences will be felt for decades.