HOM Ballot Measure
HOM Housing Overlay 2026 Ballot Measure
In the upcoming November 2026 General Election, Monterey Park voters will decide on a ballot measure to amend the City’s Land Use and Urban Design Element. Proposed in response to community feedback calling for more housing, economic revitalization, and blight reduction, the measure would allow the city to establish flexible "housing overlays" for residential and mixed-use development on vacant or underutilized commercial and industrial properties. To protect the character of existing communities, the proposal explicitly excludes all residential zones and upholds Monterey Park's citywide prohibition on data centers.
Ballot Language That Voters Will Consider
Proposition to Create HOME Housing Overlays in Monterey Park:
Shall a measure amending the Monterey Park Land Use Element to keep residential neighborhoods intact through maintaining voter-approved land use restrictions and Monterey Park’s local control over the state for housing decisions, continue prohibiting data centers, provide housing for residents, prevent crime/homeless encampments, attract businesses, and improve the local economy by allowing limited residential uses in underutilized industrial, commercial/office areas, requiring public input, ensuring environmental protections, protecting public safety, parks/open space, be adopted?
- What Measure HOM is: A ballot measure for the November 2026 election asking voters to amend the Monterey Park Land Use and Urban Design Element to create an option for housing development in commercial and industrial zones.
- What Measure HOM does: Allows the creation of "housing overlays" to permit flexible housing and mixed-use development on currently vacant or underutilized commercial and industrial properties.
- What Measure HOM protects: The measure explicitly excludes existing residential zones (R-1, R-2) to protect the character of single-family neighborhoods. It also maintains the citywide prohibition on data centers.
- Where Measure HOM will appear: Voters in Monterey Park will consider voting yes or no on the measure for the November 2026 General Election.
- Why Measure HOM is proposed: The City has gathered public feedback that expresses a desire to create more housing, spur economic development and reduce blight in commercial and industrial areas throughout the City of Monterey Park. This is a proposed policy option in response to that feedback.
- Residential Areas Unaffected: Measure HOM protects and affirms existing zoning of residential areas and does not increase density or otherwise affect zoning for Monterey Park Neighborhoods.
- Data Center Ban Affirmed: Measure HOM has no impact on the recently adopted data center ban adopted by voters. The ban remains fully in effect if this measure is adopted by voters.
- Creates an Option: The housing overlay is not an automatic approval for developers. Activating the overlay for any specific parcel will require a discretionary City Council approval process, extensive public input, and rigorous environmental standards. Activating the overlay for any specific parcel will require a discretionary City Council approval process, extensive public input, and rigorous environmental standards
- Voter Approval Required: Because voters passed Measure JJ in 2020, the City Council cannot update the City's land use map to address these housing mandates or post-pandemic commercial vacancies without direct voter ratification.
HOM Ballot Measure Informational Presentation
Monday, September 21, 6:00 - 7:00 pm
Join our virtual meeting to learn more about the HOM Ballot Measure.
Zoom – Remote participation via Zoom app on your smartphone, tablet or web browser at https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81686845446
Telephone – Remote participation by telephone, dial 1(669) 444-9171 or 1(253) 205-0468, enter Meeting ID: 816 8684 5446 and press #.
- View the Vacant to Vibrant Community Engagement Outreach Report (July 2026).
- View the City Council Staff Report - Vacant to Vibrant Recommendations (July 15, 2026).
- View the August 5, 2026 Staff Report Discussing Ballot Measure and Related Resolutions.
- View the August 6, 2026 News Release: City Council Places Housing Overlay on November Ballot.
- View the Ballot Measure HOM Informational Presentation Webinar (Recorded September 21, 2026).
- Why is Measure HOM on the ballot? The City Council cannot amend the city's land use policy map without voter approval. This measure asks voters for permission to update our zoning tools so the City can address vacant commercial properties, promote economic investments and create more housing options.
- Will this allow high-density apartments in my single-family neighborhood? No. The measure explicitly excludes all established residential zones (such as R-1, R-2) from the housing overlay. It is designed strictly to protect single-family neighborhoods by limiting these new housing overlay options to commercial and industrial areas.
- Are data centers still banned under Measure HOM? Yes. The measure does not affect the prohibition on data centers throughout Monterey Park.
- Does passing Measure HOM mean immediate construction on vacant lots? No. The measure simply gives the City the option to apply a housing overlay. The City Council must still consider, and adopt, zoning regulations. Additionally, a developer must apply for a zone change, which is a discretionary legislative action by the City Council.
- How was the community involved in this plan? In June 2026, the City launched the "Vacant-to-Vibrant" initiative, which included virtual webinars, in-person workshops, and online feedback forms. Residents expressed strong concerns about blighted properties and a desire for more local amenities, affordable housing, and neighborhood preservation. Additional scientifically-valid resident sentiment analysis confirmed these concerns existed for many residents and policy options to address those concerns were desired.
- Who will this new housing serve? The goal is to provide well-planned housing across all income levels. This includes "missing middle" and attainable housing so that younger generations, working professionals, and seniors can afford to stay in Monterey Park.
- Will new developments have to provide parking? Yes. The measure requires any new development to meet rigorous standards, including providing adequate parking, mitigating traffic impacts, and ensuring environmental protections.
- Why focus on commercial and industrial areas? Post-pandemic shifts in remote work and online shopping have caused high vacancy rates in the city's office and commercial sectors, particularly in areas like Saturn Park. Allowing housing in these areas brings new economic life, deters blight and crime, and revitalizes the local tax base.
- How will this impact the city's local economy? By transforming vacant lots into walkable, mixed-use districts with new housing built above or near retail shops, the measure is designed to attract new diverse businesses, restaurants, and amenities for all residents to enjoy.