Although councilmembers approved it, Mayor Mark Turner<\/a> expressed displeasure with a state law known as builder\u2019s remedy<\/a> which left their hands tied to push the project forward.<\/p>\n \u201cI think in these cases we have to make the best of a bad situation,\u201d Turner told San Jos\u00e9 Spotlight.<\/p>\n Builder\u2019s remedy allows developments to ignore restrictions on building height and density when local governments lack state approval for their housing plans. Developer High Street Residential, a subsidiary of Trammell Crow Company, filed an application with the city in October 2023 for the 105-home project. Morgan Hill\u2019s state-mandated housing plan wasn\u2019t certified until one month later, allowing for the use of builder\u2019s remedy.<\/p>\n As mandated by the state, Morgan Hill must plan for 1,037 homes by 2031, broken up across six different income levels. Housing and Economic Mobility Director John Lang told San Jos\u00e9 Spotlight that Morgan Hill is 39 homes shy of reaching its goal, with more than four years remaining in the cycle.<\/p>\n Despite\u00a0Turner\u2019s frustrations with the builder\u2019s remedy project, he said there are some advantages that come from it.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re single-family homes and not more high density (housing),\u201d Turner said. \u201cThe project will also provide more than 21,000 square feet of common open space and will be situated near the Madrone Channel Trail, which will help provide for recreational activity for the residents.\u201d<\/p>\n Residents were aware of the limited options the city had to prevent this project from being passed through and some, like Armando Benavides, thought it was a fair consolation.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have to know the law is the law and the city has to abide by it,\u201d Benavides told San Jos\u00e9 Spotlight. \u201cThe city is getting as many good concessions as possible. It\u2019s all positive. I feel like we\u2019re getting the best deal possible within the builder\u2019s remedy.\u201d<\/p>\n When finished, the High Street housing development will feature 105 market rate single-family, two-story, two-car garage detached homes, which will range in size from 2,147 square feet to 2,615 square feet. Each is planned to have some private open space that could be a yard, porch and patio.<\/p>\n During the application process, High Street Residential asked the city to switch the commercially-zoned land to residential, which the city partially agreed to reluctantly by way of a settlement. City officials said they opted for the settlement to avoid a lengthy and costly litigation with the developer and the state.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/screenshot_2026-10-15_at_1.38.48___pm-e1792107769298-1024x524.jpg\")
A rendering of a proposed housing project off Cochrane Road in Morgan Hill. Rendering courtesy of Morgan Hill.<\/p>\n
![\"In-line](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1793067971_787_interactive-321838904008.png\")
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