Measure W: Both Sides

Measure W, also known as the Nevada City Historic Neighborhoods District Initiative, is a voter initiative on the November 8th ballots for Nevada City residents. The initiative would adopt an ordinance that amends the City’s General Plan and Municipal Code to designate a portion of the City as an Historical Neighborhood District or HND. This means that more land, specifically residential neighborhoods, would be within HND territory and require an architectural review permit to be altered or removed. The residential neighborhoods that Measure W would identify as within HND territory would be exempt from California’s SB9 and would potentially restrict, or narrowly prohibit, housing developers from building new homes in any areas contained by the HND. The boundaries of the HND can generally be described as residential neighborhoods surrounding downtown Nevada City. KVMR Intern News Producer Julia Gem spoke to two Nevada County residents with drastically different views of the initiative.