4224 Jefferson Avenue, Woodside, CA 94062
A 105-unit, 16-story residential development proposed by Woodside Community Housing (owned by Fullerton-based developer Ben Eilenberg) on a 0.36-acre vacant lot at 4224 Jefferson Avenue in Woodside, one of the wealthiest towns in the United States. The application invokes California's Builder's Remedy, which allows developers to bypass local zoning when a city lacks a state-certified housing element. Preliminary applications were filed in October and December 2024, before HCD certified Woodside's housing element in January 2025. The 16-story proposal would exceed the town's roughly 30-foot residential height limit by nearly seven times. The unit mix is 18 three-bedrooms, 25 two-bedrooms, 47 one-bedrooms, and 15 studios, with 20 percent designated for low-income housing, triggering California's density bonus. The town has repeatedly deemed the application incomplete — issuing incompleteness notices in July, November, and December 2025 and again in April 2026 — citing among other things a lack of available sewer services. The project became entangled in a separate controversy when former Town Manager Jason Ledbetter, after releasing a February 2026 whistleblower report alleging that council members delayed housing projects, wrote to a resident that "They are also attempting to hide a builder's remedy project at 4224 Jefferson"; Ledbetter was later fired after an investigation found most of his allegations unsubstantiated. As of June 22, 2026, the town stated no complete application had been submitted and the project's future remained uncertain. Woodside Community Housing told The Almanac it was discussing potential modifications to the project with the town.
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The town has found the 16-story builder's remedy application incomplete four times (July, November and December 2025, April 2026) and says no hearing is required. Sewer capacity is the main issue. The developer disputes the findings and has warned of legal fees.
Woodside Community Housing submitted its first preliminary Builder's Remedy application for the 105-unit, 16-story Jefferson Avenue project. Under SB 330 the developer then had until late June 2025 to submit a complete development application. (Day of month not specified in source.)
The AlmanacA follow-up preliminary application was submitted in December 2024, still before the town's housing element was certified. (Day of month not specified in source.)
The AlmanacHCD certified Woodside's housing element in January 2025, closing the Builder's Remedy window for new applications. The Jefferson applications, filed in Oct/Dec 2024, predated certification. (Day of month not specified in source.)
The AlmanacThe town deemed the development application incomplete in July 2025, the first in a series of incompleteness determinations. (Day of month not specified in source.)
The AlmanacAfter resubmission, the town issued another incompleteness notice in November 2025. (Day of month not specified in source.)
The AlmanacThe town issued another incompleteness notice in December 2025. Eilenberg wrote a Dec. 26 email criticizing the town's process as impractical and legally unsupported, and warning of legal fee risk.
The AlmanacFormer Town Manager Jason Ledbetter released a 14-page whistleblower report alleging that council members delayed housing projects, made racist statements and created a hostile work environment, and was placed on paid leave. Afterward he wrote to a resident: "They are also attempting to hide a builder's remedy project at 4224 Jefferson."
The AlmanacLedbetter was fired after the town's independent investigation found the majority of his allegations unsubstantiated. Separately, the applicant was notified in April 2026 that the application remained incomplete.
The AlmanacActing Town Manager Melissa Cardinale stated the town had not received a complete development application and that no formal proposal had been submitted — meaning, per the town, no public meeting or public disclosure was required.
The AlmanacFiled preliminary Builder's Remedy applications October and December 2024. "The problem is that it seems like the town continues imposing things into the process that both make no sense practically and are unsupported legally." (Dec. 26, 2025 email)
Applicant of record. Declined comment, stating it was discussing potential modifications to the project with the town.
Released a 14-page whistleblower report in February 2026 alleging that council members delayed housing projects; afterward wrote to a resident: "They are also attempting to hide a builder's remedy project at 4224 Jefferson." Placed on leave after the report and fired April 30, 2026 after an investigation found most allegations unsubstantiated.
Accused in Ledbetter's whistleblower report of delaying housing projects, and in a later Ledbetter email of "attempting to hide" the 4224 Jefferson project. Independent investigation later found most allegations unsubstantiated.
Stated the preliminary application predated HCD certification of the housing element (January 2025), and that as of June 22, 2026 no complete development application had been submitted — so the town was not required to hold a public meeting or disclose the project.
The developer invoked the Builder's Remedy by filing preliminary applications in Oct/Dec 2024, during the window before HCD certified Woodside's housing element in January 2025. This is the legal basis allowing the 16-story, 105-unit proposal to bypass the town's ~30-foot residential height limit. (Day of month not specified in source.)
The town issued a rolling series of incompleteness determinations — July, November, and December 2025 and April 2026 — repeatedly finding the application not complete and citing, among other things, a lack of available sewer services. The developer characterizes this as imposing requirements that are impractical and legally unsupported; the town characterizes it as procedural. As of June 22, 2026 the town stated no complete application had been submitted.
Primary and only source for this entry. Based on documents obtained through a Public Records Act request. Covers the 105-unit, 16-story Builder's Remedy application, the rolling incompleteness determinations, the sewer-service objection, and the connection to former Town Manager Ledbetter's whistleblower report. SINGLE-SOURCE ENTRY — several details (whistleblower specifics, sewer outcome, exact day-of-month dates) are unconfirmed and should be verified against the town's records. Replace this URL with the exact article URL when available.