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Yountville Today
By the People, for the People
Yountville Pauses Affordable Housing Project After French Laundry Chef's Criticism
Residents secure enough signatures to suspend zoning ordinance for Yountville Commons development
Mar. 18, 2026 at 11:39pm
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The town of Yountville, California has postponed an affordable housing project near the renowned French Laundry restaurant after receiving enough verified signatures from residents to suspend a related zoning ordinance. The referendum could now go to local voters, who will decide if the Yountville Commons project should proceed.
Why it matters
The Yountville Commons project has faced pushback from local business owners, most notably French Laundry chef-owner Thomas Keller, who criticized the town's poor communication and the project's 'studio-heavy, dormitory-style approach' that he said would not be attractive to workers. The referendum highlights the tensions between development of affordable housing and the interests of high-end businesses in the affluent Napa Valley town.
The details
The Yountville town council had approved the Commons Zoning District in early February, which would divide the former Yountville Elementary School site into 18 parcels for the Yountville Commons affordable housing project. However, local resident Jessi Bugden organized a referendum that received 235 verified signatures to suspend the zoning ordinance. The council now has the option to either repeal the ordinance or put the referendum on the November ballot for voters to decide, potentially delaying the project until next year.
- On Tuesday, March 18, 2026, Yountville town clerk Hilary Gaede informed the town council that the referendum had received enough signatures to suspend the zoning ordinance.
- The town council is expected to discuss the referendum at their next meeting on April 7, 2026.
The players
Yountville
A gourmet tourist destination in California's Napa Valley.
Yountville Commons
An affordable housing project planned for the site of the former Yountville Elementary School.
Thomas Keller
The chef-owner of the renowned Michelin-starred restaurant French Laundry, located in Yountville.
Jessi Bugden
A Yountville resident who organized the referendum to suspend the zoning ordinance for the Yountville Commons project.
Margie Mohler
The mayor of Yountville.
What they’re saying
“I have reached out to each one of you; none of you has reached out to me. I've reached out to each one of you to have a conversation about this. I welcome conversations as you do. So, I'm available. Each one of you has my phone number; you know where I am every day.”
— Thomas Keller, Chef-owner, French Laundry
What’s next
The Yountville town council will discuss the referendum at their next meeting on April 7, 2026, and decide whether to repeal the zoning ordinance or put it on the November ballot for voters to decide.
The takeaway
The pushback from French Laundry's Thomas Keller and other local business owners highlights the challenges of balancing the development of affordable housing with the interests of high-end businesses in affluent communities like Yountville. The referendum process has now put the Yountville Commons project on hold, underscoring the tensions between economic development and community needs.
