After quarreling with state officials for years over the need to provide affordable housing, Fairfax leaders have unveiled a plan that would set aside space for seniors, low-income workers and the homeless.

But town officials say they don't care whether the state - which rejected Fairfax's previous housing proposal in 2006 - accepts this one.

"I think we've put together a plan that meets the state's housing goals in a way that fits into our community very beautifully," said Mayor Lew Tremaine, who serves on Fairfax's affordable housing committee. "The fact that we're not doing it in (the state's) prescribed way may be a problem for them. But we're going to create affordable housing our way. We don't need to have the state's blessing on how we do it."

Rather than designating areas of town for high-density affordable housing, the housing proposal Fairfax leaders described at a public forum Thursday depends on a few small developments, the legalization of second "in-law" units and a zoning change that allows construction of second-story apartments above downtown retailers.

The plan's biggest change would transform the 12-acre "highway commercial zone" along Sir Francis Drake Boulevard to a new "central commercial" zone, in which property owners would not be required to seek a special use permit in order to build a second-story apartment.

"This would be returning to the historic roots of the town, in terms of traditional neighborhood design and transit-oriented

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development," said Fairfax Planning Director Jim Moore. "About 42 parcels and 12 acres will be rezoned away from an auto-centric plan back to human scale."

Other changes would allow the construction of 40 units of senior housing at the Lutheran Church's property at 2525 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., and the building of 20 units of workforce housing for low- to middle-income workers at 2170 Sir Francis Drake Blvd., site of the former Mandarin Garden restaurant.

"We're trying to meet our local needs, which we see as affordable housing for seniors and workforce housing," said Town Manager Michael Rock. "Those are the things we see as really lacking in this community."

Those two projects would furnish at least 60 of the 108 housing units the town is required to provide by the Association of Bay Area Governments. Fairfax officials hope to generate another 27 by striking a provision that requires the owners of second units - guest cottages or "in-law" apartments - to provide sprinkler systems for fire suppression. The move would legalize existing second units.

The plan also allows the establishment of emergency homeless shelters within the new "central commercial" zone, and alters the zoning of School Street Plaza to encourage the creation of a new school. While Ross Valley District officials passed on the idea of locating a new elementary school on School Street this summer, Fairfax leaders want to leave the possibility open for future plans.

"There appears to be strong support for re-creating the historic Central School at that site - or perhaps a private school," Moore said.

The Fairfax Town Council will consider the town's housing proposal Wednesday as part of a review of the town's general plan. Should the council approve the proposal, a "super committee" that includes members of the council, the Planning Commission, the general plan advisory committee and the open space committee would then evaluate the overall plan, a process that could take at least a year.

By next fall, Moore believes, Fairfax could be on track to approve the first complete general plan in the town's history.

IF YOU GO: The Fairfax Town Council will evaluate the town's proposed housing element at a 7:30 p.m. meeting Wednesday at the Women's Club, 46 Park Road.

Read more Fairfax stories at the IJ's Fairfax section.

Contact Rob Rogers via e-mail at rrogers@marinij.com