Focus

San Francisco plans to end single-family zoning

San Francisco Chronicle – June 28

Last Tuesday, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors narrowly approved legislation seeking to eliminate single-family zoning and instead allow higher density, a change long sought by housing development advocates. Currently, about 40% of San Francisco’s land area is zoned for only single-family homes. The ordinance rezones all those areas to allow duplexes by default. Some property owners can then receive a density exception from the city that allows them to build up to four units, six on corner lots, with some of the extra units subject to rent control.

News

San Diego retreats from ADU parking exemption, but only in coastal areas

The San Diego Union-Tribune – June 20

San Diego has retreated from a blanket parking exemption the city had given to those who construct new accessory dwelling units (ADUs). Prompted by complaints from the California Coastal Commission, the City Council voted unanimously to require new ADUs near the beach to have parking spots if they are not close to a trolley stop or a bus line with frequent service. Another change requested by the Coastal Commission is requiring developers and owners of coastal ADUs to alert tenants that they are vulnerable to sea-level rise.

State bill requires removal of ‘racial covenants’ from California property records

Times-Herald – July 5

Under a new state law, counties must now work to purge their property records of racially restrictive covenants, which banned people of color from buying homes in neighborhoods across California. The law also requires real estate agents and services to notify homebuyers if any such bans are known to be tied to a property and to help redact the unlawful rules. While the covenants were deemed unenforceable by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1948, racial justice advocates say removing the racist language is necessary to confront the region’s painful history of discrimination.

L.A. Metro will try to prevent gentrification near its future rail lines by ‘land banking’

L.A. Daily News – June 27

The L.A. Metro Board of Directors voted on June 23 to pursue land-banking as a tool to prevent gentrification near its future transit projects. By buying up land early in its planning process, the mega transit agency can “bank” the property, then sell it to affordable housing developers — but with requirements that guarantee low-rents and prohibit speculation.

Redlands temporarily bans new warehouses

Redlands Daily Facts – June 22

Redlands is the newest city in the Inland Empire to enact a moratorium on warehouses. The City Council unanimously approved a temporary halt on new approvals of logistics facilities while staff evaluate the impacts of existing structures and the need for updated rules. Other Inland cities that have put a pause on warehouses include Chino, Colton, Riverside, and Jurupa Valley.

Attorney General Bonta joins environmental lawsuit against Moreno Valley

The Press-Enterprise – July 1

California Attorney General Rob Bonta is joining the Sierra Club’s lawsuit against Moreno Valley over the city’s 2040 general plan update, alleging that it violates the California Environmental Quality Act. The plaintiffs allege that Moreno Valley’s environmental impact report failed to address public health impacts, did not disclose potential air pollution, and left out solutions that could reduce environmental impacts. Bonta criticized the city for increasing development in Moreno Valley, which has seen controversy over what some see as a saturation of warehouses.

State budget sets aside $4.2 billion for high-speed rail between Bakersfield and Merced

The Bakersfield Californian – July 1

Money to complete a high-speed rail system between Bakersfield and Merced — $4.2 billion for construction, electrification, and trains — made its way into the $308 billion state budget signed Thursday by Governor Gavin Newsom. The budget also releases the final portion of a $9.95 billion bond sale approved by California voters in 2008. The appropriation fell well short of the tens of billions of dollars needed to link Los Angeles and San Francisco, under the latest timetable, by 2040. Expectations now are that the Central Valley segment, at least, would begin operation by the end of this decade.

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