News
New California bill to ban minimum-parking requirements for homes and shops
East Bay Times – April 6
Housing advocates back a new state bill to ban cities from imposing minimum parking requirements on new apartments and shops located within a half mile of train stations and bus routes. AB 1401 is designed to encourage transit use and rein in city mandates for big, costly parking lots, which can make building apartments and commercial projects financially unattractive to developers.
Los Angeles may curtail the use of wood-frame construction
Urbanize Los Angeles – April 6
In an effort billed as an attempt to reduce the city's vulnerability to wildfires, the LA City Council voted last week to explore a proposal which could curtail the use of wood-frame construction for larger developments in some of its most densely-populated neighborhoods. The report back would effectuate an expansion of Fire District 1, which currently encompasses commercial hubs and neighborhoods with older buildings such as Downtown, Century City, Hollywood, and Koreatown.
San Diego County will update its general plan and housing element
The San Diego Union-Tribune – April 12
San Diego County will add an environmental justice element to its general plan, update its safety plans, and adjust its housing plans to discourage residential development in sites with very high natural hazards. Last Wednesday, the Board of Supervisors directed county staff to make several changes to the general plan, which it will finalize this summer. The board aims to ensure that the county can meet housing needs while avoiding development in unsuitable or unsafe areas.
All-electric potential for new Chico buildings draws excitement and uncertainty
Enterprise-Record – April 11
Like many California cities, Chico is considering the possibility of requiring all new construction to be built 100% electric and to begin electrification under new statewide goals to reduce emissions and reach carbon neutrality. The city’s Climate Action Plan consultant presented pros and cons of building all-electric in a workshop last Thursday.
Converted hotels and vacant buildings in California now house 8,000 homeless people
San Francisco Chronicle – April 11
A six-month sprint to convert hotels, motels, and other vacant buildings into homeless housing has created shelter for more than 8,000 people at a fraction of the cost of new construction, state officials said last Friday. The Homekey program, which was started last summer with money from the federal coronavirus relief package, awarded nearly $800 million to dozens of California cities and counties to purchase sites and convert them into housing with supportive services by the end of 2020.
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