Focus
California set to allow denser housing by transit
Multifamily Dive – September 16
California is poised to approve legislation that will make it legal to build more multifamily housing near the highest-capacity transit stops across the state, regardless of local zoning restrictions. The California Legislature voted 21 to 8 last Friday to pass Senate Bill 79, the Abundant & Affordable Homes Near Transit Act, which is now on Governor Newsom’s desk for signature into law. He must sign or veto the legislation by Oct. 12. All projects will include a minimum affordability standard, and there would be incentives for even deeper affordability through density bonuses based on affordability level. The bill will only apply in counties with at least 15 passenger rail stations: Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, Santa Clara, Alameda, Sacramento, San Francisco, and San Mateo.
News
California appeals court gives Huntington Beach deadline for complying with state housing rules
The Orange County Register – September 12
Huntington Beach has 120 days to update its plan for meeting housing mandates with the state, an appellate court ruled on September 11. The court order also allows state regulators to impose restrictions on the city’s control over permitting and development until it complies with state housing laws. Governor Newsom called the court order a win for the state’s efforts to address the affordable housing crisis.
S.F. Mayor Lurie’s ‘family zoning’ housing plan wins its first major approval
San Francisco Chronicle – September 12
The San Francisco Planning Commission approved a plan on September 11 to allow for 36,000 new homes on the city’s west side and northern neighborhoods, despite opposition from groups who said the zoning changes would lead to rampant real estate speculation and displacement of small businesses and tenants. While the zoning changes are likely to evolve in the months to come — the Board of Supervisors currently has until Jan. 31 to pass the legislation — the vision endorsed by the planning commission in a 4-3 vote could eventually reshape swaths of the city unaccustomed to housing development.
City of Oakland implements new streamlined permit process for certain types of housing
SFGate – September 16
People looking to build certain kinds of housing in Oakland just caught a break -- the city is implementing a streamlined permitting process for single-family homes and projects featuring up to 30 units, city officials announced this Tuesday. To get such projects built faster, and perhaps cheaper, the city has implemented a so-called "ministerial" design review process, whereby projects automatically move forward if they meet certain objective design standards.
LA’s ‘mansion tax’ remains intact for now, as state reform bill stalls
Los Angeles Daily News – September 16
A state bill backed by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass to reform Los Angeles’ Measure ULA, the voter-approved “mansion tax” to fund affordable housing, was pulled late last week following swift pushback from both housing advocates and real estate industry leaders. Introduced in the final days of the legislative session, the proposal sparked concerns from ULA supporters that it could reduce funding for affordable housing and homelessness prevention. Some real estate groups, meanwhile, argued the measure came too late and failed to adequately address the tax’s economic impact.
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