News
Federal agencies pave the way for cities and nonprofits to get climate-bill tax credits
 CNBC – June 14
Federal agencies last Wednesday paved the way for state, city, and local governments, and other nonprofit entities to join the private sector in accessing the lucrative tax credits included in the Biden administration’s landmark climate bill. The U.S. Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service on Wednesday released guidance on what tax-exempt entities need to do to access the credits the provisions that were included in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). In the 10 months since the IRA passed, private sector companies have announced more than $107 billion in new clean energy investments, John Podesta, senior advisor to the president for clean energy innovation and implementation, said on a call with reporters.
Downtown San Francisco heads toward mixed-use future with new legislation
San Francisco Examiner – June 6
As we previously reported, city leaders are attempting to address downtown’s high office-vacancy rate and a slew of retail closures with legislation that will eliminate the red tape of zoning and make it easier to convert vacant commercial spaces into housing and event venues. The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the legislation last Tuesday, which is scheduled to be finally passed by the Board of Supervisors on June 27, 2023. Unfortunately, the pending state legislation (AB 1532) that would have facilitated conversions by providing for “by right” (i.e., streamlined ministerial; no CEQA) approval of qualifying office to residential conversion projects and new funding sources for those projects will not be approved during this legislative session.
Last week, Mayor London Breed and three supervisors also introduced legislation to make it easier for small businesses to fill commercial vacancies. The legislation reimagines vacant ground-level storefronts to allow for pop-up shops or temporary retail by allowing city staff to make changes to business signage and historic buildings without conducting public hearings.
Los Angeles wildlife ordinance edges closer to approval, despite homeowner opposition
Los Angeles Daily News – June 20
In a win for mountain lions, bobcats, and birds, a wildlife ordinance designed to minimize the impact of certain hillside homes on the surrounding environment cleared a major hurdle on June 20, unanimously backed by a key Los Angeles City Council committee. The ordinance would limit how much of a homeowner’s property can be covered in structures and requires the use of animal-friendly architecture for new development. The ordinance would apply to new developments, major remodels of existing homes, and property additions of 500 square feet or more.
Lack of affordable housing is driving older Californians into homelessness
KQED – June 20
With modern home prices out of reach for many California residents on fixed incomes, older adults have become the fastest-growing segment of the unhoused population across the state, according to new research released Tuesday from UCSF. California makes up 30% of the nation’s unhoused population and is home to half of all the country’s unsheltered population, according to the landmark study, which looks at how people in the state become unhoused, experience homelessness, and exit homelessness.
As new law removes parking requirements, Palo Alto prepares for influx of development
Palo Alto Online – June 14
As we previously reported, Assembly Bill (AB) 2097, which took effect on January 1, 2023, is expected to benefit housing development (and other) projects. AB 2097 prohibits public agencies from imposing parking requirements on most development projects located within one-half mile of a major transit stop. A “major transit stop” is defined as: (1) an existing rail or bus rapid transit station; (2) a ferry terminal served by either a bus or rail transit service; or (3) the intersection of two or more major bus routes with a frequency of service interval of 15 minutes or less during the morning and afternoon peak commute periods.
A new memo from Palo Alto’s Department of Planning and Development Services outlines the potential impacts of AB 2097 on the city. The law, which took effect on January 1, eliminates parking requirements within half a mile of transit stops. Because each of the city's two downtowns has a Caltrain station, the bill effectively allows developers in these two areas to not provide any parking for commercial and residential projects. City officials believe the law may accelerate commercial growth, which has been anemic in recent years thanks to local policies that cap non-residential development.
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