Legislators are working to pass their bills out of policy
committees as the July 12 deadline approaches. However, one key
housing bill — AB
1279 (Bloom) — will not continue to move during the
current legislative year. The bill would allow certain qualifying
housing developments to be approved “by-right” in designated
high-opportunity communities with lower residential densities.
CSAC holds a
“concerns” position on this measure.
On the Assembly side, a significant housing bill has been amended
into another vehicle. Senator Wiener gutted and amended the
introduced version of
SB 592 and converted it into a Housing Accountability Act
bill that:
Applies the Housing Accountability Act to any land use
decision by a local agency.
Authorizes a project applicant to seek compensatory damages
for a violation of the act.
Specifies that conditions that have the same effect or impact
on the ability of the project to provide housing, and therefore
run afoul of the Housing Accountability Act, include:
A reduction in the number of bedrooms or other normal
residential features
The substantial impairment of the housing development
project’s economic viability
Requires an application not subject to the Permit
Streamlining Act to be deemed or determined to be complete at the
time it is submitted to a local agency.
Specifies that a general plan, zoning, or subdivision
standard or criterion is not “applicable” if its applicability to
a housing development project is discretionary or if the project
could be approved without the standard or criterion being met.
Provides that disproving a housing development project
includes taking action on the proposed housing development
application and failing to comply with time periods specified in
law authorizing a ministerial project.
Requires a local agency to provide a written document within
30 days with an explanation as to why the agency determined that
an application revised after the initial denial is inconsistent,
not in compliance, or not in conformity with applicable law.
Defines a housing development project to also include a
single unit, including an accessory dwelling unit, or the
addition of one or more bedrooms to an existing residential unit.
CSAC is reviewing SB 592 carefully and is interested in feedback
from counties on the bill. Please provide any comments to Marina
Espinoza at mespinoza@counties.org.
