CSAC Bulletin Article

HLT Bills of Interest

May 5, 2016

General Plans
SB 1000 (Leyva) – Support if Amended
As Amended on April 12, 2016

SB 1000 will require the development of an Environmental Justice Element when a General Plan Housing Element is adopted or revised on or after January 1, 2018. Specifically, the new element would identify objectives and policies to reduce health risks and promote civil engagement in disadvantaged communities. Disadvantaged communities are currently defined in the bill as communities identified by CalEnviroScreen or which have median household incomes less than eighty percent of the statewide median. Given the internal consistency requirements of General Plan law, SB 1000 would essentially require a costly comprehensive General Plan update upon a county’s next housing element update. CSAC opposes the requirements for a standalone element. We have a support if amended position and are pursuing amendments to require that environmental justice concepts be incorporated throughout the General Plan as appropriate upon its next update, rather than linking the requirement with the housing element cycle.

SB 1000 will be heard in the Senate Appropriations committee on May 9. While the requirement to update a General Plan to include an Environmental Justice Element will result in significant new costs, the bill will not create a reimbursable mandate, as it assumes that local governments will pass on the costs of revising their General Plans in the form of fees levied on development projects.

Second Units
SB 1069 (Wieckowski) – Oppose
As Amended on April 26, 2016

SB 1069 would further restrict a local agency’s ability to impose requirements on second units, which would be renamed “accessory dwelling units.” Among other requirements, the measure would preclude a local agency from imposing public utility connection fees, including fees for water and sewer service, for the new residential developments constructed pursuant to this bill. Moreover, SB 1069 would impose a shot clock requirement for local agencies to act on an accessory dwelling unit permit application within 90-days after the submittal of a complete building permit. CSAC opposes these unwarranted restrictions on local planning authority, which would create costs that could either not be recouped, or which would be passed on to the community at large.

SB 1069 will be heard in the Senate Appropriations committee on May 9. Despite the unfunded costs its provisions would impose on sewer and water providers and city and county planning departments, the bill’s analysis is unlikely to include an identified state costs. Despite the prohibition on charging sewer and water connection fees, the bill assumes that local governments will impose fees to recover their costs.

 

Navigation Term Highlight

Where We are Located

Navigation Term Highlight

Our 58 Counties