“Density Bonus” for Commercial Projects
AB 1934 (Santiago) – Concerns
AB 1934 would provide concessions and incentives for developers
of commercial properties that include a related affordable
housing development. The bill is similar to, but separate from,
existing density bonus law for housing developments. As currently
amended, the bill would provide concessions, which could include
exemptions from certain local planning requirements, when a
commercial developer builds affordable housing units on-site or
partners with and provides financial support for the developer of
a nearby affordable housing project. The Assembly Housing and
Community Development Committee removed the provision allowing
the “bonus” for affordable housing projects within one mile of
the commercial component from the bill, but the author indicated
that he still wants to have a broad stakeholder discussion that
could lead to the inclusion of similar provisions. CSAC is
concerned about the policy basis for the types of planning
concessions that could be included as incentives under this bill
and is very interested in feedback from counties on this concept.
Housing Element Site Inventory
AB 2208 (Santiago) – Concerns
AB 2208 would allow counties to include in their inventory of
sites suitable for housing development properties owned or under
the county’s control that are either “under-utilized” or which
have buildings that could accommodate housing development above
the county facility. While the bill appears to offer local
governments additional flexibility in identifying sites to
accommodate regional housing needs, CSAC is concerned that
counties may put in the position of proving why their properties
are not suitable for development, especially since the
definitions of under-utilized sites and sites capable of
accommodating development above existing county buildings need to
be further clarified.
Second Units
SB 1069 (Wieckowski) – Oppose
SB 1069 would impose additional restrictions on standards that
counties could apply to the development of residential second
units, which are renamed accessory dwelling units in this bill.
Among other provisions, the bill includes a 90-day timeline for
the review and approval of building permits and precludes the
imposition of utility connection fees, including sewer and water
hook-up fees. While CSAC understands the need for creative
approaches to address California’s housing affordability crisis,
we are opposed to arbitrary timelines for local planning
processes and unnecessary restrictions on local land use
authority.
