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Resolution opposing Senate Bill 827, and authorizing the City Manager to electronically sign a League of California Cities action letter.
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WHEREAS, pending legislation Senate Bill (SB) 827 (Wiener), introduced in January 2018, would exempt certain transit-rich housing projects from locally developed zoning regulations; and
WHEREAS, these regulations include adopted height limitations, maximum controls on residential densities, maximum controls on floor area ratio that are lower than a specified amount, minimum parking requirements, and design review standards; and
WHEREAS, SB 827 would undermine locally adopted General Plans, Housing Elements (which are certified by the Department of Housing and Community Development), and Sustainable Community Strategies (SCS); and
WHEREAS, SB 827 allows private for-profit housing developers and transit agencies to determine housing densities, parking requirements, and design review standards within one-half mile of a "major transit stop," or along a "high-quality transit corridor" which could be miles away from an actual bus stop; and
WHEREAS, under existing law, cities are already required to zone for densities at levels necessary to meet their entire Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA); and
WHEREAS, SB 827 would provide developers a means to generate additional profits without any requirement to build affordable housing; and
WHEREAS, public hearings allow members of the community to inform their representative of their support or concerns when planning documents are developed, and often leads to better projects; and
WHEREAS, disregarding such processes will increase public distrust in government and could lead to additional ballot measures dealing with growth management; and
WHEREAS, the League of California Cities opposes SB 827, saying that exempting large-scale developments from General Plans, Housing Elements, and zoning ordinances goes against the principles of local democracy and public engagem...
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