Controversial bill that adds dense housing to transit stops passed by Assembly

[ad_1] A controversial housing invoice that will override native zoning legal guidelines to broaden high-density housing close to public transit hubs was handed by the California Meeting on Thursday with a vote of 41 to 17.

Senate Invoice 79, one of many extra formidable state-imposed housing density efforts in recent times, is now a last Senate concurrence vote and a Gov. Gavin Newsom signature away from taking impact.

The invoice was launched in March by Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), who stresses that the state must take fast motion to handle California’s housing scarcity. It paves the best way for taller, denser housing close to transit corridors comparable to bus stops and prepare stations: as much as 9 tales for buildings adjoining to sure transit stops, seven tales for buildings inside a quarter-mile, and 6 tales for buildings inside a half-mile.

Single-family neighborhoods inside a half-mile of transit stops can be topic to the brand new zoning guidelines.

Lawmakers debated the invoice for round 40 minutes on Thursday night, and drew cheers after it was handed.

Supporters say drastic measures are crucial given the state’s affordability disaster. Critics declare the blanket mandate is an overreach, stripping native authorities of their capability to advertise accountable development.

The vote got here a couple of weeks after the Los Angeles Metropolis Council got here out in opposition to the invoice, voting 8 to five on a decision opposing it.

Councilmember Traci Park, who co-authored the decision with Councilmember John Lee, referred to as SB 79 a “one-size-fits-all mandate from Sacramento.” Lee referred to as it “chaos.”

The decision referred to as for L.A. to be exempt from the upzoning because it already has a state-approved housing plan.

The invoice has spurred a number of protests in Southern California communities, together with Pacific Palisades and San Diego. Residents worry the zoning modifications would alter single-family communities and pressure residents into competitors with builders, who can be incentivized beneath the brand new guidelines to buy properties close to transit corridors.

Nonetheless, help for SB 79 surged in latest days after the State Constructing and Development Trades Council, a robust labor group that represents union building employees, agreed to reverse their opposition in alternate for amendments that add union hiring to sure tasks.

In an announcement after the deal was struck, the trades council president Chris Hannan stated the amendments would supply good jobs and coaching to California’s expert building workforce.

Wiener, who has unsuccessfully tried to go related laws twice earlier than, stated the deal boosted the invoice’s possibilities.

“The invoice just isn't assured to go, however we now have extra momentum at present than we did yesterday,” Wiener stated.

The following cease is the state Senate, the place the invoice already squeaked by way of by a slim margin earlier this 12 months. If it survives a vote for last concurrence there, it will go to Gov. Newsom’s desk in October.