Controversial invoice that provides dense housing to transit stops handed by Meeting

A controversial housing invoice that will override native zoning legal guidelines to develop 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 bold state-imposed housing density efforts in recent times, is now a remaining 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 quick motion to handle California’s housing scarcity. It paves the best way for taller, denser housing close to transit corridors resembling 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 could 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 vital given the state’s affordability disaster. Critics declare the blanket mandate is an overreach, stripping native authorities of their means to advertise accountable development.

The vote got here just a few weeks after the Los Angeles Metropolis Council got here out towards the invoice, voting 8 to five on a decision opposing it.

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

The decision known 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 concern the zoning modifications would alter single-family communities and drive residents into competitors with builders, who could be incentivized beneath the brand new guidelines to buy properties close to transit corridors.

Nevertheless, assist 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 trade 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 offer good jobs and coaching to California’s expert building workforce.

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

“The invoice shouldn’t be assured to move, however now we have extra momentum at the moment than we did yesterday,” Wiener stated.

The subsequent cease is the state Senate, the place the invoice already squeaked via by a slender margin earlier this 12 months. If it survives a vote for remaining concurrence there, it might go to Gov. Newsom’s desk in October.