Affordability is tightened up slightly but allowable density is reduced. Plus, West Hollywood believes it's so prohousing it will seek legislation exempting it from the builder's remedy.
The backers of the controversial new city "California Forever" -- now branded the East Solano Plan -- have submitted signatures for a November ballot measure. It faces long odds.
The state recently approved Beverly Hills' housing element, bringing a contentious situation to a close. Most other housing elements have also been approved and the state is negotiating with the remaining cities and counties to reach agreement.
Combination of legislation and administrative changes would expand state housing agency's oversight and power over local government housing elements in many significant ways.
All four of California's largest cities -- L.A., San Francisco, San Diego, and San Jose -- have taken steps to dramatically expedite housing projects, especially affordable housing projects.
The staff recommended upzoning half the the city, excluding the fire-prone Berkeley Hills. But the planning commission has recommended rezoning all of Berkeley including the hills.
New legislation would try to give both cities and developers something they want, while putting guardrails on builder's remedy projects. Meanwhile, HCD revoked Portola Valley's housing element approval.
Grant program would focus on commercial-to-residential conversions, community land trusts social housing, and more. Whether the idea will get through Congress is another story -- but it's part of a big Biden effort on housing supply and affordability.
But in a mixed bag of ballot measures on the March ballot, Santa Cruz shot down a slow-growth policy in the downtown, while Chico defeated two ballot measures that would have permitted a new development, and Mountain House voters OK'd cityhood.
Brightline West, the high speed rail line from the Inland Empire to Las Vegas, may be operational by 2027 -- long before the state high speed rail system. Cities along the line are eager to capitalize on this potential transportation revolution.
