It received a lot of press, but ultimately California's Senate Bill 827 went nowhere. Now, the state senator who introduced the bill is working with advocates who opposed it on another version that just might have better chances.

Earlier this year, the much-talked-about SB 827 died in committee. But State Senator Scott Wiener, who introduced it, is apparently undeterred. As Alissa Walker reports, "Wiener says he has been working closely with some of the groups that initially opposed the bill, and he met with transit coalition ACT-LA while in LA for the Los Angeles Business Council’s housing summit last week. The senator says he plans to bring a version of the bill back to the Senate floor in 2019 with the input of advocates incorporated."
SB 827 ambitiously called for much looser height, density, and parking rules for construction within a half-mile of transit stations, a step many stakeholders vehemently opposed, including the entirety of L.A.'s city council. "Wiener said LA City Councilmembers who focused on displacement as a reason for rejecting the bill could put better protections in place, including strong inclusionary housing requirements," Walker writes.
"The new version of the bill would include specific exemptions for what [Wiener] called 'communities of concern'—areas that are either experiencing intense gentrification or are on the precipice."
Walker notes that in Los Angeles, "nearly half of all developable land" is zoned for single-family homes. While Wiener may be able to accommodate the equity crowd, he'll still face an upward political battle on the density question.
FULL STORY: Sen. Scott Wiener will introduce new version of transit density bill

Planetizen’s Top Planning Books of 2023
The world is changing, and planning with it.

Chicago Red Line Extension Could Transform the South Side
The city’s transit agency is undertaking its biggest expansion ever to finally bring rail to the South Side.

More Affordable Housing for People, Less for Cars
Most jurisdictions have off-street parking requirements that increase motorists’ convenience but reduce housing affordability. It’s time to reform these policies for the sake of efficiency and fairness.

In Rush to Build, Older Housing is Overlooked
Older homes provide an affordable housing lifeline, but poor conditions often lead to serious health impacts for residents.

Fire Officials Say More LA Freeway Underpasses at Fire Risk
The city’s fire department is surveying other underpasses for hazardous materials and other code violations that led to the November 11 fire that shut down a key interstate segment.

San Diegans at Odds Over ‘Granny Towers’
A provision in the city’s ADU ordinance allows developers to build an essentially unlimited number of units on single-family lots.
City of Morganton
San Joaquin County
University of New Mexico - School of Architecture & Planning
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Park City Municipal Corporation
National Capital Planning Commission
City of Santa Fe, New Mexico
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.