The California Legislature this week approved a historic package of bills, including a bill that allows affordable housing on commercially zoned properties and another that removes parking requirements near transit.
“In a major win for California housing development advocates, state lawmakers signed off Monday on a series of reforms that supporters say could clear the way to build hundreds of thousands of of [sic] new homes statewide by significantly easing permitting requirements,” reports Lauren Hepler in a paywalled article for the San Francisco Chronicle.
Among the bills approved by the California legislature are two of particular interest to planners around the country: AB 2011 (along with SB6), which will allow by-right approval of affordable housing developments on all properties zoned for commercial development. According to an explainer post on AB 2011 by California YIMBY, AB 2011 will also allow by-right approval for mixed-income housing along commercial corridors, as long as the projects meet specified affordability, labor, and environmental criteria.
The second bill, AB 2097, would remove parking requirements for developments near transit. AB 2097 succeeded where a decade’s worth of attempts came up short, starting with AB 710 in 2011, and most recently just last year, with AB 1401.
Donald Shoup, author of The High Cost of Free Parking, wrote in favor of AB 2097 in an article published by Planetizen in July 2022. The Los Angeles Times Editorial Board also wrote in support of AB 2097 earlier this year.
More on the political debate surrounding these historic legislative acts are included in the source article below.
FULL STORY: California lawmakers just voted to make it easier to add housing. Will Bay Area cities build?
Vermont Next State in Line to End Single-Family Zoning, Ease Parking Requirements
Both houses in the Vermont Legislature have approved legislation to preempt local land use regulations by rescinding single-family zoning and easing parking requirements throughout the state.
Zoning Reform: New Politics, Same Old Challenges
The political will for zoning reforms has never been stronger. The traditional opponents of development, however, are still finding ways to push back.
L.A. Planning Department Adjusts to State Housing Laws
Los Angeles Director of Planning Vince Bertoni was recently interviewed the effects of new state planning and housing laws in the state’s most populous city.
Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.
Defunct Pittsburgh Power Plant to Become Residential Tower
A decommissioned steam heat plant will be redeveloped into almost 100 affordable housing units.
Trump Prompts Restructuring of Transportation Research Board in “Unprecedented Overreach”
The TRB has eliminated more than half of its committees including those focused on climate, equity, and cities.
Amtrak Rolls Out New Orleans to Alabama “Mardi Gras” Train
The new service will operate morning and evening departures between Mobile and New Orleans.
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.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont