07 - Laserfiche WebLink

This bill allows cities, at their option, to create Workforce Housing Opportunity Zones, or areas within the city or county that are designated for expedited housing development, with at least half of the homes required to be affordable to households with low or moderate incomes. Jurisdictions that opt in to this program would be eligible to apply for State grants or zero-interest loans to cover the costs of completing the needed planning and environmental review processes. AB 73 (Housing Sustainability Districts) This bill allows cities and counties to create Housing Sustainability Districts, which function similarly to SB 540's housing zones. Housing and Sustainability Districts require at least 20 percent of the homes required to be affordable and would allow streamlined environmental and planning review. Jurisdictions that opt-in to this program would be eligible to apply for State grants or other financial incentives. AB 1515 (Reasonable Person Standard) This bill provides a "reasonable person standard" when a developer legally challenges a local jurisdiction's decision to reject a proposed housing project. It requires courts to give less deference to evidence presented by local governments, and more consideration of alternative reasonable evidence that would allow a reasonable person to reach that conclusion. This bill is primarily of concern as it relates to SB 35 and determining compliance of a proposed project with adopted City development standards and design guidelines. It emphasizes the need for those standards and guidelines to be clear, objective, and easily interpreted by all. AB 1505 (The Palmer Fix) This bill is known as the "the Palmer Fix." Since the Court of Appeals 2009 decision in Palmer/Sixth Street Properties v. City of Los Angeles, most local agencies have not been able to require affordable housing in rental projects. This bill provides authorization for these requirements, so long as an alternate means of compliance, such as in lieu fees, is also provided. The restrictions imposed by the Palmer case has not been an issue for Pleasanton as the City has been able to satisfactorily negotiate affordable components of all proposed rental projects. AB 1521 (Enhanced Preservation Notice Law) This bill strengthens the existing Preservation Notice Law by requiring sellers of a subsidized housing development to accept an offer from a qualified buyer if specified requirements are met. This law also provides HCD with additional tracking and enforcement responsibilities. This bill could assist the City in maintaining affordable units at such time as below market rent restrictions are about to expire on older affordable housing projects. AB 571 (Farmworker Housing) This bill allows individual farmworker housing projects to qualify for more public funding and allows projects with 50 percent of units for farmworkers (instead of 100 percent) to qualify, making these types of projects more financially viable. This is not likely to occur in Pleasanton.