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BACKGROUND 2019 Bill Content and Revisions Senate Bill 50 was introduced by Senator Wiener in December, 2018, as part of the 2019 legislative session. Broadly described, SB50 seeks to reduce barriers to local approval of housing projects, by establishing incentives for housing projects, including substantially relaxed height limits, development densities, and parking standards for projects proximate to transit and jobs centers. The earliest versions of the bill required local jurisdictions to allow minimum height limits of 45 and 55 feet, substantial relaxation of Floor Area Ratio (FAR) limits, elimination of density caps, and minimal parking for eligible housing projects within proximity to jobs and transit stops. The legislation took a "one-size-fits-all" approach, with no distinction made among different types or sizes of communities. Communities throughout the state expressed significant opposition to the bill, based on concerns about loss of local control, lack of sensitivity to existing neighborhoods, and impacts on smaller and rural communities. Affordable housing and tenants' rights advocates expressed concern about the lack of protections to avoid displacement and equity impacts on sensitive communities. Based on these concerns, and in an effort to address the concerns of smaller communities, the bill was amended in May 2019 to create a two-tiered approach for counties with populations either greater, or less than, 600,000 people. Since Alameda County's population exceeds 600,000, the change did not have a significant effect on the potential impact of the legislation in Pleasanton, continuing to allow heights of 45 to 55 feet, increased FAR, and minimal parking for qualifying residential projects. Although some provisions were included to protect historic resources, those definitions were drawn quite narrowly to include only properties on the State or federal register of historic resources: when applied locally they would protect very few of the City's historic resources. They include the Kottinger Barn and Heathcote Mackenzie House (within the Alameda County Fairgrounds), both of which are listed on the National Register; the Alviso Adobe is a State Historic Landmark, and the Mohr-English House' is listed as a State "point of interest." In response to the draft legislation, both the Tri-Valley Cities, and the City of Pleasanton took an "oppose unless amended" position, citing significant concerns about the proposed legislation, including several of the issues noted above. In June, 2019, facing ongoing opposition from numerous local jurisdictions and other stakeholders, SB50 was tabled to become a two-year bill, with the expectation that additional revisions would be made to address concerns and build broader support for the legislation in 2020. The location of the Mohr-English House is not clear in the State records. It was noted in the 1986 General Plan as being located at the"north end of Martin Avenue." Page 2 of 7