Housing Density Bill Could Bring More High-Rises to Several California Cities
Seven California cities could build taller residential buildings if Gov. Gavin Newsom signs a downtown density bill.
Passed in August by the legislature, the bill awaits Newsom’s signature, according to Smart Cities Dive.
California YIMBY said that the cities impacted by the bill, with at least two transit stops and populations of at least 400,000, include Long Beach, Los Angeles, Oakland, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco and San Jose.
The bill, AB 2074, requires that major cities with transit establish regional transit hub districts, areas with at least one transit-oriented development stop where the city must allow residential building height limits to be set at a maximum of at least 150 feet, the website noted.
It said that residential buildings with a maximum height of at least 450 feet would have to be allowed in at least a quarter of all regional transit hub districts in a city.
Increase Housing Density
Smart Cities Dive noted that the bill is part of a larger effort to increase housing density in the state to meet a goal of 2.5 million new homes by 2030.
The website noted that as the housing crisis continues to plague local governments, California is among multiple states mandating cities and counties to boost development.
Smart Cities Dive reported that more preemption bills were introduced in California than in any other state last year, citing a National Association of Counties analysis. Newsom sued several localities in July for allegedly failing to meet state housing planning measures.
According to a California Senate Appropriations Committee analysis, AB 2074 would impose new and unknown costs on the seven impacted cities that are not “state-reimbursable.”
If Newsom signs AB 2074, it would trigger a housing construction loan and financing study by the California Housing Finance Agency.
Smart Cities Dive noted that San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria endorsed the legislation in April, calling it “the kind of policy that big cities need right now.”
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