Focus
California advances two zoning bills seeking to promote scarce housing
U.S. News & World Report – August 26
Spurred by an affordable housing shortage, spiking home prices, and intractable homelessness, California lawmakers on Thursday advanced the second of two measures designed to cut through local zoning ordinances. The measure, promoted by Senate leader Toni Atkins and supported by Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon, would make it easier to build smaller second units on what are now single-family properties. That could include up to four units, such as duplexes or homes with attached living units, if the lot is split into two equal parcels under the bill. Those applying for the lot splits would have to swear that they intend to occupy one of the housing units as their principal residence for a minimum of three years. The Assembly on Monday passed a related bill by Senator Scott Wiener that would make it easier for local governments to rezone neighborhoods near mass transit for up to 10 housing units.
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News
Appeals court upholds Los Angeles' eviction moratorium
Spectrum News – August 25
A federal appeals court panel this Wednesday upheld the city of Los Angeles' COVID-19 eviction moratorium, rejecting an effort by the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles, Southern California's largest landlord organization, to reverse the restriction. U.S. District Judge Dean D. Pregerson in November issued an order keeping in place the citywide ordinances designed to protect tenants during the public health crisis. A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday upheld Pregerson's decision. Writing for the panel, Judge Daniel Aaron Bress said "the moratorium's provisions were likely 'reasonable' and 'appropriate' given the circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic." The city's moratorium protects qualifying tenants with unpaid rent due to COVID-19 until Aug. 1, 2022.
San Jose considers church sites and other places of assembly for affordable housing
NBC Bay Area – August 22
San Jose and local faith leaders are proposing a change to the city's affordable housing plans that would allow developers to build at gathering places such as churches, private clubs, lodges, and theaters, bypassing the city's often lengthy permit and approval process--land the city calls public/quasi-public. Places of assembly often have excess land, such as grass fields or parking lots, which makes them attractive for housing development. The city estimates that between 300 to 500 affordable homes can be constructed throughout San Jose should the policy be approved, with places of worship as the most likely sites for development.
In fire scorched California, town aims to buy the most at-risk properties
NPR – August 23
Dan Efseaff, director of the Paradise Recreation and Park District, is spearheading an effort to buy high risk wildfire properties in Paradise, California, and turn them into a green space to buffer against future wildfires. The program is not through eminent domain, but rather is voluntary. So far the District has acquired about 300 acres of new land, with about 500 more acres in the pipeline, mostly paid for with non-profit grant money and donations.
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