Focus

San Francisco mayor vetoes law to end single-family zoning, arguing it will actually hurt housing production

San Francisco Chronicle – July 21

San Francisco Mayor London Breed vetoed legislation that would have eliminated single-family zoning in San Francisco to allow fourplexes everywhere and six-unit homes on all corner lots, saying it sabotaged a state law meant to increase density. In her veto letter Thursday, Breed wrote that it was with “great disappointment” that she rejected the law but argued that new requirements and financial barriers added by supervisors “will make it even less likely for new housing to be built under the ordinance’s provisions” than under current state law.

News

How San Diego plans to solve a middle-class home shortage

The San Diego Union-Tribune – July 21

San Diego will expand city efforts to spur construction of housing for middle-income residents with a new wave of reforms — including softer rules for removing historic structures, complying with water pollution mandates, and using cheaper building materials. The reforms, which are being recommended by a panel of industry experts and housing advocates created by Mayor Todd Gloria, may also include a vacancy tax, developer fee reductions, and additional density bonus programs for middle-income housing.

Wildfire rages near Yosemite as Governor Newsom steps up climate action

The Hill – July 25

A burgeoning blaze near Yosemite National Park forced the evacuation of thousands of residents over the weekend, prompting Governor Gavin Newsom to declare a state of emergency just a day after announcing a set of ambitious new climate goals. As part of the new targets, the governor called for the state to ensure that its 2022 Climate Change Scoping Plan provides the tools necessary to achieve California’s 2030 climate goals, as well as state carbon neutrality, no later than 2045, in a letter sent to the chair of the California Air Resources Board. Newsom’s new targets also included a goal for 3 million climate-friendly homes by 2030 and 7 million by 2035, as well as 6 million heat pumps installed by 2030.

Bracing for Stanford growth, Santa Clara County looks to increase housing, transportation requirements

Mountain View Voice – July 21

When Stanford University proposed a plan to add more than 3 million square feet of development to its campus six years ago, Santa Clara County officials insisted that the university manage this growth by building more housing and adopting stringent transportation restrictions. Following a prolonged dispute between the university and the county over a possible development agreement, Stanford withdraw its application for a general use permit in 2019. Now, county officials are preparing to resurrect and codify some of the same policies as part of a new community plan that would govern future proposals from Stanford for academic growth.

California officials revisit short term rental rules amid pandemic tourism boom

The New York Times – July 22

San Bernardino County officials temporarily stopped issuing permits last month for new Airbnb units and other vacation rentals over concerns that a tourism boom is pricing out locals in trendy desert getaways. Officials in Marin County instated a two-year moratorium this year on new short-term rentals in its western coastal communities. San Diego also approved a cap that is expected to cut vacation rentals in the city by nearly half. Restrictions on home-sharing services in California are nothing new. But local officials appear to be increasingly revisiting these rules after demand for short-term rentals exploded during the pandemic.