Gavin Newsom’s California passed a bill on the Senate floor 21-13 that would let developers go into residential neighborhoods, bulldoze single family homes, and build apartment buildings as long as it’s within a half-mile of a bus stop.
Critics say the move will allow developers to completely take over residential neighborhoods while others are pointing to the Palisades Fire – accusing Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass of having an ulterior motive to their ‘poor response’ to the fire.
The Palisades Fire destroyed or damaged over 6,000 to 7,000 homes across Pacific Palisades and surrounding areas.
According to permit data, less than 100 homes have likely been rebuilt in the Palisades Fire-affected area as of July 8 – based on the number of permits that have been issued which is less than 100
People continue to face significant trouble getting permits because of the bureaucratic delays, un-waived fees, and complex requirements issued by the state of California – i.e. Mayor Bass & Gov. Newsom
In addition – analysts say there were bus stops or transit stops near most of the homes destroyed in the Palisades Fire.
The Line 134 route along the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), which serves multiple stops in the burn area, shows that homes along this corridor—where significant destruction happened—were close to transit.
Evacuation bus services and disrupted routes also support there was mass transit integrated into the affected neighborhoods.
“It’s reasonable to conclude that a large portion of the over 5,300 destroyed homes were within a half-mile of these stops, especially in the lower Palisades and Malibu sections near PCH”
SB 79, authored by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) and titled the “Abundant & Affordable Homes Near Transit Act,” is currently under consideration in the State Assembly.
The bill also gives developers the right to bypass discretionary local approval processes.
It also overrides local zoning restrictions that prohibit multi-family housing in areas zoned for single-family homes within a half-mile of qualifying transit stops.
This allows developers to construct apartment buildings (65-75 feet high) in these zones without needing local government approval – meaning people who own property in those neighborhoods do not get to have a say or a vote in whether an apartment building can be built in their neighborhood.
The bill’s goal is to address California’s housing crisis by legalizing multi-family housing in neighborhoods near major public transit stops, bus stops, and on land owned by transit agencies.
Its stated goals are to increase housing supply, reduce living costs, boost transit ridership, and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
ation in the State Assembly. {stop here}
The bill also gives developers the right to bypass discretionary local approval processes.
It also overrides local zoning restrictions that prohibit multi-family housing in areas zoned for single-family homes within a half-mile of qualifying transit stops.
This allows developers to construct apartment buildings (65-75 feet high) in these zones without needing local government approval – meaning people who own property in those neighborhoods do not get to have a say or a vote in whether an apartment building can be built in their neighborhood.
The bill’s goal is to address California’s housing crisis by legalizing multi-family housing in neighborhoods near major public transit stops, bus stops, and on land owned by transit agencies.
Its stated goals are to increase housing supply, reduce living costs, boost transit ridership, and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
