REQUEST FOR VETO: SB 35 (Wiener) Housing Production and Approvals (as enrolled)

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League Opposes

Penalizes all communities where private and non-profit developers do not propose and develop housing for all income levels consistent with state-generated regional housing need allocations by making approvals of multifamily developments that meet inadequate criteria “ministerial” actions lacking project level environmental review and public input.

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Letter will be sent to: Governor Jerry Brown

Please modify this letter as needed to express your city’s support or concerns for the issue at hand (salutation is automatically added):

Dear Governor Brown,

The CITY OF CITY respectfully requests your VETO of Senate Bill 35 (Wiener), which would preempt our local discretionary land use authority by making approvals of multifamily developments that meet inadequate criteria, “ministerial” actions. Like similar proposals in the past, this measure would rely on often outdated community plans and would compromise critical project level environmental review, public input, and community integrity.

CITY OF CITY agrees that California is facing a housing supply and affordability crisis. [DISCUSS HOW YOUR CITY IS ADDRESSING THE HOUSING CRISIS].  Unfortunately, SB 35, as enrolled, is not the balanced proposal that is needed to provide meaningful relief from soaring home prices.

Eliminating opportunities for public review of major multifamily developments goes against the principles of local democracy and public engagement. Public hearings allow members of the community to inform their representatives of their support or concerns. “Streamlining” in the context of SB 35 appears to mean a shortcut around public input. While it may be frustrating for some developers to address neighborhood concerns about traffic, parking and other development impacts, those directly affected by such projects have a right to be heard. Public engagement also often leads to better projects. Not having such outlets will increase public distrust in government and additional ballot measures dealing with growth management.

In recent weeks, news reports have suggested that you may sign SB 35 in an attempt to expedite housing approvals.  If SB 35 is signed into law, CITY OF CITY Would strongly encourage your involvement in cleanup legislation next year that would, at a minimum, include the following:
•	Require the trigger for ministerial approval of housing projects to be based on the number of entitled and approved applications, a process that a local agency actually controls, rather than building permits, which a developer controls and will not pull until they are ready to construct a project.
•	Establish a safe harbor for pro-housing cities doing the right thing and meeting all state housing laws.

For these reasons, the CITY OF CITY respectfully urges your VETO of SB 35.

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REQUEST FOR VETO: SB 35 (Wiener) Housing Production and Approvals (as enrolled)

Current Actions Items

Take Action on this Item

Please modify this letter as needed to express your city’s support or concerns for the issue at hand (salutation is automatically added):

Please sign the letter:

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