What matters to me today is CEQA Reform (at long last!) and whether it will help YOU!
Late Sunday night, California leadership delivered, for some, on long-promised reform to the state’s environmental juggernaut – CEQA. But will it help you? AB 130 provides a full CEQA exemption for “urban infill housing” projects. To qualify, a housing development project:
MUST BE:
- 20 acres or less (5 acres or less for “builders remedy”);
- in an incorporated city or “urban area” per Census;
- in or around a qualifying “urban use” – that means previously developed or 75% surrounded by commercial, institutional, parking lot, transit, retail or similar development;
- consistent with applicable General Plan, zoning, and local coastal plan, if any;
- dense enough (usually anything but single-family detached)
MUST NOT BE:
- coastal zone; prime farmland; wetlands; known hazardous contamination without remediation; home to special species, or any other of a long list of disqualifiers existing in statute;
- demolishing historic structures.
ALSO NOTE:
- Additional labor wage requirements, though reportedly not project-preclusive;
- Tribal consultation requirements;
- Additional adds if within 500 feet of a freeway
- Phase 1 environmental assessment required.
- No limitation on use of California’s Density Bonus Law provisions.
Separate from this infill housing exemption, notable in the Budget:
- A statewide VMT mitigation bank by HCD;
- Extension and expansion of Governor’s Leadership Project designations;
- Limitations on Coastal Act appeals.
Much more to it – let’s discuss!!
That’s what matters to me today in 250 words or less. What matters to you? I’d really like to know.