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With LA Council Opposed And LB Council Continued Mum, Ass'y Approps Committee Advances SB 9 (Requiring Cities To Allow Four Dwelling Units, Possibly Up To On Eight On Single Family Lots Except In Historic Districts, Forbids Requiring Add'l Parking Within Half Mile Of Transit/Frequent Bus Service), Action Sends It To Assembly Floor



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(August 19, 2012, 5:00 p.m.) -- One day after the Los Angeles City Council voted 12-1 to oppose SB 9 -- while Long Beach City Councilmembers have let the bill (pending since Dec. 2020) advance without City opposition -- the Assembly Appropriations Committee (members here) voted to advance the density-promoting, single-family home hostile bill for voted action on the Assembly floor.

The vote was 11-1 on what Sacramento calls an "A" roll call vote (meaning all Committee members voted in favor except as announced Republican Bigelow opposed, Democrats Bryan Chau and Republican Voepel [substituting for Davies] not voting.)

Subject to some conditions, SB 9 would allow residential lot splits enabling four dwelling units (possibly up to eight with ADUs) on single family parcels (except in historic districts) while prohibiting requiring additional parking to match the increased density within a half mile of public transit (including frequent bus service.)

The Assembly could vote on SB 9 anytime from Aug. 22 until Sept. 10. Introduced in Dec. 2020 and co-authored by former LB Councilwoman/now state Senator Lena Gonzalez (D, LB-SE LA County), SB 9 passed the state Senate months ago with her "yes" vote as well as a "yes" vote by state Senator Tom Umberg (D, SE LB/west OC.)

Assemblyman Patrick O'Donnell (D, LB-SP) has indicated he opposes SB 9 and will vote against it, but the bill (whose primary author is state Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins (D, San Diego)) is supported by Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D, NLB/Paramount) part of Democrat legislative leadership. Assemblyman Kevin Kiley (D, Rocklin), a Republican seeking to replace Gov. Gavin Newsom in the Sept. 14 recall election, voted "yes" on SB 9 in an Assembly committee.

If an Assembly majority approves SB 9, it will head back to the state Senate for agreement with Assembly amendments and then land on the desk of Governor Gavin Newsom who could veto it or sign it into law.

Yesterday's voted opposition to SB 9 by L.A. County's largest City (with a Dem majority Council) (audio here) contrasts with Long Beach, L.A. County's second largest city (also with a Dem majority Council) whose Council incumbents and Mayor Robert Garcia have ignored months of pleas by Long Beach neighborhood groups (the Eastside Voice, Lakewood Village Neighborhood Ass'n, Citizens About Responsible Planning, People of Long Beach [the latter led by Carlos Ovalle] to agendize SB 9 for Council opposition.

Five Council incumbents are seeking re-election in 2022 in CDs 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9. In 2022, former CD 5 Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske 2006-2014) is seeking to replace incumbent Mungo and Reform Coalition co-founder Carlos Ovalle is seeking to replace CD 7 incumbent Roberto Uranga. state Senator Umberg is also seeking re-election in 2022.

On Aug 17, Eastside Voice president Corliss Lee again urged the Council to agendize SB 9 for opposition with no response from the incumbents. (Mayor Garcia also cut Ms. Lee off in mid sentence as she hit a three minute limit on public testimony (audio here.)

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After SB 9 had already cleared the state Senate and passed all Assembly policy committees, CD 3's Suzie Price, writing as an individul Councilmember, sent a June 23 letter that stopped short of opposing SB 9 but voiced concerns and suggested that Sacramento lawmakers make unspecified amendments giving LB City Hall greater autonomy on development projects.

Price's letter contended that the City of Long Beach has made "significant, good faith progress to improve housing policies with the goal with the goal of creating an environment conducive to more housing development but does so in a way that considers the unique local circumstances and environment of our city." It requests "that you [state lawmakers] consider appropriate changes to SB 9 with the intention of eliminating unintended consequences that harm communities where good faith and meaningful progress is being made on housing. Perhaps one incentive for cities that are making progress would be would be to allow more autonomy and discretion for future development projects...I defer to you on how that balance could be reached but I hope you will consider something along those lines as the discussion moves forward."

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On Aug. 16, SB 9's authors made two limited tweaks (amendments)

  • A [City Hall] may deny a proposed housing development project if the building official makes a written finding, based upon a preponderance of the evidence, that the proposed housing development project would have a specific, adverse impact, as defined and determined in paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 65589.5, upon public health and safety or the physical environment and for which there is no feasible method to satisfactorily mitigate or avoid the specific, adverse impact.

  • An applicant [would have to] sign an affidavit stating that they intend to occupy one of the housing units as their principal residence for a minimum of 3 years from the date of the approval of the urban lot split [unless the applicant is a community land trust or a qualified nonprofit corporation.]

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Support really independent news in Long Beach. No one in LBREPORT.com's ownership, reporting or editorial decision-making has ties to development interests, advocacy groups or other special interests; or is seeking or receiving benefits of City development-related decisions; or holds a City Hall appointive position; or has contributed sums to political campaigns for Long Beach incumbents or challengers. LBREPORT.com isn't part of an out of town corporate cluster and no one its ownership, editorial or publishing decisionmaking has been part of the governing board of any City government body or other entity on whose policies we report. LBREPORT.com is reader and advertiser supported. You can help keep really independent news in LB similar to the way people support NPR and PBS stations. We're not non-profit so it's not tax deductible but $49.95 (less than an annual dollar a week) helps keep us online.


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