Housing Supply Legislation Faces Critical Senate Appropriations Committee Vote on Tuesday

Search Blogs that Mention this News Release

Click this link to view linked Bookmarking Services

Click this link to view linked Blogging Services

Housing Supply Legislation Faces Critical Senate Appropriations Committee Vote on Tuesday

    SACRAMENTO, Calif., Aug. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- California Association of
REALTORS(R)-sponsored AB 2702 (Steinberg), Ministerial Approval of Second
Units, faces a critical vote by the Senate Appropriations Committee on
Tuesday, Aug. 17.
AB 2702 will increase the housing supply in California by encouraging the
development of second units, and specifies that local governments cannot adopt
ordinances that have the practical effect of barring second units from a
community.
    "California's housing supply crisis threatens the state's economic health
and its citizens' quality of life," said C.A.R. President Ann Pettijohn."
Conservative estimates show that 250,000 new housing units are needed in
California each year.  However, local governments only approve plans to build
half that number.  By preventing local governments from evading the state's
existing law, AB 2702 will allow urgently needed housing to be built."

    If enacted, AB 2702 will:

      * Require local governments to permit second units in residential zones
        meeting specified conditions,
      * Prohibit local governments from totally or effectively banning all
        second units unless a specific health and safety finding is made,
      * Prevent local governments from placing age and family status
        restrictions on occupants of second units,
      * Set a minimum unit size of at least 550 square feet,
      * Continue to allow local governments to prohibit second units, and
      * Prohibit local governments from requiring covered parking for the unit
        or from increasing parking above statutory maximums in state law.

    "Homeowners shouldn't have to be tried in the court of public opinion when
they want to do something that is already allowed by law," Pettijohn said.
"AB 2702 does not alter local zoning laws, but simply allows second units to
be built under those laws without forcing homeowners to have to go before a
public hearing."
    Members of the state Senate Appropriations Committee include: Sam Aanestad
(R-Nevada City), Mike Machado (D-Stockton), Jackie Speier (D-San Mateo),
Charles Poochigian (R-Fresno), Roy Ashburn (R-Bakersfield), Kevin Murray
(D-Los Angeles), Betty Karnette (D-Los Angeles), John Burton (D-San
Francisco), Debra Bowen (D-Los Angeles), Martha Escutia (D-Los Angeles), Ross
Johnson (R-Irvine), Jim Battin (R-Riverside), and Dede Alpert (D-San Diego).

    The California Association of REALTORS(R) (http://www.car.org) is one of
the largest state trade organizations in the United States, with more than
135,000 members dedicated to the advancement of professionalism in real
estate. C.A.R. is headquartered in Los Angeles.

SOURCE California Association of REALTORS

http://www.car.org
CONTACT:
Mark Giberson of California Association of
REALTORS, +1-213-739-8304, markg@car.org