Bill Text: CA AB1771 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Planning and zoning: regional housing needs assessment.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2018-09-30 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 989, Statutes of 2018. [AB1771 Detail]

Download: California-2017-AB1771-Amended.html

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Amended  IN  Assembly  March 19, 2018

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 1771

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Introduced by Assembly Member Bloom

January 04, 2018

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An act to amend Sections 65584, 65584.04, and 65584.05 of the Government Code, relating to housing.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 1771, as amended, Bloom. Regional Planning and zoning: regional housing needs assessment.

(1) The Planning and Zoning Law requires counties and cities to adopt a comprehensive, long-term plan for the physical development of the county or city and certain land outside its boundaries that includes, among other specified mandatory elements, a housing element. That law, for the fourth and subsequent revisions of the housing element, requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to determine the existing and projected need for housing for each region in accordance with specified requirements. That law requires the appropriate council of governments, or, for cities and counties without a council of governments, the department, to adopt a final regional housing need allocation plan that allocates a share of the regional housing need to each city, county, or city and county and is consistent with specified objectives, including that the plan increase the housing supply and the mix of housing types, tenure, and affordability in all cities and counties within the region in an equitable manner.

This bill would revise the objectives required to be addressed in the regional housing needs allocation plan and additionally require the plan to include an objective to increase access to areas of high opportunity for lower-income residents, while avoiding displacement and affirmatively furthering fair housing.

(2) Existing law requires actions by local agencies related to the regional housing needs allocation plan to be consistent with those specified objectives.

The bill would instead require various actions by local agencies related to the regional housing needs allocation plan to further, and not undermine, the intent of the objectives required to be addressed by the plan.

(3) Existing law requires the council of governments, or delegate subregion as applicable, to develop a proposed methodology for distributing the existing and projected regional housing need to cities, counties, and cities and counties within the region or subregion, as applicable, that is consistent with specified objectives. Existing law requires the council of governments, or delegate subregion, as applicable, to conduct at least one public hearing on the proposed methodology. Existing law requires the council of governments or delegate subregion as applicable, to provide the proposed methodology, along with any relevant underlying data and assumptions, an explanation of how information about local government conditions gathered has been used to develop the proposed methodology, and how each of the factors required to be addressed by the regional housing needs allocation plan is incorporated into the methodology, to all cities, counties, any subregions, and members of the public who have made a written request for the proposed methodology.

This bill would require the council of governments or delegate subregion as applicable, to hold at least two public hearings. The bill would also require the council of governments or delegate subregion as applicable, to additionally provide, along with the proposed methodology, an explanation of how the proposed methodology furthers, and does not undermine, the intent of the objectives required to be addressed by the regional housing needs allocation plan. The bill would eliminate the requirement that members of the public make a written request for the proposed methodology and accompanying materials.

(4) Existing law requires each council of governments or delegate subregion as applicable, to include specified factors to develop the methodology that allocates regional housing needs, including, among others, each member jurisdiction’s existing and projected jobs and housing relationship, the market demand for housing, and high housing cost burdens, as specified.

This bill would revise these factors, and additionally require the council of governments or delegate subregion, as applicable, to consider the rate of overcrowding, the existing and projected demand for housing at various income levels, and the percentage of existing households at each specified income levels that are paying more than 30% and more than 50% of their income in rent.

(5) Existing law requires the council of governments, or delegate subregions, as applicable, to identify any existing local, regional, or state incentives available to those local governments that are willing to accept a higher share than proposed in the draft allocation, as specified.

This bill would repeal this provision.

(6) Existing law requires the council of governments, or delegate subregion, as applicable, following the 60-day public comment period, to adopt a final regional, or subregional, housing need allocation methodology and provide notice of the adoption of the methodology to the jurisdictions within the region, or delegate subregions, as applicable, and to the department.

This bill would instead require the council of governments, or delegate subregion, as applicable, following the public comment period, to submit the draft allocation methodology to the department. The bill would require the department to determine whether the methodology furthers, and does not undermine the objectives described above. The bill would require the council of governments, or delegate subregion, as applicable, following the receipt of the department’s determination, to make any necessary changes and adopt the final regional, or subregional, housing need allocation methodology, as specified.

(7) Existing law requires each council of governments or delegate subregion, as applicable, to distribute a draft allocation of regional housing needs to each local government within the region or subregion, as provided, at least 1.5 years prior to the scheduled revision of its housing element. Existing law authorizes a local government to request from the council of governments or delegate subregion, as applicable, a revision of its share of the regional housing need, in accordance with specified factors, within 60 days following receipt of the draft allocation. Under existing law, if the council of governments or delegate subregion, as applicable, does not accept the proposed revised share or modify the revised share to the satisfaction of the requesting party, the local government may appeal its draft allocation based on specified criteria.

This bill would additionally authorize a housing organization, as defined, to request from the council of governments or the delegate subregion, as applicable, a revision of the share of the regional housing need allocated to one or more local government. This bill would authorize the local government or the housing organization, if the council of governments or delegate subregion, as applicable, does not accept the proposed revised share or modify the revised share to the satisfaction of the requesting party, to appeal the draft allocation to the Department of Housing and Community Development, as specified.

(8) By adding to the duties of councils of governments and delegate subregions with respect to the distribution of regional housing need, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Under existing law, the Legislature has declared that the availability of affordable housing is of vital statewide importance and requires cooperation at all levels of government. Existing law declares that local and state governments have a responsibility to use the powers vested in them to facilitate the improvement and development of housing to make adequate provisions for the housing needs of all economic segments of the community. Existing law provides for a council of governments, consisting of a single or multicounty council created by a joint powers agreement, and requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to consult with each council of governments to determine the existing and projected need for housing in each region, as specified.

This bill would express the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would make changes to the process for distributing regional housing needs to various jurisdictions to ensure fairness and the achievement of stated goals regarding housing.

Digest Key

Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: NOYES   Local Program: NOYES  

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Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

 Section 65584 of the Government Code is amended to read:

65584.

 (a) (1) For the fourth and subsequent revisions of the housing element pursuant to Section 65588, the department shall determine the existing and projected need for housing for each region pursuant to this article. For purposes of subdivision (a) of Section 65583, the share of a city or county of the regional housing need shall include that share of the housing need of persons at all income levels within the area significantly affected by the general plan of the city or county.

(2) While it is the intent of the Legislature that cities, counties, and cities and counties should undertake all necessary actions to encourage, promote, and facilitate the development of housing to accommodate the entire regional housing need, it is recognized, however, that future housing production may not equal the regional housing need established for planning purposes.

(3) The Legislature finds and declares that insufficient housing in job centers hinders the state’s environmental quality and runs counter to the state’s environmental goals. In particular, when Californians seeking affordable housing are forced to drive longer distances to work, an increased amount of greenhouse gases and other pollutants is released and puts in jeopardy the achievement of the state’s climate goals, as established pursuant to Section 38566 of the Health and Safety Code, and clean air goals.

(b) The department, in consultation with each council of governments, shall determine each region’s existing and projected housing need pursuant to Section 65584.01 at least two years prior to the scheduled revision required pursuant to Section 65588. The appropriate council of governments, or for cities and counties without a council of governments, the department, shall adopt a final regional housing need plan that allocates a share of the regional housing need to each city, county, or city and county at least one year prior to the scheduled revision for the region required by Section 65588. The allocation plan prepared by a council of governments shall be prepared pursuant to Sections 65584.04 and 65584.05 with the advice of the department. 65584.05.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the due dates for the determinations of the department or for the council of governments, respectively, regarding the regional housing need may be extended by the department by not more than 60 days if the extension will enable access to more recent critical population or housing data from a pending or recent release of the United States Census Bureau or the Department of Finance. If the due date for the determination of the department or the council of governments is extended for this reason, the department shall extend the corresponding housing element revision deadline pursuant to Section 65588 by not more than 60 days.

(d) The regional housing needs allocation plan shall be consistent with further, and not undermine the intent of, all of the following objectives:

(1) Increasing the housing supply and the mix of housing types, tenure, and affordability in all cities and counties within the region in an equitable manner, which shall result in each jurisdiction receiving an allocation of units for low- and very low income households.

(2) Promoting infill development and socioeconomic equity, the protection of environmental and agricultural resources, and the encouragement of efficient development patterns.

(3) Promoting an improved intraregional relationship between jobs and housing. housing, including an improved balance between the number of low-wage jobs and the number of housing units affordable to low-wage workers in each jurisdiction.

(4) Allocating a lower proportion of housing need to an income category when a jurisdiction already has a disproportionately high share of households in that income category, and allocating a higher proportion of housing need to an income category when a jurisdiction already has a disproportionately low share of households in that income category, as compared to the countywide distribution of households in that category from the most recent decennial United States census.

(5) Increasing access to areas of high opportunity for lower-income residents, avoiding displacement and affirmatively furthering fair housing.

(e) For purposes of this section, “household income levels” are as determined by the department as of the most recent decennial census pursuant to the following code sections:

(1) Very low incomes as defined by Section 50105 of the Health and Safety Code.

(2) Lower incomes, as defined by Section 50079.5 of the Health and Safety Code.

(3) Moderate incomes, as defined by Section 50093 of the Health and Safety Code.

(4) Above moderate incomes are those exceeding the moderate-income level of Section 50093 of the Health and Safety Code.

(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, determinations made by the department, a council of governments, or a city or county pursuant to this section or Section 65584.01, 65584.02, 65584.03, 65584.04, 65584.05, 65584.06, 65584.07, or 65584.08 are exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code).

SEC. 2.

 Section 65584.04 of the Government Code is amended to read:

65584.04.

 (a) At least two years prior to a scheduled revision required by Section 65588, each council of governments, or delegate subregion as applicable, shall develop a proposed methodology for distributing the existing and projected regional housing need to cities, counties, and cities and counties within the region or within the subregion, where applicable pursuant to this section. The methodology shall be consistent with further, and not undermine the intent of, the objectives listed in subdivision (d) of Section 65584.

(b) (1) No more than six months prior to the development of a proposed methodology for distributing the existing and projected housing need, each council of governments shall survey each of its member jurisdictions to request, at a minimum, information regarding the factors listed in subdivision (d) that will allow the development of a methodology based upon the factors established in subdivision (d).

(2) The council of governments shall seek to obtain the information in a manner and format that is comparable throughout the region and utilize readily available data to the extent possible.

(3) The information provided by a local government pursuant to this section shall be used, to the extent possible, by the council of governments, or delegate subregion as applicable, as source information for the methodology developed pursuant to this section. The survey shall state that none of the information received may be used as a basis for reducing the total housing need established for the region pursuant to Section 65584.01.

(4) If the council of governments fails to conduct a survey pursuant to this subdivision, a city, county, or city and county may submit information related to the items listed in subdivision (d) prior to the public comment period provided for in subdivision (c).

(c) Public participation and access shall be required in the development of the methodology and in the process of drafting and adoption of the allocation of the regional housing needs. Participation by organizations other than local jurisdictions and councils of governments shall be solicited in a diligent effort to achieve public participation of all economic segments of the community. The proposed methodology, along with any relevant underlying data and assumptions, and an explanation of how information about local government conditions gathered pursuant to subdivision (b) has been used to develop the proposed methodology, and how each of the factors listed in subdivision (d) is incorporated into the methodology, and how the proposed methodology furthers, and does not undermine, the intent of the objectives listed in subdivision (d) of Section 65584, shall be distributed to all cities, counties, any subregions, and members of the public who have made a written request for the proposed methodology. The council of governments, or delegate subregion, as applicable, shall conduct at least one two public hearing hearings to receive oral and written comments on the proposed methodology.

(d) To the extent that sufficient data is available from local governments pursuant to subdivision (b) or other sources, each council of governments, or delegate subregion as applicable, shall include the following factors to develop the methodology that allocates regional housing needs:

(1) Each member jurisdiction’s existing and projected jobs and housing relationship. This shall include data on the number of low-wage jobs within the jurisdiction and how many housing units within the jurisdiction are affordable to workers at those wage levels, as well as how many jobs were added and at what wage levels compared to how many housing units were added and at what income levels in the last planning period.

(2) The opportunities and constraints to development of additional housing in each member jurisdiction, including all of the following:

(A) Lack of capacity for sewer or water service due to federal or state laws, regulations or regulatory actions, or supply and distribution decisions made by a sewer or water service provider other than the local jurisdiction that preclude the jurisdiction from providing necessary infrastructure for additional development during the planning period.

(B) The availability of land suitable for urban development or for conversion to residential use, the availability of underutilized land, and opportunities for infill development and increased residential densities. The council of governments may not limit its consideration of suitable housing sites or land suitable for urban development to existing zoning ordinances and land use restrictions of a locality, but shall consider the potential for increased residential development under alternative zoning ordinances and land use restrictions. The determination of available land suitable for urban development may exclude lands where the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or the Department of Water Resources has determined that the flood management infrastructure designed to protect that land is not adequate to avoid the risk of flooding.

(C) Lands preserved or protected from urban development under existing federal or state programs, or both, designed to protect open space, farmland, environmental habitats, and natural resources on a long-term basis.

(D) County policies to preserve prime agricultural land, as defined pursuant to Section 56064, within an unincorporated area.

(3) The distribution of household growth assumed for purposes of a comparable period of regional transportation plans and opportunities to maximize the use of public transportation and existing transportation infrastructure.

(4) The market existing and projected demand for housing. housing at each of the income levels listed in subdivision (e) of Section 65584.

(5) Agreements between a county and cities in a county to direct growth toward incorporated areas of the county.

(6) The loss of units contained in assisted housing developments, as defined in paragraph (9) of subdivision (a) of Section 65583, that changed to non-low-income use through mortgage prepayment, subsidy contract expirations, or termination of use restrictions.

(7)High-housing cost burdens.

(7) The percentage of existing households at each of the income levels listed in subdivision (e) of Section 65584 that are paying more than 30% and more than 50% of their income in rent.

(8) The rate of overcrowding.

(8)

(9) The housing needs of farmworkers.

(9)

(10) The housing needs generated by the presence of a private university or a campus of the California State University or the University of California within any member jurisdiction.

(10)

(11) Any other factors adopted by the council of governments. governments, provided that the council of governments specifies which of the objectives listed in subdivision (d) of Section 65594 that each additional factor is necessary to further.

(e) The council of governments, or delegate subregion, as applicable, shall explain in writing how each of the factors described in subdivision (d) was incorporated into the methodology and how the methodology is consistent with furthers, and does not undermine, the intent of subdivision (d) of Section 65584. The methodology may include numerical weighting.

(f) Any ordinance, policy, voter-approved measure, or standard of a city or county that directly or indirectly limits the number of residential building permits issued by a city or county shall not be a justification for a determination or a reduction in the share of a city or county of the regional housing need.

(g)In addition to the factors identified pursuant to subdivision (d), the council of governments, or delegate subregion, as applicable, shall identify any existing local, regional, or state incentives, such as a priority for funding or other incentives available to those local governments that are willing to accept a higher share than proposed in the draft allocation to those local governments by the council of governments or delegate subregion pursuant to Section 65584.05.

(h)

(g) Following the conclusion of the 60-day public comment period described in subdivision (c) on the proposed allocation methodology, and after making any revisions deemed appropriate by the council of governments, or delegate subregion, as applicable, as a result of comments received during the public comment period, each council of governments, or delegate subregion, as applicable, shall adopt submit the draft allocation methodology to the department. Within 60 days, the department shall determine whether or not the methodology furthers, and does not undermine, the objectives listed in subdivision (d) of Section 65584.

(h) Following the receipt of the department’s determination, the council of governments or delegate subregion, as applicable, shall make any necessary changes and adopt a final regional, or subregional, housing need allocation methodology and provide notice of the adoption of the methodology to the jurisdictions within the region, or delegate subregion as applicable, and to the department.

(i) (1) It is the intent of the Legislature that housing planning be coordinated and integrated with the regional transportation plan. To achieve this goal, the allocation plan shall allocate housing units within the region consistent with the development pattern included in the sustainable communities strategy. Nothing in this consistency requirement shall limit the application of subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (d).

(2) The final allocation plan shall ensure that the total regional housing need, by income category, as determined under Section 65584, is maintained, and that each jurisdiction in the region receive an allocation of units for low- and very low income households.

(3) The resolution approving the final housing need allocation plan shall demonstrate that the plan is consistent with the sustainable communities strategy in the regional transportation plan. plan and furthers, and does not undermine, the intent of the objectives listed in subdivision (d) of Section 65584.

SEC. 3.

 Section 65584.05 of the Government Code is amended to read:

65584.05.

 (a) At least one and one-half years prior to the scheduled revision required by Section 65588, each council of governments and delegate subregion, as applicable, shall distribute a draft allocation of regional housing needs to each local government in the region or subregion, where applicable, based on the methodology adopted pursuant to Section 65584.04. The draft allocation shall include the underlying data and methodology on which the allocation is based. based, and a statement as to how it furthers, and does not undermine, the intent of the objectives listed in subdivision (d) of Section 65584. It is the intent of the Legislature that the draft allocation should be distributed prior to the completion of the update of the applicable regional transportation plan. The draft allocation shall distribute to localities and subregions, if any, within the region the entire regional housing need determined pursuant to Section 65584.01 or within subregions, as applicable, the subregion’s entire share of the regional housing need determined pursuant to Section 65584.03.

(b) Within 60 days following receipt of the draft allocation, a local government may request from the council of governments or the delegate subregion, as applicable, a revision of its share of the regional housing need need. In addition, a housing organization may request from the council of governments or the delegate subregion, as applicable, a revision of the share of the regional housing need allocated to one or more local government. These requests shall be in accordance with the objectives listed in subdivision (d) of Section 65584 and with the factors described in paragraphs (1) to (9), inclusive, of subdivision (d) of Section 65584.04, including any information submitted by the local government or governments to the council of governments pursuant to subdivision (b) of that section. The request for a revised share shall be based upon comparable data available for all affected jurisdictions and accepted planning methodology, and supported by adequate documentation. documentation, and shall include a statement as to how it furthers, and does not undermine, the intent of the objectives listed in subdivision (d) of Section 65594. A request for a revised share pursuant to this subdivision shall be consistent with, and not to the detriment of, the development pattern in an applicable sustainable communities strategy developed pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 65080.

(c) Within 60 days after the request submitted pursuant to subdivision (b), the council of governments or delegate subregion, as applicable, shall accept the proposed revision, modify its earlier determination, or indicate, based upon the information and methodology described in Section 65584.04, why the proposed revision is inconsistent with the regional housing need. need and does not further the objectives listed in subdivision (d) of Section 65584.

(d) If the council of governments or delegate subregion, as applicable, does not accept the proposed revised share or modify the revised share to the satisfaction of the requesting party, the local government or the housing organization may appeal its the draft allocation to the department based upon either or both of the following criteria:

(1) The council of governments or delegate subregion, as applicable, failed to adequately consider the information submitted pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 65584.04, or a significant and unforeseen change in circumstances has occurred in the local jurisdiction or jurisdictions that merits a revision of the information submitted pursuant to that subdivision.

(2) The council of governments or delegate subregion, as applicable, failed to determine its the share of the regional housing need in accordance with the information described in, and the methodology established pursuant to, Section 65584.04. 65584.04, and in a manner that furthers, and does not undermine, the intent of the objectives listed in subdivision (d) of Section 65584.

(e) The council of governments or delegate subregion, as applicable, department shall conduct public hearings to hear all appeals within 60 days after the date established to file appeals. The local government or housing organization shall be notified within 10 days by certified mail, return receipt requested, of at least one public hearing on its appeal. The date of the hearing shall be at least 30 days and not more than 35 days after the date of the notification. Before taking action on an appeal, the council of governments or delegate subregion, as applicable, department shall consider all comments, recommendations, and available data based on accepted planning methodologies submitted by the appellant. The final action of the council of governments or delegate subregion, as applicable, department on an appeal shall be in writing and shall include information and other evidence explaining written findings, supported by a preponderance of the evidence on the record, as to how its action is consistent with this article. The final action on an appeal may require the council of governments or delegate subregion, as applicable, to adjust the allocation of a one or more local government governments that is are not the subject of an appeal.

(f) The council of governments or delegate subregion, as applicable, shall issue a proposed final allocation within 45 days after the completion of the 60-day period for hearing appeals. appeals, taking into account the department’s actions on all appeals. The proposed final allocation plan shall include responses to all comments received on the proposed draft allocation and reasons for any significant revisions included in the final allocation.

(g) In the proposed final allocation plan, the council of governments or delegate subregion, as applicable, shall adjust allocations to local governments based upon the results of the revision request process and the appeals process specified in this section. If the adjustments total 7 percent or less of the regional housing need determined pursuant to Section 65584.01, or, as applicable, total 7 percent or less of the subregion’s share of the regional housing need as determined pursuant to Section 65584.03, then the council of governments or delegate subregion, as applicable, shall distribute the adjustments proportionally to all local governments. If the adjustments total more than 7 percent of the regional housing need, then the council of governments or delegate subregion, as applicable, shall develop a methodology to distribute the amount greater than the 7 percent to local governments. In no event shall the total distribution of housing need equal less than the regional housing need, as determined pursuant to Section 65584.01, nor shall the subregional distribution of housing need equal less than its share of the regional housing need as determined pursuant to Section 65584.03. Two or more local governments may agree to an alternate distribution of appealed housing allocations between the affected local governments. If two or more local governments agree to an alternative distribution of appealed housing allocations that maintains the total housing need originally assigned to these communities, then the council of governments shall include the alternative distribution in the final allocation plan.

(h) Within 45 days after the issuance of the proposed final allocation plan by the council of governments and each delegate subregion, as applicable, the council of governments shall hold a public hearing to adopt a final allocation plan. To the extent that the final allocation plan fully allocates the regional share of statewide housing need, as determined pursuant to Section 65584.01, 65584.01 and has taken into account the department’s actions on all appeals, the council of governments shall have final authority to determine the distribution of the region’s existing and projected housing need as determined pursuant to Section 65584.01. The council of governments shall submit its final allocation plan to the department within three days of adoption. Within 60 days after the department’s receipt of the final allocation plan adopted by the council of governments, the department shall determine whether or not the final allocation plan is consistent with the existing and projected housing need for the region, as determined pursuant to Section 65584.01. The department may revise the determination of the council of governments if necessary to obtain this consistency.

(i) Any authority of the council of governments to review and revise the share of a city or county of the regional housing need under this section shall not constitute authority to revise, approve, or disapprove the manner in which the share of the city or county of the regional housing need is implemented through its housing program.

(j) For purposes of this section, “housing organization” means a nonproject organization whose mission includes providing or advocating for increased access to housing for low-income households.

SEC. 4.

 No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because a local agency or school district has the authority to levy service charges, fees, or assessments sufficient to pay for the program or level of service mandated by this act, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code.

SECTION 1.

It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would make changes to the process for distributing the existing and projected regional housing need to the jurisdictions within a region to ensure that the distribution is consistent with equity, fair housing, and climate goals and that every jurisdiction is contributing to the attainment of state housing goals at all income levels.