Sustainable Communities Strategies 101: An Introduction to California ’ s New Planning Law

1. SCANPH conference October 1, 2010 Sustainable Communities Strategies 101: An Introduction to California’s New Planning Law

2. Assembly Bill 32: Global Warming Solutions Act • Signed in 2006 • Required state Air Resources Board to adopt a plan that will reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 • Covers all significant contributors of GHG emissions, including agriculture, industry, and transportation

3. SB 375 Overview SB 375: Achieve a portion of these reductions by reducing the amount we have to drive.

4. SB 375 contents Four components: 1. GHG reduction target 2. Sustainable communities strategy 3. Housing planning 4. CA Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) modifications

5. Component #1: Setting the GHG reduction target • Lead agency: California Air Resources Board (ARB or CARB) • Goal: “ambitious but achievable” • Targets adopted at September 23 meeting SCAG: 2020 = 8% 2035 = 13% • Can be adjusted every four years

6. Component #2: Developing the Sustainable Communities Strategy • Responsible agencies: Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) • Part of the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) • Contents: • Land use pattern • Transportation investments • Must be realistic

7. Component #2: SCS (cont) Alternative Planning Strategy (APS): • Prepared if the region cannot achieve its target with its reasonably expected transportation resources and land use pattern • Shows what’s needed to meet the goal, e.g. more money for public transit and more compact homes throughout the region

8. Component #3: Localities’ Housing Planning SB 375: does NOT diminish local land use authority BUT housing element = de facto implementation of SCS’s land use pattern Changes made by 375: • Housing needs allocated consistent with SCS development pattern • Element covers 8-year period and is due 18 months after RTP is adopted

9. Component #3: Localities’ Housing Planning (cont) • Local government accountability • Penalty for failing to adopt element • Rezonings • Deadline for other programs • Reporting • Enforcement • Builder’s remedy • Citywide remedy

10. Component #4: CEQA modifications • Reduced requirements for residential and mixed-use development that is consistent with the SCS • Exemption for narrowly-defined “transit-priority projects” • Reduced requirements for broader group of transit projects

11. How can SB 375 serve equity goals? • Create more rental homes affordable to lower income Californians • Increase investment in affordable transit serving low-income neighborhoods and communities • Improve health outcomes in low income communities

12. SB 375 and equity WON’T WORK WITHOUT AFFORDABLE HOMES • Less Land = Increase in Land Value = • Increase in Housing Price > Trans. Savings • Increase in Displacement/Gentrification Pressures • Jobs/Housing Balance IS NOT Jobs/Housing Fit • Wages Often Insufficient • Fair Housing Impacts • SB 375 Undercut If Workers Can’t Afford the Homes

13. Defining Success in 2011-12 • SCSs that fully accommodate housing needs, invest trans. $$ to bolster affordable TOD, and reduce GHGs by placing affordable homes near job centers and expanded transit. • Strong housing elements with zoning for apartments, local trust funds, and other programs tailored to meet local needs. • Ongoing, dedicated state investment to increasing the supply of apartments affordable to lower income Californians

14. Winning Strategies • Statewide, partner with ARB, HCD, and allies. • Develop better modeling • Create “model” social justice scenario • Publications framing housing’s role • Build broad-based regional and local coalitions. • Influence SCSes • Shape housing elements • Follow housing element implementation – litigate if necessary • Pass legislation to create a dedicated funding source for investment in homes affordable to all Californians. 3.

15. Contact information: Julie Snyder Policy Director (916) 447-0503, x102 jsnyder@housingca.org