CA Bill Would Bring Mass Housing To Transit Stations

CALIFORNIA -- Californians living in the major metropolitan cities may soon see more housing near transit stations. A bill proposed by a San Francisco senator would lift land use laws to make that vision happen.

State Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) is proposing a bill that would lift land use controls "within 1/2 mile radius of a major transit stop or a 1/4 mile radius of a high-quality transit corridor." The exemptions would include "maximum controls on residential density or floor area ratio, minimum automobile parking requirements, design standards that restrict the applicant’s ability to construct the maximum number of units consistent with any applicable building code, and maximum height limitations, as provided."

The bill would most affect the state's most dense cities including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Oakland and San Diego.

Wiener's efforts come as California works to solve its housing crisis, while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

"Developers in the state need to build roughly 100,000 more homes each year than they do now to keep pace with population growth, as home prices and rents continue to rise. State environmental officials say California won’t meet its ambitious goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% below 1990 levels without a homebuilding boom in existing job centers and near transit," the Los Angeles Times reported.

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