Several key bills aimed at addressing the state’s housing crisis – including one supported by ABAG and MTC – have been signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
MTC/ABAG supported Senate Bill 10, which authorizes local agencies to update zoning (and any associated changes to a general plan) to enable up to 10 units per parcel without undergoing a CEQA analysis (California Environmental Quality Act) until Jan. 1, 2029.
“SB 10, while by no means a panacea to our state’s housing crisis, would aid local jurisdictions across the Bay Area and other regions throughout the state in their efforts to combat the state’s housing shortage by providing local governments a new tool to expedite the housing planning process,” ABAG Executive Director Therese McMillan wrote to Gov. Newsom in support of the bill.
In all, Gov. Newsom signed 31 housing bills into law. The Terner Center for Housing Innovation at UC Berkeley called the actions a breakthrough in California housing policy.
Further policy changes and funding will be needed from the state and federal government to preserve and produce the affordable housing that’s needed for the Bay Area to thrive. ABAG/MTC’s advocacy platform will continue to prioritize this goal in 2022.