Following up on the Post’s reporting in the Jan. 11 edition, “2018 State Laws that Could Shake Up Home Building—and the New Housing Bill that Could Reshape the Palisades,” I want to alert the community to the dangerous bill SB-827 (Wiener-San Francisco), sponsored by a YIMBY (Yes in My Backyard) organization (cayimby.org).
It is ostensibly to address the state’s housing deficit.
The stated goal of the YIMBY movement is to “reverse” long-standing zoning distinctions (particularly single-family/R1 and other low-density zones, which it regards as exclusionary, antiquated relics) in order to achieve denser housing statewide.
SB-827 is the nose in the camel’s tent. It would completely override local land use controls in areas near major transit hubs in all California cities.
In large swaths of Los Angeles, permission without review for buildings as high as 85 feet would be required, and R1 zoning, community plans, and height, density, design and parking requirements would be erased (within a quarter- to half-mile radius of major transit corridors and rail/bus stops). Local initiatives to address affordable housing, such as Measure JJJ, would also be made meaningless.
But don’t take my word for it. As one of the bill’s YIMBY supporters enthuses: “Yes, you read that right. SB-827 preempts a city’s restrictions on parking minimums, floor area ratio and residential density” (eastbayforeveryone.org).
The bill is causing great concern regionally.
The Westside Regional Alliance of Councils’ leadership has recommended a motion opposing SB-827 to its 13 member-councils (including PPCC); Brentwood Community Council, among others, has already voted to oppose.
City Councilmember Paul Koretz has called the bill “devastating” and “the worst idea I’ve ever heard.”
As of this writing, our City Councilmember Mike Bonin is still studying it, but indicates he has concerns.
Why should Palisadians care?
After all, the bill may not directly impact us, since we don’t seem to have major transit hubs—yet. (I’m told that the city has been influenced to increase bus trip frequency and add stops on streets elsewhere in Los Angeles; it could happen here on Sunset.)
Even so, most of us regularly travel outside the Palisades and would certainly be affected by the bill’s impacts on Brentwood, Santa Monica, West Los Angeles and beyond.
Ultimately, the bill is a slippery slope toward an even greater “top down” takeover of local control—with potential extinguishment of community and specific plans and single-family zones. Reasonable citizens want to solve the affordable housing crisis, but SB-827—a blatant power grab that imposes statewide zoning—is not the answer.
Christina Spitz
For identification only: PPCC Chair/President Emeritus
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