CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20172018 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 2341Introduced by Assembly Member MathisFebruary 13, 2018 An act to add Section 21081.3 to the Public Resources Code, relating to environmental quality. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 2341, as introduced, Mathis. California Environmental Quality Act: aesthetic impacts.The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of, an environmental impact report on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA also requires a lead agency to prepare a mitigated negative declaration for a project that may have a significant effect on the environment if revisions in the project would avoid or mitigate that effect and there is no substantial evidence that the project, as revised, would have a significant effect on the environment.This bill would specify that, except as provided, the aesthetic effects of projects meeting certain requirements are not significant effects on the environment for purposes of CEQA and that the lead agency is not required to evaluate the aesthetic effects of those projects.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NO Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 21081.3 is added to the Public Resources Code, to read:21081.3. (a) For purposes of this section, project means a project involving the refurbishment, conversion, repurposing, or replacement of an existing building that meets all of the following requirements:(1) The building is abandoned, dilapidated, or has been vacant for more than one year.(2) The building site is immediately adjacent to parcels that are developed with qualified urban uses, or at least 75 percent of the perimeter of the site adjoins parcels that are developed with qualified urban uses and the remaining 25 percent of the site adjoins parcels that have previously been developed for qualified urban uses.(3) The project includes the construction of housing.(b) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), a lead agency is not required to evaluate the aesthetic effects of a project and the aesthetic effects of a project are not significant effects on the environment for purposes of this division.(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to either of the following:(A) A project with potentially significant aesthetic effects on an official state scenic highway established pursuant to Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 260) of Chapter 2 of Division 1 of the Streets and Highways Code.(B) A project with potentially significant aesthetic effects on historical or cultural resources.(c) This section does not alter, affect, or otherwise change the authority of a lead agency to consider aesthetic issues and to require mitigation or avoidance of adverse aesthetic effect pursuant to other laws.
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20172018 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 2341Introduced by Assembly Member MathisFebruary 13, 2018 An act to add Section 21081.3 to the Public Resources Code, relating to environmental quality. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTAB 2341, as introduced, Mathis. California Environmental Quality Act: aesthetic impacts.The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of, an environmental impact report on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA also requires a lead agency to prepare a mitigated negative declaration for a project that may have a significant effect on the environment if revisions in the project would avoid or mitigate that effect and there is no substantial evidence that the project, as revised, would have a significant effect on the environment.This bill would specify that, except as provided, the aesthetic effects of projects meeting certain requirements are not significant effects on the environment for purposes of CEQA and that the lead agency is not required to evaluate the aesthetic effects of those projects.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: NO Local Program: NO
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20172018 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill No. 2341
Introduced by Assembly Member MathisFebruary 13, 2018
Introduced by Assembly Member Mathis
February 13, 2018
An act to add Section 21081.3 to the Public Resources Code, relating to environmental quality.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2341, as introduced, Mathis. California Environmental Quality Act: aesthetic impacts.
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of, an environmental impact report on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA also requires a lead agency to prepare a mitigated negative declaration for a project that may have a significant effect on the environment if revisions in the project would avoid or mitigate that effect and there is no substantial evidence that the project, as revised, would have a significant effect on the environment.This bill would specify that, except as provided, the aesthetic effects of projects meeting certain requirements are not significant effects on the environment for purposes of CEQA and that the lead agency is not required to evaluate the aesthetic effects of those projects.
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of, an environmental impact report on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA also requires a lead agency to prepare a mitigated negative declaration for a project that may have a significant effect on the environment if revisions in the project would avoid or mitigate that effect and there is no substantial evidence that the project, as revised, would have a significant effect on the environment.
This bill would specify that, except as provided, the aesthetic effects of projects meeting certain requirements are not significant effects on the environment for purposes of CEQA and that the lead agency is not required to evaluate the aesthetic effects of those projects.
## Digest Key
## Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Section 21081.3 is added to the Public Resources Code, to read:21081.3. (a) For purposes of this section, project means a project involving the refurbishment, conversion, repurposing, or replacement of an existing building that meets all of the following requirements:(1) The building is abandoned, dilapidated, or has been vacant for more than one year.(2) The building site is immediately adjacent to parcels that are developed with qualified urban uses, or at least 75 percent of the perimeter of the site adjoins parcels that are developed with qualified urban uses and the remaining 25 percent of the site adjoins parcels that have previously been developed for qualified urban uses.(3) The project includes the construction of housing.(b) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), a lead agency is not required to evaluate the aesthetic effects of a project and the aesthetic effects of a project are not significant effects on the environment for purposes of this division.(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to either of the following:(A) A project with potentially significant aesthetic effects on an official state scenic highway established pursuant to Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 260) of Chapter 2 of Division 1 of the Streets and Highways Code.(B) A project with potentially significant aesthetic effects on historical or cultural resources.(c) This section does not alter, affect, or otherwise change the authority of a lead agency to consider aesthetic issues and to require mitigation or avoidance of adverse aesthetic effect pursuant to other laws.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
## The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 21081.3 is added to the Public Resources Code, to read:21081.3. (a) For purposes of this section, project means a project involving the refurbishment, conversion, repurposing, or replacement of an existing building that meets all of the following requirements:(1) The building is abandoned, dilapidated, or has been vacant for more than one year.(2) The building site is immediately adjacent to parcels that are developed with qualified urban uses, or at least 75 percent of the perimeter of the site adjoins parcels that are developed with qualified urban uses and the remaining 25 percent of the site adjoins parcels that have previously been developed for qualified urban uses.(3) The project includes the construction of housing.(b) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), a lead agency is not required to evaluate the aesthetic effects of a project and the aesthetic effects of a project are not significant effects on the environment for purposes of this division.(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to either of the following:(A) A project with potentially significant aesthetic effects on an official state scenic highway established pursuant to Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 260) of Chapter 2 of Division 1 of the Streets and Highways Code.(B) A project with potentially significant aesthetic effects on historical or cultural resources.(c) This section does not alter, affect, or otherwise change the authority of a lead agency to consider aesthetic issues and to require mitigation or avoidance of adverse aesthetic effect pursuant to other laws.
SECTION 1. Section 21081.3 is added to the Public Resources Code, to read:
### SECTION 1.
21081.3. (a) For purposes of this section, project means a project involving the refurbishment, conversion, repurposing, or replacement of an existing building that meets all of the following requirements:(1) The building is abandoned, dilapidated, or has been vacant for more than one year.(2) The building site is immediately adjacent to parcels that are developed with qualified urban uses, or at least 75 percent of the perimeter of the site adjoins parcels that are developed with qualified urban uses and the remaining 25 percent of the site adjoins parcels that have previously been developed for qualified urban uses.(3) The project includes the construction of housing.(b) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), a lead agency is not required to evaluate the aesthetic effects of a project and the aesthetic effects of a project are not significant effects on the environment for purposes of this division.(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to either of the following:(A) A project with potentially significant aesthetic effects on an official state scenic highway established pursuant to Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 260) of Chapter 2 of Division 1 of the Streets and Highways Code.(B) A project with potentially significant aesthetic effects on historical or cultural resources.(c) This section does not alter, affect, or otherwise change the authority of a lead agency to consider aesthetic issues and to require mitigation or avoidance of adverse aesthetic effect pursuant to other laws.
21081.3. (a) For purposes of this section, project means a project involving the refurbishment, conversion, repurposing, or replacement of an existing building that meets all of the following requirements:(1) The building is abandoned, dilapidated, or has been vacant for more than one year.(2) The building site is immediately adjacent to parcels that are developed with qualified urban uses, or at least 75 percent of the perimeter of the site adjoins parcels that are developed with qualified urban uses and the remaining 25 percent of the site adjoins parcels that have previously been developed for qualified urban uses.(3) The project includes the construction of housing.(b) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), a lead agency is not required to evaluate the aesthetic effects of a project and the aesthetic effects of a project are not significant effects on the environment for purposes of this division.(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to either of the following:(A) A project with potentially significant aesthetic effects on an official state scenic highway established pursuant to Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 260) of Chapter 2 of Division 1 of the Streets and Highways Code.(B) A project with potentially significant aesthetic effects on historical or cultural resources.(c) This section does not alter, affect, or otherwise change the authority of a lead agency to consider aesthetic issues and to require mitigation or avoidance of adverse aesthetic effect pursuant to other laws.
21081.3. (a) For purposes of this section, project means a project involving the refurbishment, conversion, repurposing, or replacement of an existing building that meets all of the following requirements:(1) The building is abandoned, dilapidated, or has been vacant for more than one year.(2) The building site is immediately adjacent to parcels that are developed with qualified urban uses, or at least 75 percent of the perimeter of the site adjoins parcels that are developed with qualified urban uses and the remaining 25 percent of the site adjoins parcels that have previously been developed for qualified urban uses.(3) The project includes the construction of housing.(b) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), a lead agency is not required to evaluate the aesthetic effects of a project and the aesthetic effects of a project are not significant effects on the environment for purposes of this division.(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to either of the following:(A) A project with potentially significant aesthetic effects on an official state scenic highway established pursuant to Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 260) of Chapter 2 of Division 1 of the Streets and Highways Code.(B) A project with potentially significant aesthetic effects on historical or cultural resources.(c) This section does not alter, affect, or otherwise change the authority of a lead agency to consider aesthetic issues and to require mitigation or avoidance of adverse aesthetic effect pursuant to other laws.
21081.3. (a) For purposes of this section, project means a project involving the refurbishment, conversion, repurposing, or replacement of an existing building that meets all of the following requirements:
(1) The building is abandoned, dilapidated, or has been vacant for more than one year.
(2) The building site is immediately adjacent to parcels that are developed with qualified urban uses, or at least 75 percent of the perimeter of the site adjoins parcels that are developed with qualified urban uses and the remaining 25 percent of the site adjoins parcels that have previously been developed for qualified urban uses.
(3) The project includes the construction of housing.
(b) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), a lead agency is not required to evaluate the aesthetic effects of a project and the aesthetic effects of a project are not significant effects on the environment for purposes of this division.
(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to either of the following:
(A) A project with potentially significant aesthetic effects on an official state scenic highway established pursuant to Article 2.5 (commencing with Section 260) of Chapter 2 of Division 1 of the Streets and Highways Code.
(B) A project with potentially significant aesthetic effects on historical or cultural resources.
(c) This section does not alter, affect, or otherwise change the authority of a lead agency to consider aesthetic issues and to require mitigation or avoidance of adverse aesthetic effect pursuant to other laws.