Planning and zoning: housing element.
AB 3112 stresses the importance of housing elements that include a clear assessment and inventory of housing needs, particularly highlighting the requirement to plan for very low and low-income households. It mandates local agencies to analyze population trends and quantify housing requirements, making it a critical component for city and county planning. This bill seeks to support local governments in accommodating diverse housing needs, thereby addressing the current housing crisis faced by low-income communities and ensuring compliance with state standards.
Assembly Bill 3112, introduced by Assembly Member Gloria, seeks to amend Section 65583 of the Government Code, which relates to land use and requires each city, county, or city and county in California to create a housing element as part of their general plan. This legislation aims to make nonsubstantive changes to the existing provisions that dictate how local governments will address their housing needs. Specifically, it emphasizes the requirement for jurisdictions to identify existing and projected housing needs across all economic segments of the community, ensuring a comprehensive approach to housing development and preservation.
One of the core contents of the bill is the obligation for local governments to identify zones adequate for emergency shelters as permitted uses, also encouraging the location of at least one year-round emergency shelter within each jurisdiction. This introduces potential friction among municipalities, particularly those that may resist the establishment of shelters citing local preferences or community standards. Additionally, the enforcement mechanisms outlined in AB 3112 permit interested parties to seek legal recourse against local agencies that fail to comply with the housing element requirements, which may lead to increased litigation over housing projects.