Planning and zoning: density bonuses: affordable housing: fee reductions.
By defining the thresholds for impact fee reductions, AB3148 aims to mitigate the financial barriers developers often face when building affordable housing. It empowers local agencies to lower the costs associated with projects that comply with the requirements stated in the bill, potentially leading to an increase in the number of affordable housing units available. However, the bill also specifies that units governed by existing local inclusionary housing ordinances would be exempt from these provisions, maintaining a level of local authority over affordable housing practices.
AB3148, introduced by Assembly Member Chiu, seeks to amend the Density Bonus Law in California, which mandates that local governments offer incentives to developers for including affordable housing in their projects. The bill's primary objective is to compel local agencies to reduce impact fees for the construction of deed-restricted affordable housing units. Under the proposed legislation, the amount of impact fees charged for these low-income units would be adjusted to a specified percentage of the fees charged for market-rate units, contingent upon the level of affordability designated to the units. This change aims to promote the development of more affordable housing options across California.
Notably, the bill stipulates that no state reimbursement is required for local agencies to comply with the mandate, positioned as an effort to streamline the process of developing affordable housing without adding financial burdens on the state budget. Despite its intentions to enhance affordable housing availability, the bill has faced criticism related to the varying capacities of local agencies to implement such fee changes, which could lead to discrepancies in the provision of affordable units across different regions of California. Opponents argue this could exacerbate regional inequalities in housing access if not carefully regulated.