Planning and zoning: housing element: rezoning of sites.
The bill introduces a significant change to existing laws regarding housing and zoning. By allowing local governments more time to complete necessary rezonings, AB1830 aims to facilitate compliance with state mandates for housing development. This could have broad implications, potentially increasing the availability of affordable housing and aligning local plans with state housing objectives. Furthermore, the bill enhances the accountability of the Department of Housing and Community Development by requiring it to assess the performance of existing housing assistance programs, including those addressing homelessness.
AB1830 aims to amend the Planning and Zoning Law by adjusting the timelines for local governments to rezone sites as part of their housing element. Specifically, it extends the deadline for local governments that have failed to adopt a housing element found in substantial compliance. The amendment extends the one-year compliance period by an additional six months for the first instance of such a failure. This change is expected to provide local agencies with a greater opportunity to meet state housing requirements and address the critical shortage of housing across various income levels, including for low- and very low-income households.
The discussions around AB1830 exhibit a mixture of optimism and skepticism. Supporters advocate that extending the deadline for rezoning will alleviate the housing crisis by allowing municipalities more flexibility and time to strategize effectively. Conversely, opponents argue that extending deadlines could delay critical housing projects and perpetuate inaction among local governments failing to prioritize housing initiatives. This demonstrates a tension between providing necessary leeway for compliance and ensuring timely action in a housing market in desperate need of solutions.
While the bill's intentions are largely seen as beneficial for addressing housing shortages, concerns exist regarding the potential for exploitation of the extended timelines. Critics worry that municipalities may use the additional time as a means to delay action on housing development further, undermining state efforts to tackle the housing crisis. Moreover, the bill's implementation may face challenges, such as varying capabilities across local jurisdictions, that could affect the effectiveness of the intended outcomes. The success of AB1830 will hinge on the commitment from local governments to follow through with robust housing strategies during the extended compliance period.