As of late January, developers filed 26 applications to build 8,642 new homes under California’s three-decade-old builder’s remedy provision, setting aside 1,795 of those as low-income units.
The law, adopted in 1990, forbids cities and counties without a state-certified plan called a “housing element” from denying affordable housing projects because they conflict with local zoning restrictions or their general plan.
To qualify, the projects must set aside at least 20% of the units for low-income residents or all of the units must be affordable to moderate-income residents.
State law requires cities and counties to plan for housing at all income levels, redrafting their housing element — a part of their general plan — every five to eight years. The housing element details how a municipality will meet its fair share of regional housing needs.
As of Friday, Feb. 24, 251 of the state’s 539 municipalities were vulnerable to the builder’s remedy because they don’t have a state-approved housing plan.
Eight San Diego County jurisdictions have yet to adopt housing plans due in April 2021; and 108 jurisdictions in six other Southern California counties (Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura and Imperial), have yet to adopt plans due in October 2021.
Another 103 Bay Area jurisdictions have yet to adopt housing elements due at the end of January. The remaining 32 “out of compliance” jurisdictions are in Santa Barbara County or rural parts of the state.
To see an interactive Google map showing builder’s remedy projects in Southern California, CLICK HERE.
Here’s the list of Southern California’s builder remedy projects so far (in order of date filed):
—13916 Polk St., Sylmar: Total Units: 45. Affordable Units: 9. Stories: 3.
—Ten21 Harbor, 1021 N Harbor Dr., Redondo Beach: Total Units: 30. Affordable Units: 6. Stories: 6.
—1420-22 20th St., Santa Monica: Total Units: 50. Affordable Units: 10. Stories: 6.
—One Redondo, 1100…
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