Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law Saturday affordable housing legislation authored by Assemblymember Todd Gloria that encourages higher-density construction near transit.
Beginning Jan. 1, cities and counties will be able to offer an alternative calculation system for residential density allowing for more and smaller units to be built on land convenient to public transit.
“My bill, AB 2372, helps tackle the long-running challenge that is California’s housing crisis. Cities and counties now have a crucial and innovative tool to produce housing that is actually affordable to everyday Californians,” said Gloria, who represents the San Diego area.
Known as California’s Sustainable and Affordable Housing Act, or CASA, the legislation allows cities and counties to offer the new floor-area ratio calculation on projects within one-half mile of a major public transit stop that also set aside 20 percent of the units for affordable housing.
“This bill reflects the kind of partnerships necessary to move forward to stimulate development of new housing units,” said San Diego City Councilmember Georgette Gomez, chair of the city’s Smart Growth and Land Use Committee.
The bill was sponsored by the City of San Diego and supported by the California Apartment Association, California Building Industry Association, California Housing Alliance, California Housing Consortium, Climate Action Campaign, San Diego Housing Federation, and the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce.