California Apartment Association

After signing the state budget, Gov. Jerry Brown continues to seek legislation that would streamline the approval process for residential housing in California.

Gov. Jerry Brown

On Monday, Brown signed a $122 billion state budget for 2016-17, including $400 million for affordable housing programs sought by Assembly Democrats.

The governor, however, has set aside that $400 million until he and the Legislature work out a deal to more quickly approve local housing projects. The details must be worked out before the legislative session ends in August.

The governor’s proposal, supported by the California Apartment Association, would exempt certain multifamily housing infill projects from a drawn-out approval process by city and county governments. Such back-and-forth delays are often fueled by NIMBYism (not in my backyard) opponents.

This would make qualifying multifamily housing projects exempt not only from the discretionary approval process, but in general, from CEQA review. Such legislation promises to lower development costs, improve the pace of housing production and encourage an increase in housing supply, the governor’s office has said.

Related content:

• Jerry Brown signs $122 billion state budget without a single veto (San Francisco Chronicle, June 27)
• Q&A: What got done in California’s new state budget and what didn’t (Los Angeles Times, June 17)