"With just five months before landmark housing legislation takes effect throughout California, San Jose officials are racing to exempt broad swaths of the city from the law. Sen. Scott Wiener's Senate Bill 79, signed into law in October, aims to encourage denser housing construction around transit hubs. In San Jose, the law would cover 40,000 parcels of land, in many cases pushing up the maximum height and density limits for newly constructed residential buildings, according to city officials."
"While some city leaders are welcoming the housing boost SB 79 could deliver, others resent the uncertain impacts it may bring to San Jose's cityscape. "This is a mess. It's a mess what it's going to do potentially to our community," Vice Mayor Pam Foley said at last week's council meeting. "I really dislike when local control is taken away from city council, particularly on an issue like this.""
"In response, city leaders plan to invoke certain exemptions written into the law, including one that allows cities to exclude land already designated for uses related to job creation. The City Council on Jan. 27 directed staff to return in March with a measure to exempt about 6,600 acres of industrial land, mostly located in North San Jose."
Five months before SB 79 takes effect statewide, San Jose officials are pursuing exemptions to limit the law's impact locally. The law encourages denser housing near transit and would apply to about 40,000 parcels in the city, often increasing allowable heights and densities. City leaders plan to use exemptions for land designated for job-creation uses and for parcels without direct walking paths to transit, and the City Council directed staff to prepare a March measure to exempt roughly 6,600 acres of industrial land, mostly in North San Jose. Officials identified six exemption areas and are reviewing effects on historic properties, with certification required before July 1.
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