California's Senate passed SB 79, a bill facilitating the construction of four to seven-story buildings near public transit stations. This move addresses ongoing housing shortages amid a political landscape focused on affordability post-2024 elections. Past attempts to enhance housing density met resistance for lacking clear affordability measures and undermining local planning. Advocates argue that multi-unit development is essential for affordable housing, while critics express concerns over transit agencies gaining control over land use decisions, potentially compromising community needs and local governance.
"Low-density housing means no affordable housing because you're not going to have affordable housing unless you have a certain level of multi-unit density."
"The bill also allows transit agencies to become de facto land developers, and the need to make land use decisions based on agency fiscal needs will taint the need to act in the best interest of communities."
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