Cities flat-out oppose housing bill

Deirdre Newman

Costa Mesa Mayor Gary Monahan is urging the speaker of the state

Assembly to oppose a bill that would limit local control over second

units in residential areas.

It is now up to cities to decide how to regulate second units,

sometimes referred to as “granny flats” since they can be used by

cities to promote senior housing.

The bill, proposed by Assemblyman Darrell Steinberg, mainly

requires cities to permit second units in all residential zones.

Steinberg proposed it to promote more housing in the state, “without

unduly impinging on local preferences and community policies,” said

Steinberg’s Communication Director Sam Delson.

Monahan sees the bill as an unwanted intrusion by the state.

“I think it’s bad government policy for the state to mandate

cities’ land use,” Monahan said. “And there are much better ways of

promoting housing rather than allowing unrestricted building.”

The bill passed the Assembly on Thursday. It now heads to the

state Senate.

Monahan is sending Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez a letter

outlining Costa Mesa’s concerns with the bill. One of the top

concerns expressed in the letter is that requiring second units to be

allowed in all residential areas eliminates existing guidelines for

neighborhood compatibility and consistency.

“We feel this is irresponsible planning and may well put us at

odds with many residents in our community,” the letter, signed by

Monahan, states.

The city has already revised its second-unit law to comply with a

previous bill and would have to change it again if Steinberg’s bill

is approved by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The city’s law only allows

second units in the lowest density, single-family residential zones,

Associate Planner Wendy Shih said.

The proposed bill states that cities have to permit second units

in all residential zones but can apply different standards in

different zones. It also sets out a minimum unit size of at least 600

square feet. Costa Mesa does not have a minimum unit size for second

units, Shih said.

The bill also dictates to cities the density of housing allowed on

school district property. One of the requirements is that if a school

district decides to allow multi-family or single-family residential

use on a school site, then the residential density has to be the

highest multi-family residential density permitted on any parcel

within 300 feet of that site.

City officials consider this requirement to be in bad judgment as

well.

“We find this aspect of the measure to be poorly thought out in

terms of impacts that will likely result on traffic, surrounding

property, infrastructure and community services,” Monahan’s letter

states.

Newport Beach officials also oppose the bill, although the council

has not taken a formal position on it, Mayor Tod Ridgeway said.

“This is an attempt by the state to take over real property rights

and cities’ jurisdiction over housing, so anything that smacks of

that generally is on our master list of items to oppose,” Ridgeway

said.