SENIOR SENATE PROPOSAL NO. 15

INTRODUCED BY SENIOR SENATOR EATON

(COAUTHOR: SENIOR ASSEMBLY MEMBER GLASMEIER)

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SP 15: AFFORDABLE SENIOR HOUSING: SECOND UNITS.

THE PLANNING AND ZONING LAW AUTHORIZES A LOCAL AGENCY TO PROVIDE BY ORDINANCE FOR THE CREATION OF 2ND UNITS ON PARCELS ZONED FOR A PRIMARY SINGLE-FAMILY AND MULTIFAMILY RESIDENCE. AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE ORDINANCE MAY DESIGNATE AREAS WITHIN THE JURISDICTION WHERE 2ND UNITS MAY BE PERMITTED, IMPOSE VARIOUS STANDARDS ON 2ND UNITS, PROHIBIT 2ND UNITS FROM EXCEEDING A CERTAIN ALLOWABLE DENSITY FOR A LOT, AND ESTABLISH A PROCESS FOR THE ISSUANCE OF CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS FOR 2ND UNITS.

THE PLANNING AND ZONING LAW ALSO AUTHORIZES A LOCAL AGENCY TO CHARGE A FEE TO REIMBURSE THE LOCAL AGENCY FOR THE COSTS IT INCURS AS A RESULT OF THESE PROVISIONS.

THIS MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR TO ENACT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD STANDARDIZE PLANNING AND ZONING REQUIREMENTS AND STANDARDIZE AND MINIMIZE PERMIT AND IMPACT FEES FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF 2ND UNITS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING UNITS FOR SENIORS.

VOTE: MAJORITY.

SP 15: RELATING TO AFFORDABLE SENIOR HOUSING

WHEREAS, THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF ADEQUATE, AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR SENIORS IN CALIFORNIA; AND

WHEREAS, THE NUMBER OF SENIORS WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE DRAMATICALLY AS MORE AND MORE “BABY BOOMERS” TURN 60 EACH YEAR; AND

WHEREAS, THE LIFESPAN OF SENIORS CONTINUES TO INCREASE WHICH MAGNIFIES THE NEED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THE FRAIL ELDERLY; AND

WHEREAS, AN INCREASE IN AFFORDABLE HOUSING WOULD REDUCE OR STABILIZE THE NEED FOR MORE ASSISTED LIVING AND SOME FORMS OF INSTITUTIONAL HOUSING; AND

WHEREAS, SECOND UNIT HOUSING SEEMS TO BE ONE ANSWER TO THE PROBLEM. THIS SOLUTION, HOWEVER, IS COMPLICATED BY THE LACK OF UNIFORMITY IN PLANNING AND ZONING REQUIREMENTS AND IN PERMIT AND IMPACT FEES FOR SINGLE-FAMILY AND COMPANION UNITS; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED, BY THE SENIOR SENATE AND THE SENIOR ASSEMBLY, JOINTLY, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AT ITS 2008 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT THE PLANNING AND ZONING REQUIREMENTS AND PERMIT AND IMPACT FEES ON SECOND UNITS BE STANDARDIZED AND MINIMIZED THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA TO CONFORM TO CHAPTER 1062 OF THE STATUTES OF 2002, WHICH WAS DESIGNED TO REMOVE OBSTACLES TO SECOND UNIT OR COMPANION UNIT HOUSING CONSTRUCTION AND PROVIDE MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR SENIORS IN CALIFORNIA; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RESPECTFULLY MEMORIALIZES THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO ENACT APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ADDRESS THE CONCERNS SET FORTH IN THIS MEASURE; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT A COPY OF THIS MEASURE BE TRANSMITTED TO THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE, THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

RN 08 21898

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