New Homes Coming Faster, But at What Cost?

Governor Newsom has signed Senate Bill 131 and Assembly Bill 130 into law as of June 30th. What does that mean? Basically, new housing projects that are built around existing developments, and that are under 20 acres, less than 85 feet tall, and meet local zoning rules, can now skip environmental reviews. Yep, no more CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) hoops to jump through, as long as the project's within those limits.

That’s a win for builders who’ve been tangled up in red tape for years. But for neighbors and environmental advocates? Maybe not so much.

To give some background, CEQA has been around since 1970. It made sure developers and cities considered things like pollution, noise, and water quality before approving a project, and required them to actually do something to reduce those impacts. It also gives the public a way to push back. In fact, CEQA lawsuits have delayed or blocked tons of developments in the Bay Area alone.

Now, with these new laws in place, developers won’t need to worry so much about detailed environmental impact reports or angry neighborhood groups trying to stop a project. That could mean faster approvals and more housing in the pipeline. Again, if the proposed development meets the guidelines. 

Good news for solving the housing shortage? For sure. But if you’re living next to an empty lot or a tired old commercial building, you might want to brace for potential construction, noise, or changes to the area down the line.

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