AB 1561

Bill Subjects

Camp Fire Housing Assistance Act Of 2019 Housing Development

Abstract

Existing law, the Camp Fire Housing Assistance Act of 2019, authorizes a development proponent to submit an application for a residential development, or mixed-use development that includes residential units with a specified percentage of space designated for residential use, within the territorial boundaries or a specialized residential planning area identified in the general plan of, and adjacent to existing urban development within, specified cities that is subject to a streamlined, ministerial approval process and not subject to a conditional use permit if the development satisfies specified objective planning standards. Existing law requires a local government to notify the development proponent in writing if the local government determines that the development conflicts with any of those objective standards by a specified time; otherwise, the development is deemed to comply with those standards. Existing law repeals these provisions as of January 1, 2026. This bill would include the City of Chico within the list of specified cities. The bill would also extend the act until January 1, 2029. By imposing new duties on the City of Chico and by extending the duties of specified local agencies with respect to the streamlined, ministerial approval process described above, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. This bill would include findings that changes proposed by this bill address a matter of statewide concern rather than a municipal affair and, therefore, apply to the City of Chico and the City of Oroville. The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires a lead agency, as defined, to prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify the completion of, an environmental impact report on a project that it proposes to carry out or approve that may have a significant effect on the environment or to adopt a negative declaration if it finds that the project will not have that effect. CEQA also requires a lead agency to prepare a mitigated negative declaration for a project that may have a significant effect on the environment if revisions in the project would avoid or mitigate that effect and there is no substantial evidence that the project, as revised, would have a significant effect on the environment. CEQA does not apply to the approval of ministerial projects. By expanding the streamlined, ministerial approval process for certain housing developments to the City of Chico and by extending the streamlined, ministerial approval process for certain housing developments until January 1, 2029, this bill would expand the exemption for the ministerial approval of projects under CEQA. This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for cities specified in the bill. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.