SAN DIEGO -- State Senate Bill 79, a contentious bill aimed at increasing housing density near train and rapid bus lines across California, has ignited a heated debate in San Diego and throughout the state.
The legislation, sponsored by State Senator Scott Wiener, which passed the Senate floor in June, is designed to address the state's housing crisis by mandating up-zoning within a quarter to half-mile of transit hubs.
SB 79 is set up in a tiered system, where building height limits would be based on the level of service at the transit stop.
Developments near a Tier 1 stop would have a 75 ft maximum height limit, or the local limit, if higher. Those near
Tier 2 stops have a 65 ft limit. Tier 3 stops have a 55 ft limit.
The limits apply within a quarter-mile of the transit stop, with different, lower limits applying further away.
"Neighbors For A Better San Diego" took part in a state-wide protest Saturday organized by "Neighbors For A Better California."
The coalitions argue that SB 79's language is vague around bus stops, and that the lack of precision could allow developers to exploit ambiguities, undermining the bill's intent.
"And that bus stop can be anything from just 15-minute frequency in the height of morning and evening," Marcella Bothwell, the Chair of Neighbors For A Better California, said. "That will qualify as a bus stop. That 500 homes or a half a mile around that area, the height now can go up to six, to eight, even nine stories. These homes, there's no affordability requirement. They're not concerned about fire safety."
"All of it is basically catered to luxury housing, luxury apartments, specifically rental apartments," Charlie Nieto, a community advocate, said. "I understand there's an argument that you gotta create more supply to lower prices, except you're just not really seeing that housing trickle down."
While many rallied against SB 79 on Saturday, not everyone is opposed to the bill.
Organizations such as "Our Time To Act" told CBS 8 that this legislation is critical for the future of California.
"SB 79's critical implementation and allowance of apartments to be built near high-frequency transit will allow for not only necessary housing to be built, but will also serve to start to curb the really severe car dependence that we have in California," Nicole Lillie, the Executive Director of Our Time To Act, said.
Lillie also said that the bill ensures developers provide subsidized affordable homes.
Meanwhile, after SB 79 passed the Senate floor, it then passed out of the Assembly Housing and Local Government committees.
The bill now awaits further action in the Assembly.