Single Family Zoning and California's New Law, SB-9

Raymond Henson, eXp Realty just posted it hope you will be willing still to put it on your thread, Endre

Very interesting to read a number of "Big Brother" comments above and not read anything about CA's attempt to address one of its more pressing problems --- homelessness.  There seems to be a concerted effort by some in this country to paint CA as the poster child for homelessness, a testament to its policies.  In reality, CA is "home" to 28% of the nation's homeless and about 50% of the nation's unsheltered homeless so there is indeed some truth to the scope of our problem. 

Yet while this measure is not specifically a homelessness initiative, the fact is that lack of affordable housing is the #1 cause of homelessness; not drugs, not race, not mental illness, etc. It's lack of affordable housing.  Many areas of CA suffer a huge supply/demand imbalance and this measure, if imperfect, just may help address that.  Will it be enough? Will it be effective? We don't know yet.  We do know government is the only entity big enough and powerful enough to attempt to affect a positive change. And yes, if it fails because we don't work with it instead of against it, then government and we, the taxpayers, will be the ones to deal with the consequences. This measure attempts to be part of the solution instead of part of the problem. For that alone, it deserves a chance.  Like Prop 13, all policy measures related to housing have sociological implications --- both good and bad.  This will be no different.

I am working on it already. Plan to turn a fix upper into a 4X. Zoned for duplex in 1900. Looks horrible. Basement, front, 2 added on...  6 blocks from Google Village.

Here in Boise, Idaho; they are doing away with many of our zoning subcatagies so you can build a duplex or a fourplex adjacent to a single family home.  It will be interesting to see how these changes play out in the long run.

Property owners will still have to adhere to the building codes and other codes from planning departments like landscape, setbacks, and parking, so, not all properties will be able to accommodate this opportunity, or am I mistaken? 

Good morning Raymond Henson, eXp Realty ,

Loved reading your post and all the comments. I am also going to read Endre Barath, Jr. 's take on the subject. I for one am against this kind of legislation and feel there is little or no debates ..it's just passed! There will be un-intended consequences....as you said many who should know what is being passed have no clue it was on the table for discussion!

With the limited supply of affordable houses, if any, this is one way to increase opportunities for more housing.  I'll be following this topic to see how it goes.  Some may have to make sacrifices, hopefully not too catastrophic!

I see this from both the NIMBY and the YIMBY perspective. Being a property owner who enjoys the quality of life my family and I have expereienced for the past 40 years on a nice large parcel in a very comfortable home with neighbors spread out on 1 acre minimum sized parcels all around me I would definitely hate to see my neighbors start splitting and developing their  property/s this way. And I certainly think, rather know, it would negitively impact our overall property values, traffice and semi rural lifestyle. 

That said as a company that specializes in this particular niche I see it as a boon to consturction and development overall. And a way to offer housing to folks who really need it. We all deserve the right to live within proximity to where we work. 

Now whether that transelates to affordable is another thing. When we build a 1bdm, 1bth 430sf  ADU close to the coast for a rental property and it rents for $3000/mth is that affordable? I guess relatively speaking when homes are selling in the millions it is. However, is it affordable for the mailmah, waitress, school teacher or gardner who services your needs? I don't think so. 

So will lot splitting really provide more affordable housing or just additional housing, density, traffic and parking issues in the neighborhoods. But most importantly and something that I'm not seeing anyone addressing is the infrastructure. Namely, sewer, water, gas and elec services. Most of our infrastructures are already underserving our needs. This type of runaway development will only exacerbate that problem. And it will be a huge problem.

But wait for the next shoe to drop. SB10. Allowing up to a 10 unit apartment/townhome/condo complex on those same lots/parcels. That's now going through the State govenment and will no doubt be passed. When that happens you can expect some real aggrissive pushback. 

That's my 3 $CENTS$ adjusted for inflation. 😊

Increasing density is an inevitable step as long as populations increase, otherwise there will be no more open space left. 

Thanks for posting this.  Interesting-only 5% of residential lots expected to be affected? There is no easy solution for the homelessness or lack of affordable housing. If a homeowner makes new units available for rent on his property--do you think he will set rent prices so they are "affordable"? That's a subjective term--affordable for a homeless person with no income or affordable for a family with basic service jobs?   I have personally helped a few families who moved from CAL to the Kansas City area who just cannot afford  housing for their families with both parents working and other living expenses.  Even as we see wages rise, inflation is creeping up as well. The middle class is disappearing.