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9A Page 12 ~:` .,r !y' ,., ! ~ t,r ;~..~ ~ Y-'4 ~~ Vr:: ~~ <~ <z a w ~r, .., n ., 5 ., ., e> -a a a ,< a :r. ,. s ~ w W _, w. a~ 4 e> _ .. .. ,9 ,, a a ~ .. ~ ~ n. .. .. „ For example, a resident would have needed to be present at a hearing on the adoption of a housing element for the entire city to have any voice about a development in their neighborhood. A building could be built in 2018, based upon a public discussion that occurred in 2008. • Trial Lawyers Win While Taxpayers Lose. Establishes the ability of all developers to collect attorney's fees against local agencies when they prevail in litigation on these matters, but provides nothing to the local tax payers when the public agency prevails. This is a bad precedent that provides significant leverage to private interests over the interests of a community and the taxpayers. SB 303 provides incentives to litigate and can have an intimidating effect especially over small communities which may lack the resources to defend themselves. • Forces Increases in Local Development Fees For Planning. Requires all general plans to be updated every 10 years, but provides no funding to pay for it. A comprehensive update of a local general plan for a small community costs approximately $500,000, and for larger cities and counties the costs can soar to $5 million. That figure does not include the costs of the site- by-site analysis and other requirements of this bill. With 478 cities and 58 counties, the costs imposed by this measure will likely exceed $500 million. ments have incurred all the costs to make them available, that nothing in the legislation shall be interpreted to affect existing laws with respect to housing development outside of these areas. This is surely sprawl and growth without limits-which many people believe will contribute to further global warming. Finally, it should also be noted that housing starts have declined in the last year due to market forces, and home builders are not starting new home construction even when they have all local approvals and permits. Would they do any differently with double the land supply available? The League remains committed to working with the author and sponsor on incentive-based legisla- tionthat will increase certainty for home builders while also increasing the supply of affordable hous- ing.That offer is stil{ on the table, and we hope to have the opportunity to work on housing amend- ments that will work for home builders, cities and our residents. For more information and a sample opposition letter on SB 303, visit www.cacities.org/billsearch and lookup the measure. Further updates on this legislation will appear in future editions of Priority Focus. Questions should be dtui~rected to League Legislati v`e Representative Bill r}iggin.~i at bhiggins@cacities.org or Legislative Director Dan Carrigg at dcarrigg@cacities.org, This legislation states that these costs can be recovered by local governments through fees. While greenfield developers may be able to offset these costs, local governments in urban and infill areas will likely face significant cost burdens on their general funds because of a lack of developer interes# in building in their communities due to deteriorated infrastructure, concerns about crime and school quality, and other issues. • Prevents Safeguards Against Future Sprawl. Clarifies that even if all the above sites (10 years worth of sites) are identified and verified and supported by market surveys, and local govern- F. C f 4 t..i~. ;~4:z ~. ::~. ~.r w Pow. 1+r F .e ~V~: F \Y P y,~w~',. ~. ._, ~y ~~.,: t~~«. ro.~~~.b bps i'"YCVI: i,~'. Visit (and bookmark!).the League`s t_egisfiative Resources gage (www:cacities.org/legresources). You'I! find a roster and. contact information forthe- League's -egislativ~ staff; the online Bill Search. program, background materials on lobbying your legislators, and more.,: Visit the League's Official Website--www.cacities.org PRIORITY FOCUS -PAGE 5 March 16, 2007 -Issue #11