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Page 1 of 18 <br />City of Redwood City 1017 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, CA. 94063 Tel: 650-780-7000 www.redwoodcity.org <br />STAFF REPORT <br />To the Honorable Mayor and City Council <br />From the City Manager <br />DATE July 13, 2026 <br />SUBJECT <br />Senate Bill 79 – Abundant and Affordable Homes Near Transit Act <br />SUMMARY <br />Senate Bill 79 (SB 79), effective July 1, 2026, establishes State-mandated height, density, and floor area <br />standards for qualifying housing projects within one-half mile of the Redwood City Caltrain Station. This <br />report outlines the law, its potential local impacts, and available implementation options. Staff <br />recommends allowing SB 79 to take effect without temporary exclusions and developing a <br />Transit-Oriented Development Alternative Plan for consideration in Spring 2027. <br />RECOMMENDATION <br />By motion, direct staff to: <br />1. Allow SB 79’s baseline obligations to take effect without adopting a temporary exclusion ordinance; <br />and <br />2. Concurrently develop an SB 79-compliant Transit-Oriented Development Alternative Plan in <br />coordination with ongoing planning efforts. <br />STRATEGIC PLAN GUIDING PRINCIPLE <br />Housing <br />BACKGROUND <br />SB 79 Overview <br />In recent years, the California Legislature has enacted numerous laws to address the State’s chronic <br />housing shortage. These laws have focused on increasing housing production by requiring local <br />8.A. - Page 1 of 97 <br />219