AB 1515: Planning and zoning: housing.

The Housing Accountability Act, which is part of the Planning and Zoning Law, prohibits a local agency from disapproving, or conditioning approval in a manner that renders infeasible, a housing development project very low, low-, or moderate-income households or an emergency shelter unless the local agency makes specified findings. Under the act, the local agency may disapprove or condition approval of a housing development project or emergency shelter if, among other reasons, the housing development project or emergency shelter is inconsistent with both the jurisdictions zoning ordinance and general plan land use designation, as provided. The act makes various findings and declarations relating to its provisions.

This bill would specify that a housing development project or emergency shelter is deemed consistent, compliant, and in conformity with an applicable plan, program, policy, ordinance, standard, requirement, or other similar provision if there is substantial evidence that would allow a reasonable person to conclude that the housing development project or emergency shelter is consistent, compliant, or in conformity. The bill would make additional findings related to the Housing Accountability Act in this regard.

This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 65589.5 of the Government Code proposed by AB 678 and SB 167 to be operative only if this bill and either or both AB 678 and SB 167 are enacted and this bill is enacted last.