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The California Association of Realtors this week applauded a “build by right” proposal by Gov. Jerry Brown that would create a voluntary permit streamlining approval process for developers to use.
“With a historically low homeownership rate of 54% and record high rents, the dream of owning a home in California has become increasingly more difficult to attain,” said CAR President Pat “Ziggy” Zicarelli.
“CAR recognizes the urgency of California’s housing crisis and fully supports Gov. Brown’s efforts to reduce development costs and improve the pace of housing production,” Zicarelli added. “We encourage the Legislature to include this proposal in its final state budget.”
Brown’s proposal, in the May revision to the 2016-17 budget, includes a “build by right” proposal that would create a voluntary permit streamlining approval process for developers to use.
The proposal would exempt from detailed local government reviews developments already zoned and approved for housing when 5% to 20% of the newly constructed units are set aside for low-income residents.
Additionally, CAR previously announced its support for a $1.3 billion proposal by the State Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee to invest a portion of the state’s budget surplus to address the state’s housing crisis.
CAR formed an Affordable Workforce Housing Task Force to examine existing policies in California designed to expand the availability of “affordable housing” and to make recommendations to increase the availability of affordable workforce housing in California.