BILL NUMBER: AB 666	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Jones
   (Principal coauthor: Assembly Member Nava)

                        FEBRUARY 25, 2009

   An act to add Section 66474.02 to the Government Code, relating to
subdivisions.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 666, as introduced, Jones. Subdivision maps.
   Existing law, the Subdivision Map Act, requires the legislative
body of a city or county to deny approval of a tentative map, or a
parcel map for which a tentative map was not required, unless it
makes certain findings.
   This bill would require the legislative body of a county to make 3
specified findings before approving a tentative map, or a parcel map
for which a tentative map was not required, for an area located in a
state responsibility area or a very high fire hazard severity zone,
as defined.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 66474.02 is added to the Government Code, to
read:
   66474.02.  Before approving a tentative map, or a parcel map for
which a tentative map was not required, for an area located in a
state responsibility area or a very high fire hazard severity zone,
as both are defined in Section 51177, a legislative body of a county
shall make the following three findings:
   (a) A finding supported by substantial evidence in the record that
the design and location of each lot in the subdivision, and the
subdivision as a whole, would allow improvements, such as roads,
turnarounds, defensible space, and emergency water systems, to be
made consistent with any regulations adopted by the State Board of
Forestry and Fire Protection regarding map approval.
   (b) A finding supported by substantial evidence in the record that
structural fire protection and suppression services will be
available for the subdivision through any of the following entities:
   (1) A county, city, special district, or political subdivision of
the state.
   (2) The Department of Forestry and Fire Protection by contract
entered into pursuant to Section 4129, 4142, or 4144 of the Public
Resources Code.
   (c) (1) A finding that there is adequate ingress and egress for
each lot in the subdivision for fire protection and suppression
services and emergency evacuation of individuals, including but not
limited to, a minimum of two separate access roads from different
geographical directions in the subdivision that provide clear
alternatives for access to the subdivision during a fire emergency.
   (2) The legislative body of a county may waive the requirement of
a minimum of two separate access roads in paragraph (1), if the
legislative body makes findings supported by substantial evidence in
the record that more than one access road is not possible due to
topographic features or land ownership patterns and that redesign of
the subdivision, including reduction in the number of lots or a
reconfiguration of roads and lots to provide more than a single
access road, is not possible. A legislative body shall not waive the
requirement of a minimum of two separate access roads in paragraph
(1) for a subdivision that would create 30 or more lots.