BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 343
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 343 (Atkins)
As Introduced February 10, 2011
Majority vote
HOUSING 5-2 LOCAL GOVERNMENT 6-3
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|Ayes:|Torres, Atkins, Bradford, |Ayes:|Alejo, Bradford, Campos, |
| |Cedillo, Hueso | |Davis, Gordon, Hueso |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Jeffries, Miller |Nays:|Smyth, Knight, Norby |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Requires every redevelopment plan to consider and
identify strategies for how redevelopment projects will help
attain climate, air quality and energy conservation goals
identified in SB 375 (Steinberg), Chapter 728, Statutes of 2008,
or the applicable regional greenhouse gas emission reductions
targets.
FISCAL EFFECT : None
COMMENTS : SB 375 (Steinberg) establishes a process for linking
land use planning to transportation planning. The goal of SB
375 is to link regional planning with air quality standards to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions to meet the goals established by
AB 32 (Núñez
and Pavley) Chapter 488, Statutes of 2006, the California
Global Warming Act of 2006. The California Air Resources Board
(CARB) was directed to establish greenhouse gas emission targets
for each region. The law requires that by 2020 the state's
greenhouse gas emissions be reduced to 1990 levels, a roughly
25% reduction. Local jurisdictions create a Sustainable
Communities Strategies (SCS) which incorporates land use and
transportation planning in effort to meet the goals provided by
CARB.
SB 375 (Steinberg) contains five key aspects:
1)Creation of regional targets for greenhouse gas emissions
reduction tied to land use.
AB 343
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2)A requirement that regional planning agencies create a plan to
meet those targets, even if that plan is in conflict with
local plans.
3)A requirement that regional transportation funding decisions
be consistent with this new plan.
4)Marries together regional transportation planning and housing
efforts for the first time.
5)New CEQA exemptions and streamlining for projects that conform
to the new regional plans, even if they conflict with local
plans.
Redevelopment agencies were created to eradicate blight in
disadvantaged communities. By bonding against increases in tax
increment, agencies generate the funds to carry out blight
reduction. Redevelopment could potentially be used as one of
the resources to meet the goals of SB 375 (Steinberg) provided
that the activities also meant the standards established in
existing law to eradicate blight. Existing law requires that
one finding that a legislative body must make when adopting a
redevelopment plan is that it conforms to the general plan of
the community including but not limited to the housing element.
The housing element is a community's blueprint for where housing
will go and at what density; it is a valuable tool to help meet
the goals of SB 375 and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
Purpose of this bill: According to the author, "AB 343 directs
redevelopment agencies to identify strategies in any
redevelopment plan for implementing strategies that are
consistent with the goals established in SB 375 (Steinberg).
Linking redevelopment plans to the sustainable community
strategy is the best way to ensure that all local government
plans and projects are ensuring the regional air quality goals
are being met and that no one local jurisdiction within the
region is faced with more of the burden of implementing. This
will ensure that the process that is taking place at the
regional level to meet air targets is consistent with growth,
redevelopment, housing and transportation as it relates to
redevelopment agencies."
Arguments in support: Western Center on Law & Poverty writes,
"SB 375 established regional blueprint planning. It is logical
AB 343
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and property that redevelopment plans should be aligned with
regional planning requirements. Redevelopment project are
essentially by definition infill development. Infill development
will be key in reducing greenhouse gas emissions."
Analysis Prepared by : Lisa Engel / H. & C.D. / (916) 319-2085
FN: 0000639