BILL ANALYSIS
AB 333
Page 1
Date of Hearing: May 20, 2009
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Kevin De Leon, Chair
AB 333 (Fuentes) - As Amended: May 4, 2009
Policy Committee: Local
GovernmentVote:7-0
Urgency: Yes State Mandated Local Program:
Yes Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY
This bill extends the expiration dates for tentative maps issued
to developers. Specifically, the bill:
1)Extends the expiration date by 24 months for any tentative
map, vesting tentative map, or parcel map for which a
tentative map or tentative vesting map has been approved, and
does not expire before January 1, 2012. It also extends the
expiration date by 24 months for any legislative,
administrative or other approval by a state agency relating to
a development project in a subdivision affected by this bill.
.
2)Extends by 12 months the expiration date of tentative maps,
vesting tentative maps, or parcel maps that have been approved
and are scheduled to expire prior to January 1, 2012. It also
extends by 12 months the expiration date for any legislative,
administrative, or other approval by a state agency relating
to a development projects in a subdivision affected by this
bill.
3)Increases the time for local discretionary extensions for
tentative subdivision maps from five to six years.
FISCAL EFFECT
No state costs. Local costs for extending expiration dates, if
any, would not be reimbursable because local agencies have
authority to levy fees and charges to cover their costs.
COMMENTS
AB 333
Page 2
1)Background . The California Subdivision Map Act establishes a
statewide regulatory framework for controlling the subdividing
of land. As a first step toward development of the land, the
developer is required to receive approval by the city or
county of a tentative map. The tentative map generally expires
after a specified period of time.
In the early 1990s, many projects for which maps had been
approved were postponed due to the housing collapse and
generally weak economic conditions. As a result, many maps
were set to expire, and in order to avoid the time and expense
associated with a new application process, the Legislature
enacted SB 428 (Thompson), Chapter 407/1993. The measure
provided a 24-month extension to all maps that had not expired
as of its September 13, 1993 effective date.
Again last year, in response to the credit-crunch and severe
slowdown in the housing industry, the Legislature passed SB
1185 (Lowenthal), Chapter 1284/2008, which granted a one-time
12-month extension for tentative and parcel maps that had not
expired as of the enacting legislation's chaptering date of
July 15, 2008. In addition, SB 1185 let local officials grant
an additional year, at their discretion.
One year later, however, the housing industry remains
depressed, and real estate developers face the prospect of
having their tentative and parcel maps expire before they can
obtain financing to build.
2)Rationale . The purpose of this bill is to provide an
additional extension in recognition of depressed markets and
financing challenges facing developers at this time. According
to the California Building Industry Association, one of the
co-sponsors of this bill, there are an estimated 1800
tentative tract maps representing approximately 250,000
housing units that would be affected by the provisions of this
bill. The bill spares developers affected by the recession the
added time and expense of obtaining new maps when the economic
picture brightens in the future.
Analysis Prepared by : Brad Williams / APPR. / (916) 319-2081