BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 343
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Date of Hearing: April 27, 2011
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Norma Torres, Chair
AB 343 (Atkins) - As Introduced: February 10, 2011
SUBJECT : Redevelopment plans: environmental goals
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 of Statues of
2008, or the applicable regional greenhouse gas emission
reductions targets.
EXISTING LAW (Health & Safety Code Section 33330):
1)Requires a redevelopment agency to develop a redevelopment
plan for each project area and may hold hearings to inform the
plan.
2)Requires California Air Resources Board (CARB), by September
30, 2010, to set greenhouse gas emission reduction targets
from the automobile and light truck sector for each region, to
be achieved by 2020 and 2035.
3)Requires metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) to include
sustainable communities strategies (SCS), as defined, in their
regional transportation plans (RTPs) for the purpose of
reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
FISCAL EFFECT : None.
COMMENTS :
SB 375 established 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 Global Warming
Act of 2006 The 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 SCS
which incorporates land use and transportation planning in
AB 343
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effort to meet the goals provided by CARB.
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 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 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."
Double referred : The Assembly Committee on Rules referred AB
343 to the Committee on Housing and Community Development and
Local Government. If AB 343 passes this committee, the bill
must be referred to the Committee on Local Government.
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REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation
Western Center on Law & Poverty
Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by : Lisa Engel / H. & C.D. / (916) 319-2085