NEWS of the WEEK CONT’D
*Terms and Conditions Apply
PAU L WELLM AN F I LE PHOTO
HOUSING
THE OPPOSITION: From left, Hannah-Beth Jackson, Kristen Sneddon, and Sharon Byrne
New Bills Could Reshape S.B. Housing Senate Bills 9 and 10 Eliminate Single-Family Homes by Delaney Smith s the state puts increasing pressure on Santa Barbara to build housing, two new state bills are currently in committee that have the potential to dismantle single-family homes and replace them with multi-unit housing. Introduced by State Senator Scott Wiener, Senate Bill 9 allows homeowners to put a duplex on single-family lots or split them. Where a single-family home stood, eight units of housing can be built. Wiener’s other bill, SB 10, would allow cities to adopt an ordinance to zone any parcel of land, including single-family homes, for up to 10 units of housing if it is in a “transit-rich or jobsrich area.” Neither bill would require environmental analysis or a hearing or approval from the local government. “The biggest challenge with both of them is that they take away local control,” said former state senator Hannah-Beth Jackson, who was hired by the Montecito Association to guide its members as they lobby against the bills and educate the community. Sharon Byrne, executive director of the Montecito Association, agrees with Jackson and is also concerned that neither bill would require developers to upgrade water, sewage, or other infrastructure. “It will allow rampant gentrification where the locals cannot do anything about it — and that’s the intent of these two bills — and it doesn’t provide any parking or any infrastructure upgrades,” Byrne said. “We need better solutions.” And what are the better solutions? For one, Byrne and Jackson agreed that both bills are geared toward a 2019 world, though the pandemic has changed housing needs. Byrne said she hoped to see a bill that would address this new reality — where physical proximity to transit and jobs is less of a factor for many now working remotely — or one more geared toward housing millennials and Generation Z, who have different living habits and needs. She also said she sees housing atop State Street buildings as an option and was disappointed none of the bills allow that. Councilmember Kristen Sneddon, who takes issue with many of the same points Byrne and Jackson do, is focused on potential gentrification that could result from
A
either of the bills passing. “As we’ve seen, there’s no limit to what people will pay for rent here,” Sneddon said. “This would be a dream for developers to be able to knock one thing down and put up 10 units instead and rent each of those out for exorbitantly high rent.… I think it would be terrible for neighborhoods like the Westside and Eastside.” The city has made several changes to build more housing to meet state requirements. Known as granny flats, accessory dwelling units (ADUs) allow up to two apartments on a single-family lot. In 2016, the state decided that as long as a lot meets the requirements, developers can build ADUs without a hearing or approval from the local government. Sneddon said she felt these have been largely successful in creating new housing. But local developer Frank Thompson disagrees. Under current rules, he said, “you can’t divide the ownership of the property and sell off the ADU separately. So there always has to be a landlord. SB 9 is trying to change that…. “And frankly, I don’t think in Santa Barbara that the ADUs have proven to be affordable,” he said. “We expanded the housing supply, and we kind of hoped that the rents would come in lower, but golly, gee whiz, the rents came in high.” Thompson said because SB 9 would be market-driven, he doesn’t think anyone will attempt to split their smaller lot when it would be too cramped. He also doesn’t believe SB 10 will have much of an impact on Santa Barbara if it passes. Even though it allows up to 10 units on a single lot, he said most lots wouldn’t allow for that and developers wouldn’t try. As for the city itself, planner Renee Brooke said that they stand with Byrne, Jackson, and Sneddon for many of the same reasons. She said that while the city generally supports streamlining housing production, it must be the housing it truly needs, and SB 9 does not have any affordability requirements. The city would also prefer to retain some local control and be able to identify areas where that type of housing is best suited, like outside of hazard zones. She isn’t worried about SB 10 because it is an “opt-in” bill, meaning that cities do not have to implement it. n
SAVIN
GS
UP TO $4,000 !*
Mariposa at Ellwood Shores
Spring Savings! SAVE UP TO $4,000!* CALL TODAY! (805) 618-1957 MOVE IN BY 05/31 FOR THIS OFFER! Look to Mariposa at Ellwood Shores for quality living options in a resort-style setting. We offer Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Memory Care. Featured Amenities: Fine Dining, Spa & Salon, Fitness Center, Movie Theater, Outings, and more! www.goletaseniorliving.com
190 Viajero Avenue, Goleta, CA 93117 RCFE #425802106
AN EVENING TO CELEBRATE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION SILENT AUCTION · LIVE AUCTION · ENVIRONMENTAL HERO AWARD · SPECIAL GUESTS
CARMEN RAMIREZ
EDC’S 2021ENVIRONMENTAL HERO VENTURA COUNTY SUPERVISOR
LEAH C. STOKES
ENERGY POLICY EXPERT, PROFESSOR
NICOLA BAILEY
INSPIRING YOUNG POET
RSVP REQUIRED www.EnvironmentalDefenseCenter.org/gb
INDEPENDENT.COM
MAY 6, 2021
THE INDEPENDENT
9