Tag archives: SB9

State Audit Finds Problems with State’s Mandated Housing Numbers
By Sharon Byrne   |   March 29, 2022

On March 17, 2022, the California State Auditor released a very important report on California’s Housing and Community Development Department’s (HCD) Regional Housing Needs Allocations (RHNA). The audit was assertively requested by the California Alliance of Local Elected (CALE) officials, a strongly activist group of councilmembers from across the state. CALE asserts that California’s Regional […]

It’s the 2022 California Legislative Session, and They’re Churning Out More Housing Bills
By Sharon Byrne   |   March 22, 2022

Here they come! If you feel a little confused about what the state might be up to re housing, here’s a handy primer: 1. California officials said the state is 3.5 million units short of housing, a statistic used relentlessly to drive Senate Bills 9 and 10 last year, whose primary mission was to end […]

Pursuing Sound Walls
By Sharon Byrne   |   March 15, 2022

On February 3, we learned in a public meeting the Montecito segment of the 101 project would no longer have sound walls. The reason was hydraulic modeling that showed significant flood water rise in a major weather event. This was a major shock to the community. We’ve been looking at the project in our Land […]

SB9 is Finally Here. What Can City and County Do About It?
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   January 11, 2022

Senate Bill 9 (aka SB9), which we’ve been reporting on since early 2021, goes into effect this week, with local governments across California scrambling to implement ordinances to attempt to protect, as much as possible, single-family zoning in residential neighborhoods.   SB9 was signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in September 2021 and became effective January […]

California Enacts Legislation to End Single Family Zoning
By Sharon Byrne   |   September 28, 2021

Canada is holding Parliamentary elections, and the fate of President Trudeau will be decided. Trudeau called the election to capitalize on the liberal government’s handling of the pandemic. But the big issue Canadians are upset about is housing. Trudeau pledged to ban foreign investment in Canadian homes for two years and end the process of […]

Housing Bills Facing Serious Heat
By Sharon Byrne   |   August 19, 2021

Turning a corner is both a huge endeavor, and a welcome relief. We may have turned the corner on the dreaded Senate Bills 9 and 10. A little recap: The bills have seen a third and fourth time, respectively, through the legislature. Former Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson single-handedly torpedoed SB-10’s predecessor, put forth by San Francisco […]

Montecito Association Meets
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   June 17, 2021

It was a meaty agenda at this month’s Montecito Association Board of Directors meeting, which featured updates on the Highway 101 expansion through Montecito, the beginning of Smart Meter technology at Montecito Water District, and updates on proposed state housing bills that could have a significant effect on Montecito.  Kirsten Ayars with the 101 widening […]

Many Priorities, One Team — US!
By Sharon Byrne   |   June 3, 2021

Last week, we helped three Santa Barbara City Councilmembers host a very important community conversation on the California Housing Legislation with our state legislators Senator Monique Limón and Assemblymember Steve Bennett. You know we’ve been working on this closely with our former State Senator, Hannah-Beth Jackson. You can watch the Town Hall at our website: […]

Letters to the Editor
By Montecito Journal   |   May 13, 2021

Clarification A Community Voices column in the April 29-May 6 edition entitled, Despite Recent Narrative Cold Spring School Deserves Community’s Support, was written by a group of community members and not a single author. Cold Spring School: Time to Pony Up Legal Docs I truly cannot understand all the controversy surrounding the issue at Cold […]

Fighting Fair Housing Initiatives is Counterproductive
By Montecito Journal   |   May 6, 2021

In reference to the recent Montecito Association meeting held on April 13, I was deeply disappointed to see that our esteemed, highly respected former senator, Hannah-Beth Jackson, has agreed to represent the anti-growth side of the discussion regarding California State Bills 9 and 10, or SB-9 and SB-10. The legislation proffered by Governor Newsom will […]

Special-Interest Groups Negatively Impacting Single-Family Neighborhoods and Affordable Housing
By Sharon Byrne   |   April 29, 2021

We attended the Senate Housing Committee last week to provide input on two key bills: Senate Bills 9 and 765.  Our unexpected gain: insight into who’s calling the shots at the state. Hint: it’s not you.  Senator Toni Atkins (San Diego) introduced the revised SB-9. It will allow four units on a single-family lot, newly […]

Montecito Association Meets
By Kelly Mahan Herrick   |   April 22, 2021

At this month’s Montecito Association Board of Directors meeting on Tuesday, April 13, executive director Sharon Byrne gave an update on several housing bills at the State level which the Association is watching; Byrne wrote about the issue in last week’s Montecito Journal.  The MA has hired former state senator Hannah-Beth Jackson as a legislative […]

Pack ‘em and Stack ‘em Housing in Montecito? Act Now Before It’s Too Late!
By Sharon Byrne   |   April 15, 2021

I visited a project on Hill Road this week after receiving complaints from neighbors. As soon as I saw it, my heart sank. This is a second story ADU (accessory dwelling unit) that will decimate views and is built right to the edge of the driveway easement. Neighbors report it was piecemealed in permitting, so […]

Updates on Housing Bills
By Sharon Byrne   |   March 26, 2021

We attended the Senate Housing Committee hearing on March 18 and advocated for Montecito on the following bills: •SB15, Sen. Anthony Portantino: This bill allows local cities to replace sales tax lost from closure of big box stores and rezone for affordable housing. Sen. Scott Wiener, who chairs the committee, and is putting forth the […]

Attention California Legislators: Stand with Your Community!
By Sharon Byrne   |   March 25, 2021

There are two particularly bad bills wending through the legislature, proposed by Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins (Senate District 39, San Diego) and Scott Wiener (Senate District 11, San Francisco). They are determined to fulfill Governor Newsom’s pledge to build 3.5 million units of housing in California. Prior attempts that have failed to date: –Wiener’s […]

Fixing Issues at Hot Springs Trail
By Sharon Byrne   |   March 4, 2021

If you live near the Hot Springs Trail: You are likely already well aware of the jammed up street parking and trail users overcrowding the area. A countywide Fire Chief’s Public Safety Task Force has looked at this, and multiple other issues, including homeless encampment fires. For the folks on Riven Rock and East Mountain […]