HomeMy WebLinkAboutSB 79 (Wiener) Transit-Oriented Development - City of SLO -Letter of OPPOSITIONOffice of the City Council
990 Palnr Street, San Luis Obispo, 0A 93401-3249
805.781 71 1 4
slocity.orq
June 3, 2025
The Honorable Scott Wiener
Senator, California State Senate
LO21,O St, Suite 8620
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: SB 79 (Wiener) - Transit-Oriented Development - OPPOSITION
Dear Senator Wiener,
The City of San Luis Obispo continues to stand in strong opposition to SB 79, which has now
progressed significantly through the legislative process. As this bill moves closer to becoming law, we
write to reiterate and emphasize our serious concerns regarding its impacts on local planning,
community engagement, and our ability to achieve meaningful housing solutions that align with
community needs and local investments.
SB 79, as currently drafted, would override carefully crafted, state-certified housing elements and
effectively grant transit agencies broad land use authority over transit-adjacent properties. lt does
so without requiring that new housing-let alone affordable housing-be delivered as part of such
developments. This undermines our long-standing efforts to build housing thoughtfully and
inclusively while balancing community character, sustainability, and infrastructure needs.
Our city has invested significant resources in developing a Housing Element that reflects both our
community's needs and our regional obligations. We have made meaningful progress in promoting
higher-density housing near transit corridors, consistent with both state goals and local priorities. SB
79 would disregard these efforts, removing the local input and planning processes that are essential
to creating equitable and sustainable communities.
Additionally, SB 79's expansive provisions would allow transit agencies to build purely commercial
developments without contributing to the housing crisis the legislation ostensibly seeks to address.
This approach undermines the goal of meaningful housing production near transit, particularly
affordable housing, and risks further eroding public trust in both state housing policy and local
government's role in shaping our communities.
Moreover, this bill would allow transit agencies to override locally adopted general plans and zoning
ordinances, extending beyond immediate transit corridors to any property they own or have an
easement on. Such broad authority fails to respect the collaborative nature of planning between local
governments, transit providers, and community members.
As a city committed to addressing California's housing crisis through comprehensive, inclusive, and
community-driven strategies, we strongly urge you to reconsider this bill's provisions. We call instead
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for legislative efforts that incentivize affordable housing near transit while respecting local planning
efforts, environmenta I review, and mea ningful public pa rticipation.
For these reasons, the City of San Luis Obispo continues to oppose SB 79. We appreciate your
attention to this matter and respectfully urge you to oppose the bill or substantially amend it to
address these concerns.
Sincerely,
Michelle Shoresman
Vice Mayor
City of San Luis Obispo
Cc:Assemblymember Dawn Addis
Senator John Laird
Dave Mullinax, League of California Cities
League of Ca I ifo rn ia Cities, citvletters(ocacities.o rg