New California Law: You Shall Live Near Transit

Given that Honolulu voters recently approved a $4B-plus rail system, an article from the San Francisco Chronicle about a new California law encouraging "local governments and builders to concentrate growth in urban areas or close to public transportation hubs in an effort to reduce Californians' use of cars and lower their greenhouse gas emissions" should be of some interest. In other words, development is "encouraged" in urban areas in "multifamily urban properties" (apartments).

One of the more interesting issues is whether people want to live in these areas, or whether -- like so many other things such as mass transit -- it is a case of "good for others, but not for me." The article quotes the attorney for California Major Builders Council

"Our industry very much supports the goal of building more high-density projects in blighted areas, doing redevelopment and transit-oriented developments," he said. "There is a demand for this type of development, and it's not as if all the home builders in the U.S. and California are stupid."

On the other hand, he said, there is a firm industry conviction that not all of the projected growth in California can be accommodated in multifamily urban properties, nor do all consumers want to live in such homes. There are clear downsides for those builders pursuing projects that don't reflect the model envisioned in the law.

(emphasis added). More analysis and opinion here:

• SB 375 Is Only The Beginning
• SB 375 Is Now Law - But What Will It Do?
• Gov. Schwarzenegger's press release (with video)
• Op-ed: Steinberg's SB 375 isn't a smart growth strategy
• LA Times: Legislature takes aim at urban sprawl
• LA Times Greenspace: Who says we can drive less?

Last year, I discussed the issue of "transit-oriented development" on Jay Fidell's public radio show ThinkTech Hawaii with UH law professor David Callies, and Honolulu attorney and developer Vernon Woo.  Podcasts of that show are available here.