Groups Begin Fight Against State on Neighborhood Planning Takeover
Who is fighting to stop the State takeover of local land use planning?
California residents, including Piedmonters, are becoming more and more aware of the loss of control over local land use planning in their cities and neighborhoods. Public interest groups are forming to fight State takeover of local planning processes.
Developers are projected to be the monetary gainers of State control over housing and planning.
The continuing loss of local citizens’ ability to control development and feel confident of their community’s future is felt and shown in the number of homeowners deciding this is the time to leave California.
To date, the Piedmont City Council has fully supported the Piedmont Regional Housing Need Assessments (RHNA) calling for an additional 587 housing units added in Piedmont. Proposals call for the Piedmont Planning Department to ministerially take action on approvals without neighborhood input on Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) that meet certain criteria. Areas in Piedmont, including a park, are being considered to be designated for multiple housing units.
State legislation impacts Piedmont’s two “single family” residential zones differently. Zone A where smaller parcels are typically found in “lower Piedmont,” there is a requirement of a 5 foot setback from side and rear property lines for habitable buildings. Zone E (Estate), an elite zone where parcels are generally located in upper Piedmont, require more space around their homes for the greater 20 foot side and rear yard setbacks. Roof overhangs are allowed into the setbacks further narrowing the distance between buildings. Zone E has been questioned as illegally established as never having been established by voter action per the City Charter .
The required number of RHNA housing units was assigned to Piedmont without consideration of the numerous substandard, narrow, and winding road ways impacting safety and emergency vehicles. Deficient municipal open space, lack of local employment, and other local problems were also not factored into Piedmont’s 587 new housing unit assessment.
Various groups opposing State imposition of housing requirements are linked below for information.
www.stopsacramento.org
https://www.livablecalifornia.org/livable-california- endorses-the-our-neighborhood- voices-initiative/
