Santa Monica Lawmaker Proposes Coastal Development Change

A new bill proposed in the California state legislature could loosen the California Coastal Commission’s grip on development in the state’s densest coastal cities, clearing a faster path for housing, bike lanes and parking overhauls in transit-rich areas.

On Monday, California Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur, who represents a district stretching from Santa Monica to Griffith Park, introduced AB 1740, legislation that would allow certain coastal cities to bypass Coastal Commission approval for a wide range of housing and transportation projects, the Santa Monica Daily Press reported. The proposal is sponsored in part by the City of Santa Monica.

AB 1740 would carve out a new category of “urban multimodal communities” where local governments, not the commission, would have primary authority in dictating development, according to the bill. Zbur argues that the system, while essential for preserving sensitive resources, has created bottlenecks in areas where projects pose little environmental risk and are essential to housing production goals.

“The California Coastal Act is one of our state’s most important environmental laws, and is critical to protecting coastal access and our treasured coastal resources,” Zbur said. “However, in urbanized communities with robust public transit, current Coastal Commission standards must be modernized to achieve the important goals of the Coastal Act.”

Under AB 1740, qualifying cities could approve housing projects without Coastal Commission permits if the developments are located in areas already zoned for multifamily use and are not within 300 feet of beaches, wetlands or environmentally sensitive habitat areas. Mixed-income projects — defined as those dedicating at least 7 percent of units to extremely low-income residents, 10 percent to very low-income households or 13 percent to lower-income residents — would be exempt from commission review when located in multifamily-designated areas. Dense developments with 10 or fewer units on sites smaller than 1 acre would also qualify if developed at a minimum density of 10 units per acre.

In qualifying cities, local governments could also add bike lanes, bus lanes and other multimodal transportation improvements without California Coastal Commission approval. AB 1740 would allow changes to roadways, including removal or relocation of on-street parking to make space for bicycle infrastructure. The bill would also allow for the installation of accessible walkways, pay stations, signage and electric vehicle chargers in public facilities without permit approval.

State lawmakers will consider AB 1740 in the policy committee later in this legislative session.

— Chris Malone Méndez