California enacts two laws to slice through local zoning rules

California single-family neighborhoods could see existing parcels split in half to build new housing under a bill signed Thursday by Gov. That’s not enough to keep from undercutting local control, 241 cities joined by the League of California Cities said in a letter to Newsom, though they acknowledged that affordability and homelessness “are among the most critical issues facing California cities.” The new law “undermines the ability of local governments to responsibly plan for the types of housing that communities need, circumvents the local government review process, and silences community voices,” said league Executive Director Carolyn Coleman, noting that none of the provisions require that the new housing be affordable. Newsom also announced the state will put $1.75 billion into what his administration is calling a new California Housing Accelerator, which he said will speed building 6,500 affordable multifamily units that had been stalled for lack of tax-exempt bonds and low-income housing tax credits. Newsom also signed a bill by Democratic state Sen. Scott Wiener of San Francisco easing the way for local governments to rezone neighborhoods near mass transit for up to 10 housing units.