Senate Bill 50, the closely watched upzoning bill proposed by State Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), made it a lot further through the Legislature than the prior attempt, SB 827. Still, SB 50 will short of the finish line in 2019.
Updated with a statement by State Senator Scott Wiener and additional articles by the L.A. Times.
"Senate Bill 50, the major transit-housing bill by SF-based State Sen. Scott Wiener, risks being stuck in limbo after a Monday hearing left its fate ambiguous," reports Adam Brinklow.
"Wiener’s bill, which would eliminate some zoning restrictions near major transit lines and job centers—and likely result in de facto upzoning of key parcels in major California cities and taller, more dense housing in these areas—faced the senate’s Appropriations Committee this week," according to Brinklow.
The committee ended up suspending the bill, as reported by LA Times reporter Liam Dillon on Twitter.
State Senate Appropriations chair @Portantino announced that #SB50, the bill that would increase density around transit and elsewhere around the state from @Scott_Wiener has been held for the year and will eligible again in 2020.
— Liam Dillon (@dillonliam) May 16, 2019
In April, the bill seemed like the bill's backers had brokered the necessary compromises to win approval. Senator Wiener shared a statement expressing "deep disappointment" over the fate of the bill.
The Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee made #SB50 a 2-year bill, meaning he won’t let it come up for a vote this year. It’ll be eligible for a vote in January. While I’m extremely disappointed, I am 100% committed to moving the bill forward. This fight is far from over. pic.twitter.com/0zpDoz6vsO
— Scott Wiener (@Scott_Wiener) May 16, 2019
Additional coverage from Bryan Anderson and Hannah Wiley for the Sacramento Bee is also available.
Since the news broke, the Los Angeles Times has added a wave of coverage, including articles by Liam Dillon and Julia Wick.
FULL STORY: California’s transit-housing bill SB 50 stuck in limbo until 2020
Interactive Mapping Tool Illustrates the Impact of California's Big Housing Bill
University of California, Berkeley researchers have mapped the impact of SB 50, a bill that would allow new density around train stations and bus stops in cities all over the state of California.
Amendments Proposed for California's Landmark Pro-Housing Development Legislation
Amendments are circulating for one of the most-closely watched, and passionately debated, pieces of housing legislation in the country.
Updated: Statewide Upzoning Falls Short Again in California
For the third year in a row, an effort to increase density near transit in statewide in California has stalled in the legislature.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research