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Monrovia plans letter opposing SB 79 over local land‑use concerns
Summary
Monrovia staff and council agreed on Sept. 2 to submit a letter opposing SB 79, citing concerns that the bill would enable by-right seven-story housing within a half-mile of Metro stations and give Caltrans wide discretion to build housing on state-owned land.
Councilmember and staff discussion on Sept. 2 produced a proposed letter of opposition to Senate Bill 79 (authored by Sen. Wiener), which staff said would grant Caltrans broader authority to build housing on state-owned properties and would allow up-to-seven-story "by-right" housing within a half-mile radius of Metro stops without local discretionary review.
City planning staff and Councilmember Belden expressed concern that the measure could override the city's general plan and allow tall, dense development to be built administratively near Monrovia's Metro stop, extending impacts well beyond current transit-oriented areas. "The concern of the city of Monrovia and our planning staff is this does not consider our general plan," a staff presenter said.
Councilmember Belden said staff had prepared a template opposition letter from the League of California Cities and asked permission to submit it. He said the letter would include examples of local impacts for Monrovia. Council did not record a formal roll-call vote on the matter during the Sept. 2 discussion; staff asked for council concurrence and planned to submit the letter the following day if there were no objections.
The council indicated support for staff submitting the opposition letter through the League's portal and to the Legislature; staff will file the letter and provide the council with a copy when submitted.
