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Committee advances bill to streamline mixed-income student housing near campuses; cities urged caution
Summary
AB 893 (Fong) expands a ministerial approval path for mixed-income residential developments on commercially zoned property near colleges and allows students, faculty and staff to be eligible for set-aside affordable units. The League of California Cities said it remained concerned over local zoning and ministerial standards.
Assemblymember Bill Fong presented AB 893, a measure to expand ministerial approval for mixed-income developments on commercially zoned land near colleges and universities. The bill aims to speed development of student and faculty housing and includes affordability set-asides and eligibility rules that allow campuses to prioritize students, faculty or staff for deed-restricted units.
Why it matters: Sponsors said student housing shortages have driven homelessness and insecurity among undergraduates and contributed to lower completion rates. Supporters argued that enabling ministerial review and streamlining eligibility documentation (including allowing students to demonstrate need via financial aid documents) will lower barriers and accelerate construction of housing close to campuses.
Support and testimony: Remo Hooper (UC Student Association) and Ruth Sosa Martinez (Power California) described the student housing crisis and supported AB 893's streamlined process and affordability set-asides. The bill retains safeguards and affordability thresholds (13% for deeper affordability mixes or 15% for lower-income set-asides as tradeoffs described by supporters).
Opposition and concerns: The League of California Cities expressed opposition unless amended, citing concerns that ministerial approvals and one-size zoning standards could displace local planning authority and complicate RHNA accounting and local development standards. Several committee members voiced support for the bill's goal but asked for continued work with cities to preserve local zoning considerations and ensure seat allocation for students.
Next steps: The bill advanced to local government. Supporters and local-government groups signaled continued collaboration on zoning details and measures to ensure projects meet local infrastructure and planning requirements.
