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Senate debate over SB 457 centers on builder’s‑remedy loopholes after Menlo Park project
Summary
Sen. Josh Becker introduced SB 457, a bill to limit use of the builder’s remedy when a city’s housing element is later certified by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD).
Senators debated SB 457, a bill by Sen. Josh Becker that would clarify when jurisdictionsmay be treated as having a substantially compliant housing element and tighten the definition of a ‘‘complete’’ housing application so the builder’s remedy cannot be invoked on placeholder filings.
Becker told the committee the bill ‘‘ties substantially compliant housing elements to the date of local adoption, subject to later confirmation by HCD or a court,’’ and said the measure aims to prevent speculative filings that exploit administrative review delays. He said projects such as the 80 Willow proposal in Menlo Park — a developer filing that he and witnesses described as including large office components and towers up to 37 stories — illustrated the need for the change.
The bill attracted testimony both for and against. Jessica Wallander of…
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