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Colfax adopts SB 35 ministerial policy to expedite qualifying affordable housing
Summary
The council adopted a resolution implementing Senate Bill 35 ministerial approval for qualifying affordable housing projects that meet objective zoning and design standards; staff said qualifying projects would not require CEQA or discretionary council review and must meet prevailing‑wage rules for certain sizes.
The Colfax City Council voted on Feb. 11 to adopt a written policy implementing California Senate Bill 35, which allows qualifying affordable housing projects that meet specified objective standards to be approved ministerially (as a matter of right) rather than as discretionary entitlements. Planning staffer Kathy Peace told the council SB 35 requires the city to evaluate qualifying projects under objective zoning and design standards and, when met, to approve them within statutory timelines (typically 60 days; larger projects may have up to 90 days).
Peace outlined typical eligibility conditions discussed in staff materials: the project must be more than two units, conform to design standards and provide affordable units; projects larger than 10 units may be subject to prevailing‑wage rules. She noted qualifying projects generally are exempt from CEQA review under the SB 35 streamlining process. After brief council discussion and no public questions, the council moved, seconded and approved the resolution to adopt the SB 35 policy.
Staff will post the adopted policy and proceed with ministerial processing for qualifying applicants according to state law.
