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City attorney warns committee a pending "Live Local" bill could limit local control and expand affordable-unit mandates
Summary
City Attorney Hernandez briefed the committee on a proposed expansion of the state's Live Local program that would broaden applicable land types, require a 40% affordable-unit set-aside for 30 years and shorten local review timelines, potentially reducing municipalities' discretion on certain approvals.
City Attorney Hernandez told the Economic Development Committee that a bill under consideration at the state level would expand the scope of the Live Local program and could materially affect local review and land-use choices. Hernandez said the bill as drafted would apply Live Local to industrial, commercial, PUDs and lands owned by religious institutions and municipalities, and would require developers electing the program to "dedicate at least 40% of your dwelling units as affordable" with a 30-year commitment.
Hernandez also highlighted other provisions under discussion that would limit quasi-judicial proceedings, require municipalities to authorize ADUs and rent them at affordable rates, reduce parking requirements (including mandatory 100% reduction for some small projects) and require staff to act on local applications within 60 days. "So right now, as it stands for Live Local... dedicate at least 40% of your dwelling units as affordable," Hernandez said. Committee members requested clarification on whether the bill would use a municipality's AMI for affordability calculations; Hernandez said he would follow up with details for the next meeting. Members noted the state-level proposal could force some decisions onto municipalities and asked staff to monitor the bill.
