Committee backs bill directing HCD to publish standardized site-capacity models for housing elements

Senator Becker presented SB 4 57 to the Senate Standing Committee on Housing, describing the bill as a reform that would clarify what counts as valid in-kind services for jurisdictions preserving naturally occurring affordable housing and would direct the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to publish standardized economic models for site-capacity analysis.

Becker said the lack of standardization has forced cities to use different methods across jurisdictions and parcels, making housing-element preparation time-consuming and costly. "This will just make it a much, much faster and more economical to develop, housing elements," Becker told the committee. He identified Michael Lane as a technical-support witness; no opposition witnesses came forward during the hearing portion.

Vice Chair Ciardi said she supported the bill's intent but expressed concern about giving HCD legal deference without first seeing the department's methodology. "I'd rather hear their methodology first," Ciardi said, adding that if HCD's method were worse than current approaches it could be problematic for cities. Becker responded that he represents small and medium-sized cities and is optimistic the models will be helpful, and he respectfully asked for an 'I' vote.

After a quorum was established, the committee moved and recorded concurrence in the assembly amendments for SB 4 57; the chair recorded the motion passing on a vote of 8 to 2. The action sends the bill forward with the committee’s recorded concurrence in the assembly amendments.