Incorporates several important reforms to CEQA that would benefit housing projects, including focusing analysis, expanding exemptions, and strengthening the determinations of lead agencies to allow exemptions. Sponsored by Bay Area Council, Housing Action Coalition, Rural County Representative of California, and Prosperity CA.
Adds Sect. 21080.08 to CEQA – makes any rezoning consistent with an approved GP housing element exempt from CEQA except if the rezoning would allow construction of a distribution center or an oil/gas infrastructure project. Beyond that, for a project that would be categorically exempt from CEQA except for one disqualifying unmet condition, any EIR will be limited to analyzing that one condition. In addition, an agency’s decision to adopt a negative declaration or mitigated negative declaration will be upheld if any substantial evidence supports the agency’s decision.
THIS PROVISION WOULD TURN THE STANDARD OF REVIEW FOR A NEG. DEC. OR MND ON ITS HEAD!! IT WOULD MAKE THE STANDARD THE SAME AS FOR AN EIR – TILTING THE PLAYING FIELD EMPHATICALLY IN FAVOR OF THE AGENCY’S DECISION!!! – This bill will be strongly opposed by the entire environmental community. We need to oppose it too!
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