The Cupertino Legislative Action Committee is hosting a virtual meeting on Sep. 9 with Assemblywoman Buffy Wicks to discuss AB 2011 – a bill she authored that would fast-track housing development on commercially zoned land across California and create more affordable units.
AB 2011 allows developers to turn office buildings, parking lots, or commercial strips into 100% affordable housing or mixed-income housing – as long as they pay construction laborers prevailing wages and provide health care to anyone working on a building with 50 or more units.
Notably, the bill also allows developers to skip lengthy and costly local review processes, including the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The legislation was sponsored by the California Conference of Carpenters, and the California Housing Consortium.
The bill passed the California Senate floor 33-0 last week and in the Assembly by a majority. Now it heads to Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk for a signature or veto before Sep. 30.
If Governor Newsom signs the bill, it becomes the Affordable Housing and High Road Jobs Act of 2022 and will take effect on July 1, 2022.
Assemblywoman Buffy Wicks represents the East Bay in the California State Assembly, her districts span the communities of Oakland, Berkeley, and Richmond.
Registration for the Sep. 9 meeting can be found on the Cupertino Chamber of Commerce website.