(a)(1) A local government shall determine, in writing, whether a development submitted pursuant to this article is consistent or inconsistent with the objective planning standards specified in this article within the following timeframes:
(A) Within 60 days of submittal of the development proposal to the local government if the development contains 150 or fewer housing units.
(B) Within 90 days of submittal of the development proposal to the local government if the development contains more than 150 housing units.
(C) Within 30 days of submittal of any development proposal that was resubmitted to address written
feedback provided by the local government pursuant to paragraph (2).
(2)(A) If a local government determines that a development submitted pursuant to this article is in conflict with any of the objective planning standards specified in this article, it shall provide the development proponent, in writing, with an exhaustive list of the standard or standards the development conflicts with, and an explanation for the reason or reasons the development conflicts with that standard or standards, within the timeframes specified in paragraph (1).
(B)In any subsequent review of the application determined to be in conflict with the objective planning standards specified in this article, the local government shall not request the development proponent to provide any new information that was not stated in the initial list of items that were determined to be in
conflict.
(3)Once the local government determines that a development submitted pursuant to this article is consistent with the objective planning standards specified in this article, it shall approve the development within the following timeframes:
(A)Within 60 days of the date that the development is determined to be consistent with the objective planning standards specified in this article, if the development contains 150 or fewer housing units.
(B)Within 90 days of the date that the development is determined to be consistent with the objective planning standards specified in this article, if the development contains more than 150 housing units.
(4)If the local government fails to provide the required documentation pursuant to paragraph (2), the
development shall be deemed to satisfy the required objective planning standards.
(b)(1) For purposes of this section, a development is consistent with the objective planning standards if there is substantial evidence that would allow a reasonable person to conclude that the development is consistent with the objective planning standards.
(2)For purposes of this section, a development is not in conflict with the objective planning standards solely on the basis that application materials are not included, if the application contains substantial evidence that would allow a reasonable person to conclude that the development is consistent with the objective planning standards.
(c)The determination of whether a proposed project submitted pursuant to this section is or is not in conflict with the
objective planning standards is not a “project” as defined in Section 21065 of the Public Resources Code.
(d)Design review of the development may be conducted by the local government’s planning commission or any equivalent board or commission responsible for design review. That design review shall be objective and be strictly focused on assessing compliance with criteria required for streamlined, ministerial review of projects, as well as any reasonable objective design standards published and adopted by ordinance or resolution by a local jurisdiction before submittal of the development to the local government, and shall be broadly applicable to developments within the jurisdiction. That design review shall not in any way inhibit, chill, or preclude the ministerial approval provided by this section.
(e)If a development is located within an area of the coastal zone that is not
excluded under clause (i), (ii), (iii), or (v) of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (6) of subdivision (a) of Section 65913.4, the development shall require a coastal development permit pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 30600) of Division 20 of the Public Resources Code. A public agency with coastal development permitting authority shall approve a coastal development permit if it determines that the development is consistent with all objective standards of the local government’s certified local coastal program or, for areas that are not subject to a fully certified local coastal program, the certified land use plan of that area.
(f)(1) A development proposed pursuant to this article shall be eligible for a density bonus, incentives or concessions, waivers or reductions of development standards, and parking ratios pursuant to Section 65915.
(2)The
utilization by a development proponent of incentives, concessions, and waivers or reductions of development standards allowed pursuant to Section 65915 shall not cause the project to be subject to a local discretionary government review process, or be considered a “project” under Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code, even if that incentive, concession, or waiver or reduction of development standards is not specified in a local ordinance.
(3)For purposes of this section, receipt of any density bonus, concession, incentive, waiver or reduction of development standards, and parking ratios to which the applicant is entitled under Section 65915 shall not constitute a basis to find the project inconsistent with the local coastal program.
(g)If a development proposed pursuant to this article demolishes or changes an existing use, the amount of a fee,
as defined in Section 66000, imposed on the development shall be offset to account for the demolition or change so that the amount of the fee is attributable only to the development’s incremental impact on public facilities or services. For purposes of this subdivision, an offset amount that exceeds the fee amount shall not be refundable or used to offset any other fee. This subdivision does not supersede or in any way alter or lessen the effect of the Mitigation Fee Act (Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 66000), Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 66010), Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 66012), Chapter 7.5 (commencing with Section 66015), Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 66016), and Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 66020)). For the purpose of this subdivision, “changes an existing use” means no demolition is proposed, but a current office, commercial, or similar use changes to residential use.
(h)The local government shall ensure that
the project satisfies the requirements specified in Article 2 (commencing with Section 66300.5) of Chapter 12, regardless of whether the development is within or not within an affected city or within or not within an affected county.
(i)If the development is consistent with all objective subdivision standards in the local subdivision ordinance, an application for a subdivision pursuant to the Subdivision Map Act (Division 2 (commencing with Section 66410)) shall be exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code).
(j)A local government may, by ordinance adopted to implement this article, exempt a parcel from this section before a development proponent submits a development application on a parcel pursuant to this article if the local government makes written findings establishing
all of the following:
(1)The local government has identified one or more parcels that meet the criteria described in subdivisions (b) through (f) of Section 65912.111.
(2)(A) If a parcel identified in paragraph (1) would not otherwise be eligible for development pursuant to this chapter, the implementing ordinance authorizes the parcel to be developed pursuant to the requirements of this chapter. A parcel reclassified for development pursuant to this subparagraph shall be suitable for residential development. For purposes of this subparagraph, a parcel suitable for residential development shall have the same meaning as “land suitable for residential development,” as defined in Section 65583.2.
(B)If a parcel identified in paragraph (1) would otherwise be eligible for development pursuant to
this chapter, the implementing ordinance authorizes the parcel to be developed ministerially at residential densities above the residential density required in subdivision (b) of Section 65912.113.
(3)The substitution of the parcel or parcels identified in this subdivision for parcels reclassified pursuant to paragraph (2) will result in all of the following:
(A)No net loss of the total potential residential capacity in the jurisdiction relative to the total capacity that existed in the jurisdiction through the combined effect of this chapter and local law as of the date of the adoption of the ordinance. In making the no net loss calculation specified by this subparagraph, the local government need only factor in the parcels substituted and reclassified pursuant to this subdivision.
(B)No net loss of the total
potential residential capacity of housing affordable to lower income households in the jurisdiction relative to the total capacity that existed in the jurisdiction through the combined effect of this chapter and local law as of the date of the adoption of the ordinance. In making the no net loss calculation specified by this subparagraph, the local government need only factor in the parcels substituted and reclassified pursuant to this subdivision.
(C)Affirmative furthering of fair housing.
(4)A parcel or parcels reclassified for development pursuant to subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) shall be eligible for development pursuant to this chapter notwithstanding any contrary provision of the local government’s charter, general plan, or ordinances, and a parcel or parcels reclassified for development pursuant to subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) shall be developed ministerially at
the densities and heights specified in the ordinance notwithstanding any contrary provision of the local government’s charter, general plan, or ordinances.
(5)The local government has completed all of the rezonings required pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 65583 for the sixth revision of its housing element.
(6)The local government has designated on its zoning maps which parcels have been exempted from this chapter and which parcels have been reclassified for development pursuant to this chapter. This information shall be made publicly available through the local government’s internet website.
(k)(1) The local government shall, as a condition of approval of the development, require the development proponent to complete a phase I environmental assessment, as defined in Section 78090 of
the Health and Safety Code.
(2)If a recognized environmental condition is found, the development proponent shall undertake a preliminary endangerment assessment, as defined in Section 78095 of the Health and Safety Code, prepared by an environmental assessor to determine the existence of any release of a hazardous substance on the site and to determine the potential for exposure of future occupants to significant health hazards from any nearby property or activity.
(A)If a release of a hazardous substance is found to exist on the site, before the local government issues a certificate of occupancy, the release shall be removed, or any significant effects of the release shall be mitigated to a level of insignificance in compliance with current state and federal requirements.
(B)If a potential for exposure to
significant hazards from surrounding properties or activities is found to exist, before the local government issues a certificate of occupancy, the effects of the potential exposure shall be mitigated to a level of insignificance in compliance with current state and federal requirements.
(l)A local government’s approval of a development pursuant to this section shall, notwithstanding any other law, be subject to the expiration timeframes specified in subdivision (g) of Section 65913.4.
(m)Any proposed modifications to a development project approved pursuant to this section shall be undertaken pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 65913.4.
(n)A local government shall not adopt or impose any requirement, including, but not limited to, increased fees or inclusionary housing requirements, that applies to a
project solely or partially on the basis that the project is eligible to receive streamlined, ministerial review pursuant to this section.
(o)A local government shall issue a subsequent permit required for a development approved under this section pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (i) of Section 65913.4.
(p)A public improvement that is necessary to implement a development that is approved pursuant to this section shall be undertaken pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (i) of Section 65913.4.
(q)Easements for public right-of-way, public or private utilities, or other public improvements in, under, or over the property shall not make the property ineligible to receive streamlined, ministerial review pursuant to this section.
(r)A local
government may adopt an ordinance to implement the provisions of this article. An ordinance adopted to implement this section shall not be considered a “project” under Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code.
(s)Section 65589.5 applies to a development proceeding pursuant to this article.