Agency / Organization:
AIA California / California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD)

Status:
In Progress

Intent:
The Planning and Zoning Law requires each county and city to adopt a comprehensive, long-term general plan for the physical development of the county or city and specified land outside its boundaries, that includes, among other specified mandatory elements, a housing element. That law requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to determine whether the housing element is in substantial compliance with specified provisions of that law.

CA State Bill AB 529 would add the facilitation of the conversion or redevelopment of commercial properties into housing, including the adoption of adaptive reuse, ordinances or other mechanisms that reduce barriers to these conversions.

This bill required the Department of Housing and Community Development to convene a working group of which Omgivning was a significant participant under the leadership of AIA California. HCD requested that our group identify challenges to, and opportunities that help support, the creation and promotion of adaptive reuse residential projects, as specified, including identifying and recommending amendments to state building standards.

The bill requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to report its findings to the Legislature no later than December 31, 2025. The bill would require if the report identifies and recommends amendments to building standards, that the Department of Housing and Community Development and the other state agencies in the working group research, develop, and consider proposing adaptive reuse building standards for adoption by the California Building Standards Commission, as specified.