The West Hollywood City Council voted unanimously to support two California housing bills, SB 79 and SB 677, aimed at boosting transit-oriented development and streamlining housing approvals. The decision, made at the tail-end of a 5-hour late-night meeting on Monday, directs staff to send letters of support to Senators Scott Wiener and Ben Allen, and Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur, while updating the city’s legislative priorities to reflect this stance. The bills, currently under review in the Senate Housing Committee, address the state’s housing crisis by limiting local zoning control, a move that sparked debate among council members.
SB 79, introduced by Senator Wiener, modifies surplus land disposal rules to allow public transit agencies like Metro to develop housing on their properties without local discretionary review. It permits projects up to seven stories and 120 units per acre within a quarter- or half-mile of major transit stops, exempting them from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) if on transit agency land. The bill currently excludes West Hollywood’s bus stops unless Metro’s K Line North extension, potentially along San Vicente, Fairfax, or La Brea, is added to the regional transit plan. If implemented, it could override local zoning along corridors like Santa Monica Boulevard.
SB 677 enhances SB 9 and SB 423, streamlining approvals for duplexes, lot splits, and multifamily projects. It prevents homeowners’ associations from blocking SB 9 projects, restricts owner-occupancy requirements, and expands market-rate project streamlining in cities failing to meet lower-income Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) goals. West Hollywood, assigned 3,933 units this RHNA cycle and not on track to meet them, could face ministerial approvals with limited input, similar to 2023 “Builders’ Remedy” projects that bypassed zoning due to an unapproved Housing Element.
The council’s support marks a shift from past neutrality on similar bills like SB 35 and SB 423, and opposition to SB 50 in 2019, which proposed denser housing near transit. Councilmember John M. Erickson emphasized aligning with state housing goals, noting, “We need to get in the process of streamlining and being a part of the solution.” Councilmember Danny Hang supported the bills to address the housing shortage, citing the city’s distant RHNA target. Mayor Chelsea Lee Byers saw the vote as a chance to lead regionally, arguing that transit-oriented housing supports struggling transit systems like Metro.
Councilmember Lauren Meister and Vice Mayor John Heilman urged neutrality, citing risks of state overreach and displacement from tall buildings with minimal parking. Meister argued the city could act locally without state mandates, while Heilman warned of replacing rent-stabilized apartments with denser projects, potentially harming residents. Governmental Affairs Liaison Hernan Molina countered that SB 79 includes anti-displacement protections for rent-stabilized tenants, though concerns persisted about implementation.
Public commenter Victor Omelczenko supported housing but worried about seven-story buildings straining aging infrastructure and neighborhoods like Norma Triangle. He called for minimal parking to reduce emissions, reflecting tensions between density and livability.
The bills face further amendments, with SB 79 and SB 677 scheduled for Senate Housing Committee hearings on April 22, 2025. If approved, they’ll move to the Senate Local Government Committee, Appropriations, and the Assembly. Staff will monitor changes and update the council, with the option to adjust the city’s position if amendments conflict with local priorities. The vote signals West Hollywood’s intent to collaborate on state housing solutions, balancing local control with regional needs.
Once again, we’ve got three councilpersons who would rather have Sacramento makes the laws than show leadership in making our own. Shame on them. Vote them out,
This state needs an enema.
Way to give up local control to Sacramento’s whims! I look forward to the new market-rate Metro Towers complex with four low-income apartments, five parking spaces (it’s right above a subway stop!) and a flood of $3500 a month one bedroom shoe boxes filled by people who will move in and complain about the noise from the bars.
SB 79 passed Senate Housing committee on Tuesday morning by a vote of 6-2. Sadly SB 677 died in the same committee hearing.