The People’s Business – May 5, 2026

A special council meeting will be held to consider the proposed phased implementation and exemption of certain areas for SB 79 which was signed into law in October of last year. This meeting is scheduled for Thursday evening, following the Budget Review Committee Meeting session.

From the Office of Council President Joe LaCava 

Special City Council Meeting – Thursday May 7, 2026 – 6 p.m. 

Special Council Meeting Agenda

Discussion Item 

Item 600 - Senate Bill 79 Phased Implementation and Exempting Non-Transit Oriented Development Areas

This item would adopt an ordinance to phase the implementation of Senate Bill 79, and to exclude areas with a walking path of more than one mile from a TOD Stop from SB 79, as provided for under state law.

SB 79, the Abundant and Affordable Homes Near Transit Act, was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom on October 10, 2025. SB 79 establishes new streamlined processes to facilitate housing production near transit-oriented development (TOD) Stops (as defined in SB 79) in the City.

SB 79 requires counties and cities to approve certain housing development projects within a specified radius of existing or currently proposed major TOD Stops on sites zoned for residential, mixed, or commercial development. 

SB 79 will take effect on July 1, 2026, at which time the City would be required to ministerially approve development allowed under the bill. SB 79 specifically provides a process for local jurisdictions to tailor its requirements to address local conditions. 

Relying on the processes set forth in SB 79, the City Planning Department proposes an ordinance to phase its implementation in a manner that allows the City to more comprehensively address fire safety, fair housing, historic resources, climate resiliency, neighborhood scale and related considerations prior to broader implementation. 

Staff also proposes to exempt areas outside of a one-mile walk from TOD Stops from SB 79 application to ensure that new development approved under this state law results in transit-oriented development.

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