Farmworker housing: streamlined, ministerial approval: Counties of Fresno, Madera, and Merced.

Plain English Breakdown

The candidate explanation included an expansion of eligibility that was not fully supported by the official source material, which only expanded existing provisions to include Fresno, Madera, and Merced counties.

Farmworker Housing Streamlined Approval in Fresno, Madera, and Merced

This law makes it easier to build housing for farmworkers by allowing certain developments to get quick approval from local governments in Fresno, Madera, and Merced counties.

What This Bill Does

• Expands the areas where farmworker housing can be built without needing a conditional use permit to include Fresno, Madera, and Merced counties.
• Increases the number of units allowed in eligible agricultural employee housing developments from 36 to 150 if they are located within 15 miles of designated farmland or grazing land in these three counties.
• Requires local officials to approve these developments quickly and easily as long as certain conditions are met.

Who It Names or Affects

• Farmworkers who will have more places to live near their work.
• Local governments in Fresno, Madera, and Merced counties that must process housing applications faster.
• Developers of farmworker housing projects in these three counties.

Terms To Know

Ministerial approval

A quick and automatic decision by a government official based on clear rules, without needing to consider other factors.

Conditional use permit

A special permission needed for certain types of development that might not fit the usual zoning rules.

Limits and Unknowns

• The law only applies to Fresno, Madera, and Merced counties.
• Local governments must follow specific requirements when approving these housing developments.
• No state money is given to local agencies or schools because of this law.

Official Summary Text

AB 457, Soria.
Farmworker housing: streamlined, ministerial approval: Counties of Fresno, Madera, and Merced.
Existing law authorizes a development proponent to submit an application for an eligible agricultural employee housing development that is subject to a streamlined, ministerial approval process, as specified, and is not subject to a conditional use permit if certain requirements are met, including that the development is located on specified land in the County of Santa Clara or the County of Santa Cruz and is within 15 miles of an area designated as farmland or grazing by the Department of Conservation and is not a site or adjoined to a site where more than
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of the square footage on the site is dedicated to industrial use, as specified. The act defines an eligible agricultural housing development as an agricultural employee housing development that meets certain requirements, including
that the development does not contain more than 36 units or spaces, or 150 units or spaces for developments located in the County of Santa Clara or the County of Santa Cruz, designed for use by a single family or household.
This bill would expand eligibility for the approval process under these provisions to include a development located in the Counties of Fresno, Madera, or Merced that meets the above-described requirements that it be located within 15 miles of an area designated as farmland or grazing and not on a site or adjoined to a site where more than
1
/
3
of the square footage on the site is dedicated to industrial use, as specified. The bill would also increase the maximum number of units in an eligible agricultural employee housing development from 36 units to 150 units if the development is located in the Counties of Fresno, Madera, or Merced. By expanding
the scope of developments eligible for approval, thereby increasing the duties of local officials, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the Counties of Fresno, Madera, and Merced.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF