TITLE
Recommendation to declare ordinance amending the Long Beach Municipal Code by adding Chapter 21.68, and Subsection 21.25.506.A.7, all relating to Enhanced Density Bonus regulations, read and adopt as read. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
The State of California (State) Density Bonus Law was originally enacted in 1979 to help address affordable housing shortage by encouraging the development of more low- and moderate-income housing units. To help financially offset the cost of including a percentage of deed-restricted affordable units in a market-rate development, the State Density Bonus Law provides an increase in density over the density permitted by the City of Long Beach (City), in addition to development standard concessions and incentives to help financially offset the cost of affordable units.
Over 40 years later, the City, region, and State face even greater affordable housing challenges. The most recent update to the State’s Density Bonus laws, Assembly Bill (AB) 2345 became effective January 2021. AB 2345 increased the density bonus from 35 percent to 50 percent, lowered the concession threshold when low income units are included, and amended parking requirements.
The proposed City Enhanced Density Bonus (EDB) involves amendments to the Long Beach Municipal Code (LBMC), primarily to Title 21 (Zoning Ordinance) to establish regulations to allow a “bonus” of increased density, development standard concessions, and other incentives in exchange for increased levels of affordable housing and other desired amenities, such as onsite childcare. The purpose of the EDB is to facilitate the development of mixed-income, multifamily housing to help address the need for more market-rate and affordable housing throughout Long Beach. It is called an “enhanced” density bonus because it would allow bonuses in excess of those permitted by the State Density Bonus Law (Government Code Section 65915), since State Density Bonus Law has not proven to be an effective mechanism ...
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