Part 8/14:
Efforts to increase density, such as SB79, are unlikely to significantly influence housing affordability because the units generated are often market-rate or luxury developments. Meanwhile, the cumulative effect of regulations, increased construction costs (driven by higher interest rates and labor/material costs), and local resistance make affordable projects even less likely.
The Impact of Overriding Local Control
A key concern is that SB79 overrides local zoning control, stripping cities of their ability to plan and regulate their neighborhoods. While intended to facilitate housing, this top-down approach risks transforming existing communities into sprawling, heterogeneous areas characterized by overcrowding and degraded quality of life.