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See also:  Arcata’s Gateway Plan, described by Artificial Intelligence

What does AI have to say about the impacts of the State Density Bonus Law?

AI says:

 

Small communities may be more vulnerable to pressure from developers who are seeking to take advantage of the SDBL to build large, high-density projects.

Despite these challenges, the SDBL can be a valuable tool for small communities that are looking to increase the production of affordable housing.

This is an AI-generated essay about the impacts of the State Density Bonus Law on small communities. It’s here partly for our education and partly for our smiles. Yet as an overall view, it’s not bad.

The common AI (artificial intelligence) program that’s in public use is ChatGPT. Their model is based on training input from the Internet that was there prior to September 2021, so that doesn’t help much with the Gateway Plan. (The plan’s initial draft came out in December, 2021.) Google’s “Bard” AI implementation is more or less up to the minute.

“Bard” supplied three drafts of essays with slightly different information and format. I combined paragraphs from each of them, in a way that a real person can do in a better way (at least at the present time). What you see here was not otherwise edited.

To repeat:  This is here for your enjoyment. It is not a complete description of the State Density Bonus Law. It is not entirely accurate in places.

But for an overall view of the the impacts of the State Density Bonus Law, it is not bad.

Assembled from two drafts, from “Bard” — the Google AI implementation.
Some highlighting added so you can skim.
September 28, 2023

California’s State Density Bonus Law:  The impacts on small communities

The impact of California’s State Density Bonus Law (SDBL) on small communities has been mixed. On the one hand, the law has helped to increase the production of affordable housing in some small communities. On the other hand, it has also led to concerns about gentrification and the loss of local character.

One of the main benefits of the SDBL for small communities is that it can help to make affordable housing more affordable. In many small communities, the cost of land is relatively low, which means that developers can build affordable housing units while still making a profit. The SDBL also allows developers to increase the density of their projects in exchange for building affordable housing units, which can further reduce the cost of each unit.

The SDBL has been successful in creating more affordable housing in small communities. According to a 2021 report by the California Housing Partnership, the SDBL has created over 100,000 affordable housing units since it was enacted in 2000. Of these units, over 30,000 are located in small communities.

For example, in the small community of Healdsburg, California, the SDBL helped to facilitate the construction of a new affordable housing complex called the Healdsburg Senior Apartments. The complex includes 55 units of affordable housing for seniors, 10 of which are reserved for very low-income residents. The project was also able to take advantage of the SDBL to increase its density from 25 units per acre to 35 units per acre. This allowed the developer to build more affordable housing units without increasing the footprint of the project.

However, the SDBL has also raised concerns about gentrification and the loss of local character in some small communities. In particular, there is concern that the law could lead to an increase in the development of large, high-density housing projects in small communities. This could displace existing residents and change the character of these communities.

Some residents of small communities have complained that the SDBL has led to the construction of large, multi-story apartment buildings in their neighborhoods. Others have complained that the SDBL has increased traffic congestion and made it more difficult to park.

For example, in the small community of Tiburon, California, there is a proposal to build a new housing development that would include 100 units of affordable housing. The development would take advantage of the SDBL to increase its density from 10 units per acre to 30 units per acre. This has raised concerns among some residents that the development would be too large and would change the character of the community.

Here are some specific examples of how the SDBL has impacted small communities in California:

• In the town of Arcata, the SDBL helped to finance the construction of a new affordable housing complex called Arcata Vista. Arcata Vista provides 100 affordable apartments for families and individuals.

  [Note:  There is no “Arcata Vista” project. This likely is meant to be “The Courtyards” — a 100-unit affordable housing project that can be seen off of 299 west of Guintoli Lane.]

• In the city of Watsonville, the SDBL helped to finance the construction of a new affordable housing complex called Pajaro Vista. Pajaro Vista provides 150 affordable apartments for families and individuals.
• In the town of Los Gatos, the SDBL helped to finance the construction of a new affordable housing complex called Los Gatos Creekside. Los Gatos Creekside provides 100 affordable apartments for families and individuals.

It is important to balance the need for affordable housing with the need to protect the character of small communities. Local governments can do this by carefully considering the size and location of new developments and by working with residents to develop community-supported plans.

In addition to the concerns mentioned above, there are a few other potential challenges that small communities may face when implementing the SDBL. First, small communities may not have the staff or resources to review and process density bonus applications. Second, small communities may be more vulnerable to pressure from developers who are seeking to take advantage of the SDBL to build large, high-density projects.

Despite these challenges, the SDBL can be a valuable tool for small communities that are looking to increase the production of affordable housing. Small communities can mitigate some of the challenges by working with regional housing agencies and other stakeholders to develop and implement the SDBL in a way that is consistent with their local goals and objectives.