Oppose elimination of single family zoning: Save Our Neighborhoods

We undersigned residents of Los Altos Hills and its adjacent neighborhoods OPPOSE SB 9 and SB 10 -- proposals to rezone virtually all parcels within single family residential zones in California, forcing local governments to approve plans for 4+ homes per lot (SB 10 encourages 10 homes), with 4-foot setbacks.  

SB 9 would force towns into rubber stamp project approval no matter the side effects: to the environment, to roads and other infrastructure, or to neighboring residents.  Increased density would worsen our already-high wildland fire danger and destroy our privacy and choice of semi-rural lifestyle.

Specific problems with these bills are:

o Four times the noise, parked cars, and traffic, plus loss of back-yard privacy

o Increased demand on schools, water, power grid

o Increased fire danger. California is suing counties to stop new housing in certain high-risk wildfire areas but now proposes 4-times denser building in our high-risk area! The fire district requires us to have 30-foot defensible space -- not possible with 4-foot setbacks.  Four-times density would strain our narrow evacuation and first-responder routes.

o Threatens the environment: more smog, urban sprawl into suburban areas and green belts, allows politicians to override voter open space initiatives.

o Removes rights of residents: What kind of environment to live in, ability to influence next-door developments.

These bills would be a boon to developers without providing affordable housing.  There are better alternatives:

o Give existing accessory dwelling unit policies time to work.

o Convert commercial structures like hotels and vacant big-box stores to housing, and reclaim blighted areas.

o Consider using public lands that are not designated as open space / parks

o Target development near transit hubs

o Enact policies promoting distance working and satellite work sites, to relieve pressure on job-rich areas.

Update #12 years ago
Thank you for signing the Hills 2000 petition urging Sacramento to protect our neighborhoods by rejecting SB 9 and 10. Unfortunately, both bills passed the Senate and Assembly, and they are awaiting Governor Newsom's signature or veto.

Please endorse the petition from Sunnyvale United Neighbors urging the Governor to veto both bills. The petition can be found here: https://www.thepetitionsite.com/975/278/556/governor-newsom-please-veto-sb-9-amp-sb-10/#updated

Thank you from Hills 2000

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