Some encouraging housing news for City of Bishop: State Senate Bill 9 allows for two residential units per lot without having to go through the Planning Commission process.
Elaine Kabala, Bishop’s planning associate, went through the details at a recent City
Council meeting. She explained the legislation was designed to help solve the housing, or lack
thereof, problems state-wide.
Requests for a lot split can simply be approved by staff. The limitations aren’t necessarily onerous for Bishop. The limitations that apply within the city limits: the owner has to live on the property for three years and the property is limited to residential use, as opposed to Short-Term Rentals.
The only cause for staff denying the project is the potential for a specific adverse impact. Finally, this is a one-time only deal. Any property owner with a very large lot can only do one split.
What SB9 does is remove the requirement for design review standards that would
preclude two units on the lot in question. The split also cannot end up with a dwelling less than
800 sq. ft. Only one parking space for the additional dwelling will be required. According to Kabala the residential lots in Bishop are relatively small so there probably “won’t be much activity.”
While council members came up with a number of “what ifs,” City Attorney Dean Pucci
suggested the City could simply watch any activity and resolve issues as they come up.
Think you have the 800 s.f. wrong. Seems local authorities can put the maximum at 800. Makes sense since lots of 1200 s.f. minimum can be created. Besides land splits it looks like you can add accessory dwelling without split up to 800 also. This could all be a good… Read more »
So the leftist socialists in Sacramento have decided to over ride local authority, concentrate more power within the State, AND take away more rights from property owners? And of course, the city of Bishop, the city council, and Elaine Kabala applaud this.
EarMoan,
The senate bill gives more rights to private property owners.
How is it taking away rights from property owners? I don’t agree with the policy, or the State overreach, but I think it actually grants more rights to property owner to lot split if they want to?
Oh great let’s destroy Bishop one lot at a time. How about if there’s not any more room you keep on driving.
State. Senate. Bill. 9. So, I suppose your comment is valid, but at a State level.