August 16, 2018 -- The California Legislature had a busy year in 2017 addressing the state's housing crunch, but few of the bills signed into law will have an impact on Santa Monica, according to the City's top planning official.

Of the 15 bills Governor Brown signed last year, only a handful will make a dent in Santa Monica, where the issue is largely being addressed at the local level, said David Martin, the City's director of Planning and Community Development.

In a 14-page report to the City Council this month, Martin " highlights bills that have particular relevance to Santa Monica (and) provides an assessment of their expected impacts."

The bills address the state's "housing affordability crisis" by providing funding, streamlining the development process, increasing local accountability, preserving affordable housing and encouraging inclsionary zoning.

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