Town of Atherton
Office of the Mayor
80 Fair Oaks Lane
Atherton, California 94027
Phone (650) 752-0500
May 21, 2025
The Honorable Scott Wiener
California State Senate
1021 O Street, Suite 3330
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: Opposition to Senate Bill 79 – Transit-Oriented Zoning Mandates Dear Senator Wiener,
On behalf of the Town of Atherton, I respectfully write to express our strong opposition to Senate Bill 79, which mandates by-right upzoning for residential developments within specified proximities to public transit, irrespective of existing local zoning standards or community input.
While we support efforts to address California’s housing crisis and promote sustainable land use, SB 79 represents a one-size-fits-all approach that severely undermines local land use authority, community character, and public engagement. The bill removes meaningful discretion from local governments, particularly small jurisdictions like Atherton that are already working to meet their Regional Housing Needs Allocations (RHNA) through locally developed and adopted Housing Elements.
Key concerns with SB 79 include:
1. Loss of Local Control: The bill imposes prescriptive zoning changes without regard to local planning processes, environmental constraints, or infrastructure capacity. It sidelines general plans, specific plans, and community-led visions that reflect years of careful planning.
2. Infrastructure and Safety Impacts: Many transit-adjacent areas in suburban communities were not designed to accommodate the density increases proposed in SB 79.
In Atherton, our limited road capacity, lack of commercial services, and infrastructure limitations present serious challenges to intensified development.
3. Environmental and Wildfire Risk: SB 79 fails to account for environmental hazards, such as wildfire zones or flood-prone areas, where increased density could endanger residents and strain emergency services.
4. Displacement and Equity Considerations: Ironically, while intending to promote equity, the bill may result in the displacement of vulnerable residents in lower-density areas without adequate affordability requirements or funding mechanisms for affordable housing.
SB 79 – Letter of Opposition
May 21, 2025
We respectfully urge the Legislature to reject SB 79 in its current form and instead continue to work collaboratively with local governments to craft nuanced, context-sensitive solutions that respect the diversity of California’s communities while addressing our shared housing challenges.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter.
Sincerely,
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Lewis
Mayor
Town of Atherton
cc: Senator Josh Becker
Assemblymember Diane Papan
League of California Cities
Atherton City Council