Development Near Transit In mid-October, California's governor signed a bill that will allow mid-rise apartment buildings near major transit stops in California's biggest metro areas.

Newsom sign-off on Senate Bill 79 means that apartment developers will soon be able to pack more homes into neighborhoods within half a mile of major rail, subway, and bus rapid transit stops, even if that means overriding local zoning restrictions and any possible objections of surrounding neighbors.

Buildings immediately surrounding these transit hubs will be allowed to max out as high as 9 stories, with those further out topping out at roughly 4.

Newsom signature comes as a grave disappointment for many local governments and neighborhood groups, particularly in Southern California.

In September, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass urged Newsom to veto t.. saying that it would "erode local control, diminish community input on planning and zoning, and disproportionately impact low-resource neighborhoods."

Irate homeowner groups and state legislators raised concerns that mandating higher levels of housing density would "fundamentally reshape suburban-style neighborhoods."

The up-zoning policy was meant to be a twofer: allow for much more housing construction as a way to alleviate the state's housing shortage, while also steering more residents towards cash-strapped public transportation systems.

The law will be restricted to just 8 highly urbanized counties: Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange County, Santa Clara, Alameda, Sacramento, San Francisco, and San Mateo.

It will also only apply to certain transportation stops: train, subway, light rail, and high-frequency bus routes with designated lanes.

The law will also give local governments alternative means to comply by enacting their own zoning programs.

It will require a certain share of units constructed under the bill to be set aside at below market rents or prices.

It will go into effect on delayed schedule in certain lower-income neighborhoods.

For CalMatters, I'm Ben Christopher.