CYPRESS : Council Denounces Bill on Land Compensation
The City Council has denounced a bill in the Legislature that would require cities to pay landowners for zoning actions that reduce the market value of property by more than 25%.
The measure, Senate Bill 466, is currently under consideration in Sacramento. It is being opposed by the League of California Cities, which urged Cypress to join the efforts to defeat the bill.
At its Monday meeting, the City Council unanimously approved a resolution that calls for the scuttling of SB 466.
The League of California Cities, in its memo to Cypress, charges that the bill “would result in property owners claiming that a compensable taking has occurred every time local government acts.” The bill would also lead to endless litigation, the league contends.
But the sponsor of the bill, Sen. Bill Leonard (R-San Bernardino), says the league “is being very narrow” in opposing the legislation. “They’re not protecting the property owners within their cities,” he said.
Leonard said he introduced the legislation this year “in an attempt to put an accounting on government for decisions that adversely affect private property.” He said that no particular organization or group asked him to sponsor it.
Leonard said his bill got little support this year because of cities’ opposition, but the measure is due for a rehearing in January.
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