Coastal resources: coastal development permit application: higher education housing project.

Assembly Member Alvarez's coastal development legislation aims to expedite housing projects at California's higher education institutions by modifying how the California Coastal Commission reviews these proposals. The bill establishes a 90-day deadline for the Commission to act on coastal development permits for student, faculty and staff housing while limiting its authority to deny or condition certain amendments to universities' long-range development plans.

Under the measure, the Commission cannot reject plan modifications that increase building heights by up to 20 feet, raise density by 10 percent, alter aesthetic design elements, or reduce parking requirements - unless such changes would create specific, quantifiable adverse impacts on wildlife that cannot be mitigated. The bill requires the Commission to defer to universities in determining parking space needs for campus housing facilities while prioritizing active and public transportation infrastructure.

The legislation maintains existing requirements for universities to coordinate with local governments when preparing development plans and preserves the Commission's ability to extend review timelines when substantial project changes arise or when natural disasters and environmental circumstances, such as sea level rise or coastal erosion, affect proposed developments. These provisions aim to balance streamlined approval processes with environmental protections and local planning considerations.