(a) When a local agency imposes a fee on a housing development pursuant to Section 66001 for the purpose of mitigating vehicular traffic impacts, if that housing development satisfies all of the following characteristics, the fee, or the portion thereof relating to vehicular traffic impacts, shall be set at a rate that reflects a lower rate of automobile trip generation associated with such housing developments in comparison with housing developments without these characteristics, unless the local agency adopts findings after a public hearing establishing that the housing development, even with these characteristics, would not generate fewer automobile trips than a housing development without those characteristics:
(1) The housing development is located within one-half mile of a transit station and there is direct access between the housing development and the transit station along a barrier-free walkable pathway not exceeding one-half mile in length.
(2) Convenience retail uses, including a store that sells food, are located within one-half mile of the housing development.
(3) The housing development provides either the minimum number of parking spaces required by the local ordinance, or no more than one onsite parking space for zero to two bedroom units, and two onsite parking spaces for three or more bedroom units, whichever is less.
(b) If a housing development does not satisfy the characteristics in subdivision (a), the local agency may charge a fee that is proportional to the estimated rate of automobile trip generation associated with the housing development.
(c) As used in this section, “housing development” means a development project with common ownership and financing consisting of residential use or mixed use where not less than 50 percent of the floorspace is for residential use.
(d) For the purposes of this section, “transit station” has the meaning set forth in paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) of Section 65460.1. “Transit station” includes planned transit stations otherwise meeting this definition whose construction is programmed to be completed prior to the scheduled completion and occupancy of the housing development.
(e) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2011.
(Repealed (in Sec. 2) and added by Stats. 2008, Ch. 692, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2009. Section operative January 1, 2011, by its own provisions.)