Mitigation Fee Act: mitigating vehicular traffic impacts.

Senator Becker's proposal to modify California's Mitigation Fee Act revises how local agencies calculate vehicular traffic impact fees for housing developments. The legislation establishes new criteria for reduced fee rates, requiring developments to be located within transit priority areas and near specific community amenities while meeting standardized parking limits.

Under the modified framework, housing developments must be situated within one-half mile of at least three designated facilities - such as supermarkets, public parks, medical clinics, schools, or restaurants - to qualify for lower traffic impact fees. The bill standardizes parking requirements at no more than one space for zero-to-two-bedroom units and two spaces for units with three or more bedrooms. Local agencies seeking to charge higher fees must now support their decisions with substantial evidence during the project approval process.

The measure also clarifies land dedication requirements, allowing local agencies to require dedications for developments outside transit priority areas with street frontages exceeding 500 feet. Agencies retain discretion to mandate dedications for traffic safety features when supported by evidence demonstrating public necessity. While the bill creates new administrative responsibilities for local agencies, they maintain authority to levy fees sufficient to cover implementation costs without state reimbursement.