Section 54220 Of Article 8. Surplus Land From California Government Code >> Division 2. >> Title 5. >> Part 1. >> Chapter 5. >> Article 8.
54220
. (a) The Legislature reaffirms its declaration that housing
is of vital statewide importance to the health, safety, and welfare
of the residents of this state and that provision of a decent home
and a suitable living environment for every Californian is a priority
of the highest order. The Legislature further declares that there is
a shortage of sites available for housing for persons and families
of low and moderate income and that surplus government land, prior to
disposition, should be made available for that purpose.
(b) The Legislature reaffirms its belief that there is an
identifiable deficiency in the amount of land available for
recreational purposes and that surplus land, prior to disposition,
should be made available for park and recreation purposes or for
open-space purposes. This article shall not apply to surplus
residential property as defined in Section 54236.
(c) The Legislature reaffirms its declaration of the importance of
appropriate planning and development near transit stations, to
encourage the clustering of housing and commercial development around
such stations. Studies of transit ridership in California indicate
that a higher percentage of persons who live or work within walking
distance of major transit stations utilize the transit system more
than those living elsewhere, and that lower income households are
more likely to use transit when living near a major transit station
than higher income households. The sale or lease of surplus land at
less than fair market value to facilitate the creation of affordable
housing near transit is consistent with goals and objectives to
achieve optimal transportation use. The Legislature also notes that
the Federal Transit Administration gives priority for funding of rail
transit proposals to areas that are implementing higher-density,
mixed-use, and affordable development near major transit stations.