New bill seeks to limit housing sprawl in fire- and flood-prone areas of California

Over the past half-century, new housing has spread into ever more far-flung parts of California – from luxury estates perched on remote hillsides to tightly packed subdivisions stretched over rural flatlands. The sprawl has allowed people to live closer to nature and buy homes in more affordable parts of the state where it's cheaper and easier to build. But it's also left millions vulnerable to catastrophic wildfires and flooding. And as destructive natural disasters have become more frequent in recent years, state and local officials have felt increasing pressure: How does California find ways to ease a dire housing shortage without ignoring the harsh reality of climate change? Now, an unlikely coalition of environmentalists and housing advocates is backing a bill that seeks to slow growth in many parts of the state at high risk of fires and floods while encouraging more multifamily housing in existing population centers.