California rental housing developers could be required to fund grocery store construction or set aside space for a future store near their projects under a bill being considered in the state Legislature, the California Apartment Association reported. It has been referred to the Assembly Committee on Housing and Community Development after being approved 5-0 by the Assembly Agriculture Committee.

AB 1674, introduced by Assemblymember Patrick Ahrens, D-Sunnyvale, would require local governments to review proposed housing developments in a “food desert” or in an area at risk of becoming one, to determine whether the project would reduce the site’s capacity to accommodate a grocery store.

If a project would reduce space for a grocery store, the developer would be required to either provide equivalent space and infrastructure for a grocery store or contribute to a fund supporting a store within half a mile of the housing development. The proposal would apply to new apartments, townhomes, condominiums and mobile home parks.

The CAA and the California Building Industry Association opposed the measure, saying it could result in denial of housing approvals if a developer cannot demonstrate that grocery-site capacity is preserved or cannot meet the bill’s mitigation requirements. The groups also raised concerns that the bill’s reference to areas “at risk” of becoming a food desert is undefined, potentially giving local governments broad discretion and leading to inconsistent application.