Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed Assembly Bill 1889, the “Room to Roam Act,” aimed at protecting wildlife connectivity in California. The law directs local governments to identify critical areas where animals, such as mountain lions, need safe passage across urbanized landscapes fragmented by development and freeways.
The intent is to avoid, minimize, or mitigate impacts on these areas to allow wildlife to move freely in search of food, mates, and shelter. This could involve constructing wildlife crossings, erecting safe fencing, and setting aside land.
While the bill is lauded by environmental advocates for its potential to safeguard biodiversity and prevent animal extinction, it raises questions about how it will impact development in a state already grappling with a housing crisis. As California mandates cities and counties to expand housing availability and address homelessness, AB 1889 adds another layer of complexity to land-use planning.
Will this new law slow the construction of much-needed housing and warehouses, or can it coexist with the state’s ambitious housing goals?
The Room to Roam Act requires cities and counties to consider wildlife connectivity in their general plans, but not until 2028. By then, local governments must balance housing mandates with this new requirement.
California is facing a critical shortage of affordable housing, and the state has mandated that municipalities increase housing supply to accommodate growing populations and reduce homelessness. Combined with AB 1889, this directive could place additional pressure on already strained local planning resources.
Critics of AB 1889 caution that the new law could slow down housing projects, particularly in areas near critical wildlife corridors. The American Planning Association’s California Chapter expressed concerns about the resource burden on local governments, noting that planners are already struggling to keep up with a flood of state mandates.
“The Room to Roam Act” is part of a broader movement in California to prioritize wildlife connectivity.
