For the purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:

(a) “Approving authority” means an agency of a city, county, or city and county that is established in the city’s, county’s, or city and county’s housing sustainability district ordinance and designated to review permit applications for development within the housing sustainability district in accordance with Section 66205.

(b) “City, county, or city and county” includes a charter city, charter county, or charter city and county.

(c) “Department” means the Department of Housing and Community Development.

(d) “Developable land” means the area within a housing sustainability district that can be feasibly developed into residential or mixed-use development, including land area occupied by or associated with underutilized residential, commercial, or industrial buildings or uses that have the potential to be converted for residential or mixed use, in accordance with the rules and regulations of the department, except for the following:

(1) Land that is already substantially developed, including existing parks and open space.

(2) Areas exceeding one-half acre that are unsuitable for development due to topographical features or environmental preservation.

(e) “Eligible location” means either of the following:

(1) An area located within one-half mile of public transit.

(2) An area that, by virtue of existing infrastructure, transportation access, existing underutilized facilities, or location, is highly suitable for a residential or mixed-use housing sustainability district.

(f) “Mixed use” means that up to 50 percent of the square footage of a proposed development is designated for nonresidential use.

(g) “Project” means a proposed residential or mixed use development within a housing sustainability district.

(h) “Housing sustainability district” means an area within a city, county, or city and county designated pursuant to this chapter that is superimposed over an area within the jurisdiction of the city, county, or city and county in which a developer may elect to develop a project in accordance with either the housing sustainability district ordinance or the city’s, county’s, or city and county’s otherwise applicable general plan and zoning ordinances.

(i) “Housing sustainability district ordinance” means the ordinance adopted by a city, county, or city and county pursuant to Section 66201 establishing a housing sustainability district.

(Added by Stats. 2017, Ch. 371, Sec. 2. (AB 73) Effective January 1, 2018. Conditionally inoperative as provided in Stats. 2017, Ch. 371, Sec. 4.)