State housing law could reshape Campbell’s small city vibe with up to 40,000 new homes

CAMPBELL COULD ADD 40,000 homes — more than tripling the city’s current population — under a new state law aimed at boosting housing near public transit stations.

The City Council is working on plans to manage the huge surge in potential development being triggered by Senate Bill 79. The bill, effective July 1, could massively change the look and feel of the small city. The law allows for construction of high-rise apartment buildings within a half-mile of major transit stops without regard to local zoning rules. Covering just 6.5 square miles with a population of about 43,000, Campbell has three VTA light rail stations within its boundaries where SB 79 would apply.