[mikem170]

California seems to be forcing zoning changes onto cities that have not allowed enough new housing to be built (things like expediting approvals for allowed development, also allowing R3 to replace R1).

I assume that their politicians were worried about all the people leaving.

It makes sense to set a lot of zoning policy at the state level, where all people are represented, so that incumbent local property owners can't selfishly micromanage everyone else.

Japan is an example of a place that does a great job with this. Housing there is more affordable and convenient. Residential side streets are off-street parking only, and each property can be a triplex, with one unit allowed to be a low-impact business, off-street. These side streets connected to larger roads with denser retail/apartments leading to planned high-rise areas that are allowed to grow when/if the population grows. Industrial areas are separate, on the other side of town.