Here is what that means. If you live within these circles, anyone can build a 6-story building (or up to 12 stories with the state-allowed density bonus) next door to you. Without any allowance for additional parking. And if you think you have nothing to worry about because you don’t live near a BART station, think again — the one-half mile radius also applies to certain rapid transit bus stops.

Since this is a California law, the only way to fix it is to sponsor a statewide initiative. The organization Our Neighborhood Voices is trying to do exactly that.