The Core

Yes, but the county can do things if there's a will. In our county, that included
 - off-the-shelf plans that require no engineering, or whatever
 - rezoning some areas to allow smaller lots
 
Things like that. I think the point of the article is that Kern County hasn't made any efforts to make it easier to build cheap homes.

I've always wondered why blueprints for bungalow homes from the 1930s and 40s can't be updated and used for new affordable homes?  They are small homes, yes, but very usable.