Vol. 21 No. 08 Aug 2006

The regional housing wars have begun again in Southern California. And how they come out will go a long way toward determining how much influence the state’s four major “blueprint” regional planning efforts will have over local development patterns – especially infill housing – during the next few years.

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A statewide initiative that could completely change how government agencies regulate land use, carry out infrastructure projects and redevelop cities has qualified for the November ballot.

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In the ongoing controversy regarding local government authority over wireless telecommunication antennas, the Fourth District Court of Appeal has upheld San Diego County’s zoning ordinance that establishes a detailed permitting process for such antennas.

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The latest round to be decided in the ongoing fight over building inspection and plan check fees has gone to the City of Corona, which successfully defended a lawsuit originally brought by developer Barratt American and its chief fee consultant.

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With the August 31 deadline for legislative action looming, state lawmakers face the usual mountain of bills during the session’s final weeks. Among the land use bills in that mountain are two major flood control measures, the biggest overhaul of redevelopment law since the early 1990s and a complicated housing bill that cities strongly oppose.

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A housing development proposed for North San Diego County may give county decision-makers the opportunity to apply some of the “smart growth” principles contained in a proposed general plan update before the plan is even adopted.

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Auburn Dam is the public works equivalent of a Hollywood zombie, rivaling any Tinseltown creation in its ability to withstand repeated attempts to kill it. First proposed nearly a half-century ago for a site in the American River canyon near the Gold Rush town of Auburn, the dam has withstood attacks by U.S. presidents, member of Congress, state and federal agencies, environmentalists, tax watchdogs, scientists, engineers and even nature itself — the political equivalent of being shot, stabbed, drowned, poi

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Big bear Lake crushes proposed housing development while Madera County continues to wait for long-delayed development of new town, San Diego salvages its inclusionary housing ordinance, State Controllers Office reports majore violations, EPA presents 20 smart growth case studies, and Butte County bans new private roads.

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In a case closely watched by cities and counties, a sharply divided California Supreme Court has ruled that counties have the authority to prohibit logging on private land.

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An environmental impact report for one of the first Wal-Mart supercenters approved in California has been upheld by the Sixth District Court of Appeal. The court ruled that the City of Gilroy did not have to prepare a new economic analysis in the supercenter’s environmental impact report because previous studies were adequate.

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