CP&DR

Counties Fight Over Traffic From Proposed Foothills Resort

Jan 1, 2004

CP&DR Staff, Featured Articles, Vol. 19 No. 01 Jan 2004

Calveras County supervisors approved a 3,250-acre residential and golf course resort project near the lower foothills community of Copperopolis in mid-December. The following day, the Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors voted to sue its northern neighbor because of traffic concerns about the project.

Budget Strikes at Land Use Programs

Sep 1, 2003

Featured Articles, Paul Shigley, Vol. 18 No. 09 Sep 2003

The $99 billion 2003-04 state budget signed in August by Gov. Gray Davis contained almost nothing to cheer the planning and development community. The budget added another layer to an already complicated system of funding local government, shifted money away from redevelopment agencies, cut funding for some land use programs, and appeared to delay many of the toughest decisions for at least a year.

Second-Unit Ordinances Overhauled: State Law Forces Revisions in Many Cities and Counties

Aug 1, 2003

Featured Articles, Paul Shigley, Vol. 18 No. 08 Aug 2003

In response to a new state law that mandates the easier regulatory processing of second units, cities and counties across California have been revising their regulations. Most jurisdictions are relaxing their rules, although some cities and counties appear to be adding performance standards that could discourage second-unit development.

Concerns Grow With Indian Casinos

Jul 1, 2003

Featured Articles, Paul Shigley, Vol. 18 No. 07 Jul 2003

In the course of only a few years, Indian casinos have grown into a major land use concern for counties across California. But now a matter that has been a land use issue mostly in rural areas is coming to urban areas, as tribes look for casino sites near population centers and as some public officials start to view the casinos as economic opportunities.

State Budget May Spare Redevelopment

Jun 1, 2003

Featured Articles, Paul Shigley, Vol. 18 No. 06 Jun 2003

With negotiations over the 2003-04 state budget ongoing, it appears that redevelopment agencies will avoid the major financial hit proposed in January by the Davis administration. Adjustments to the current 2002-03 budget did move $75 million from redevelopment agencies to school districts. However, a Davis administration proposal for the state to take all unencumbered housing funds from redevelopment agencies went nowhere in the Legislature.

Bonds, Taxes Proposed To Fund Public Facilities

May 1, 2003

Featured Articles, Paul Shigley, Vol. 18 No. 05 May 2003

Major efforts are under way to provide money to upgrade and expand infrastructure in California, but even some backers of the funding proposals appear skeptical that state lawmakers will approve anything major this year. There are two approaches in Sacramento these days. One would make it easier for local government to raise revenue by reducing the two-thirds voter requirement for special taxes and local bonds. The second approach relies on state bonds.

Housing Remains A Priority In Sacramento

Apr 1, 2003

Featured Articles, Paul Shigley, Vol. 18 No. 04 Apr 2003

Although Sacramento is short of money these days, the state capital does not lack for policy initiatives that directly or indirectly affect land use. In fact, veteran lobbyists say they can remember few years when legislators introduced so many policy bills.

Local Government Wins Old Map Fight

Mar 1, 2003

Featured Articles, Paul Shigley, Sonoma County, Subdivision Map Act, Vol. 18 No. 03 Mar 2003

In a landmark ruling, the state Supreme Court has made clear that maps recorded prior to 1893 do not create legal, developable lots for today's purposes. And the court at least hinted that maps recorded between 1893 and 1929 might not be valid unless a city or county somehow exercised discretion in approving the map.

Governor's Budget Threatens Redevelopment Funding

Feb 1, 2003

Featured Articles, Paul Shigley, Vol. 18 No. 02 Feb 2003

The budget crisis in Sacramento has led Gov. Gray Davis to propose a wide-ranging set of spending cuts, tax increases and revenue shifts — including reductions in redevelopment funds and tax revenue allocated to cities and counties — that could have a significant effect on land use planning. Although the Davis administration does not appear to be making deficit-reduction proposals based on their land use implications, there is no doubt the recommendations would have a major impact on the state's growth

CEQA Ruling Confounds Planners

Jan 1, 2003

Featured Articles, Paul Shigley, Vol. 18 No. 01 Jan 2003

Planning practitioners who are perplexed about how to handle certain projects in light of a recent court decision regarding the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines should not feel alone.