CP&DR

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.

Governor's Opportunity To Shape Growth Is Available Despite Red Ink

Jan 1, 2003

Insight, Vol. 18 No. 01 Jan 2003, William Fulton

Following a meager five-point victory against a bumbling opponent and facing an 18-month budget deficit estimated at $35 billion, Gray Davis will be sworn in this month for his second term as governor. He will govern a state whose voters are perfectly happy with a suburban lifestyle, at least according to the polls. So it would not seem likely that Davis is in a position to do anything innovative or trailblazing in the area of land use planning and growth policy during his second term. Yet there is proba

News In Brief From Around California

Jan 1, 2003

CP&DR Staff, In Brief, Vol. 18 No. 01 Jan 2003

A potential Southern California water crisis reached new heights in December when the Imperial Irrigation District (IID) Board of Directors rejected a plan to sell roughly 6% of its Colorado River water allotment to the San Diego County Water Agency.

Water Policy Rises To Top Of State's Agenda — Again

Jan 1, 2003

Environment Watch, John Krist, Vol. 18 No. 01 Jan 2003

As 2002 was drawing to a close, forecasters with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced that warming of the western Pacific heralded the arrival of an El Niño weather pattern. The influence of this periodically recurring phenomenon usually means heavier-than-usual winter rains for California. But even if California gets more than its average precipitation this winter, water scarcity — or at least the possibility of it — will dominate the state's environmental agenda during the next

New Freeway Lets L.A. Suburbs Reconsider Shared Boulevard

Jan 1, 2003

Local Watch, Paul Shigley, Vol. 18 No. 01 Jan 2003

California does not build many freeways. So as Caltrans has opened segments of the Interstate 210 freeway in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties, the road has received an unusual amount of attention — especially regarding how the state actually built the freeway and what impact it will have on traffic congestion. But the most interesting, and easiest to overlook, aspect of the 210 Freeway's construction is the fact that it has altered the role of a major arterial street through a series of suburbs.

Fresno State, Businesses Make A Home For Water Technology

Jan 1, 2003

Economic Development, Paul Shigley, Vol. 18 No. 01 Jan 2003

A collection of San Joaquin Valley water technology companies is attempting to make Fresno the center of the "flow technology" world. Representatives of dozens of companies have been meeting regularly for nearly two years as part of the Water Technology Industry Cluster in hopes of boosting business and improving the San Joaquin Valley's economic status.

Sacramento Developer Loses Clean Water Act Case At High Court

Jan 1, 2003

Kenneth Jost, Legal Digest, Vol. 18 No. 01 Jan 2003

WASHINGTON _ A deadlocked U.S. Supreme Court has upheld a $500,000 fine against a California developer for "deep ripping" about two acres of wetlands on a Central Valley ranch while converting pasture to vineyards and orchards. The justices divided 4-4 in an appeal by Angelo Tsakopoulos seeking to set aside penalties levied by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for violating provisions of the Clean Water Act that require a permit before filling or dredging waterways.

State Wins Right To Review Federal Offshore Oil Drilling Leases

Jan 1, 2003

CP&DR Staff, Legal Digest, Vol. 18 No. 01 Jan 2003

The California Coastal Commission has the authority to review an extension of offshore oil drilling leases that the federal government granted to oil companies, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled.

Agency Wins Remediation Costs In Eminent Domain Lawsuit

Jan 1, 2003

CP&DR Staff, Legal Digest, Vol. 18 No. 01 Jan 2003

The San Diego Redevelopment Agency can use a state law to require the owner of property the agency took by eminent domain to pay for cleanup of soil contamination, a state court has ruled.

No Compensation For Lot Line Adjustment Delay, Court Rules

Jan 1, 2003

CP&DR Staff, Legal Digest, Vol. 18 No. 01 Jan 2003

A city's erroneous denial of a lot line adjustment application did not qualify as a temporary taking, the First District Court of Appeal has ruled. The court ruled that the City of Lafayette had legitimate reasons for handling the application the way it did and that the delay in approval of the application — which eventually was ordered by a trial court — was not unreasonable.