Legislation

Although the state’s mounting budget deficit is expected to predominate in Sacramento for many months, 2008 could be a blockbuster year for land use legislation. Scores of bills related to planning, the California Environmental Quality Act, redevelopment, housing, the Subdivision Map Act, and other land use matters have been introduced during the first two months of the year or remain leftover from 2007. » read more | add to cart

This could become a year of creative financing, and not merely for the state government. Lawmakers are considering at least three bills that could change the rules for financing local infrastructure.
» read more | add to cart

Three bills that would have established “green” building standards for housing, commercial structures and state government buildings were vetoed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The governor also vetoed a controversial planning bill that would have limited cities’ ability to satisfy regional fair-share mandates with non-residentially zoned properties.

» read more | add to cart

The state Supreme Court has depublished a Sixth District Court of Appeal opinion in a case involving the water analysis for a 28-lot subdivision in northern Monterey County. » read more | add to cart

The California Supreme Court has recently accepted for review three land use cases, including the court’s fifth California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) case since 2003. » read more | add to cart

The Coastal Commission had the authority to order removal of a private, three-hole golf course that violated development permit conditions, even though the course was in place for 18 years before the Commission took action, the Sixth District Court of Appeal has ruled. » read more | add to cart

Land use politics in Monterey County reached a new level of chaos in early June, when voters cast ballots on four land use measures but apparently resolved nothing. Voters provided conflicting direction on a general plan update adopted by the county, rejected a slow-growth general plan initiative, and overturned county approval of an 1,100-unit housing development. » read more | add to cart

Little appears to have happened since local government organizations and their supporters rolled out an eminent domain reform package that they said would protect homeowners and small businesses from government abuse. The May 21 announcement from the California Redevelopment Association and the League of California Cities got extensive press coverage, and the proposed legislation won plaudits from several newspapers, including the Los Angeles Times. A number of business and environmental groups said they would support the measures.

» read more | add to cart

With the passage of $42 billion in bonds last November, infrastructure spending has risen to the top of the state Legislature’s agenda. More than 60 bills attempt to allocate portions of the money or establish criteria for spending the funds, according to the California Budget Project. Still, there is plenty of legislative activity surrounding other planning and development staples, including housing, the California Environmental Quality Act, flood control and economic development. » read more | add to cart

The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a district court ruling that strikes down San Diego County’s ordinance regulating the location and appearance of cell phone antennas and other wireless facilities.

» read more | add to cart