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Western Joshua Tree Receives Protection from State with Sweeping Conservation Plan
The state has adopted its first-ever conservation blueprint to protect the western Joshua tree, hoping to safeguard the species from climate change and development pressures. The plan, ordered by a 2023 law, identifies areas where Joshua trees are most likely to endure in warmer climate and proposes measures like restricting growth, reducing fire risks and planting more resilient tree varieties. The plant is found in the high desert of the southeastern potion of the state, with heavy concentrations in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Supporters hail it as groundbreaking because it protects a species before it becomes endangered, though critics argue the regulations add costly hurdles for housing and infrastructure projects in desert communities. Property owners now need permits and must pay fees to remove or disturb Joshua trees, sparking backlash from local governments, trade groups and residents who fear the rules will slow development and increase living costs. State officials say the plan will be refined over time, balancing ecological protection with community concerns, while periodic reviews will determine whether stronger protections under the Endangered Species Act are necessary. (See related CP&DR coverage.)
Los Angeles City Council Opposes Transit-Oriented Development Bill
Los Angeles City Council narrowly voted, 8-5, to oppose Senate Bill 79, a bill that would allow apartment buildings up to six stories tall near major transit stops by overriding local zoning rules. Supporters of the opposition, led by Councilmembers Traci Park and John Lee, argued that Sacramento is stripping cities of local control and placing development decisions in the hands of outside lawmakers and developers. Opponents of the council’s stance, including Nithya Raman and Hugo Soto-Martinez, countered that Los Angeles is failing to meet its housing needs and that state action is necessary to address affordability and homelessness. (The city has a RHNA allocation of over 400,000 units.) Some councilmembers, like Ysabel Jurado, voiced concerns that the bill could accelerate the loss of rent-controlled units and displace vulnerable communities.
Fresno County Judge Faces Ethics Complaint for Approval of Housing Development
Fresno County Superior Court Judge Robert M. Whalen Jr. recently ordered the City of Fresno to approve an 82-unit market-rate apartment project in northwest Fresno, overturning the city council’s split 2024 rejection of the proposal. The council and planning commission had blocked the development, citing traffic, safety and neighborhood concerns, but Whalen ruled that the city failed to show the project violated municipal codes or the general plan. His decision gives the council 60 days to set final approval conditions and determine whether the project qualifies for an environmental review exemption, while also allowing the developer, James Huelskamp of LandValue Management, to seek reimbursement of legal fees. The ruling comes amid an ethics complaint filed against Whalen with the Commission on Judicial Performance, alleging he did not disclose past campaign contributions from Huelskamp and should have recused himself due to their long-standing ties. (See related CP&DR coverage.)
Los Angeles Moves Toward Allowing "Single-Stair" Apartment Buildings
The Los Angeles City Council adopted a motion removing a Building Code requirement for apartment buildings to have multiple staircases. The legislation begins the process to update the city’s building code to allow for multifamily residential buildings up to six stories to be built with a single stairwell, providing greater flexibility in housing construction across the City. The requirement was based on early-20th century fire concerns, which studies has been rendered unnecessary by advancements like sprinkler systems and fire-resistant materials. Councilmember Katy Yaroslovsky, who introduced the motion with Nithya Raman, said the change would help the construction of apartments with enough space for families by increasing construction flexibility. In the most recent Housing Element, 14% of rental units in Los Angeles have three or more bedrooms, compared to 70% of owner-occupied homes, resulting in overcrowding. Supporters of the motion emphasized its benefits for renting families.
CP&DR Coverage: Judge Rejects EIR for Costco and Warehouse Complex in Fresno
A judge has ordered the City of Fresno to redo the environmental impact report on one of the largest-ever Costco projects. Among other things, the court ruling shows that zoning ordinances are having a difficult time dealing with the increasingly blurry line between large retail stores and warehouses. The judge’s ruling also builds on an appellate case from last year that struck down Fresno’s program EIR, which was designed to expedite CEQA review for various projects. The 219,000-square-foot Costco in northwest Fresno would include a car wash, a 32-pump gas station, and a warehouse designed to make local deliveries of appliances and other large items customers cannot carry home from the store or have delivered by conventional delivery services. The warehouse was one of the things that tripped Fresno and Costco up. In August 2024, the appellate court struck down the Program EIR and the greenhouse gas reduction plan with it. Thus, Judge Skiles said, the city could not rely on the greenhouse gas reduction plan in certifying the EIR for the cost.
Quick Hits & Updates
Consultants warn that the City of Orange could face bankruptcy within three years unless it cuts spending and aggressively grows revenue, projecting a $46 million deficit by 2031. Their plan calls for a 12% reduction to the general fund, a 1% sales tax increase and fast-tracked economic development, including hotels, entertainment zones and mixed-use projects that could leverage the city’s proximity to Disneyland and Chapman University.
The Martinez City Council is set to review a proposal for a public-private partnership to revitalize the aging Martinez Marina, which has faced infrastructure decline and environmental challenges. A presentation by Tucker Sadler, an architectural firm, will outline a conceptual vision for redeveloping the marina, and the council may vote on entering exclusive negotiations to move forward with the project.
San Francisco’s property tax base saw its weakest growth in over a decade, rising just 1.8% this year due to falling commercial property values and a surge in appeals from owners seeking lower assessments. In contrast, counties less dependent on office and retail properties, like Solano and Sonoma, experienced stronger increases driven by new housing and fewer commercial challenges.
Neighborhood and environmental groups are suing the city of Twentynine Palms to stop the approval of a proposed nature-themed resort half a mile from Joshua Tree National Park. The suit alleges that the city did not conduct a thorough review of the environmental impact, and that the 100-unit development would harm the habitats of many legally protected species.
Sacramento State and Cal Expo are negotiating a partnership to redevelop Cal Expo’s long-vacant horse racing grandstand into a 22,000-seat stadium, a project that would anchor both university athletics and large-scale regional events. If plans move forward, the redevelopment could break ground by 2027. (See related CP&DR coverage.)
