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The SB 79 Litigation Wars Have Begun
Prohousing lawyers file lawsuits against SANDAG and the cities of San Diego, San Francisco, and Montebelloe

William Fulton
6 days ago


Tom Pace Oversaw Sacramento's Housing Renaissance
In 1997, the suburban dream was strong in the Sacramento areas. The capital city drew various measures of pity and indifference from coastal urbanities while places such as Elk Grove, Folsom, and Roseville grew as quickly as tract-home developers could build them. That's the year that Tom Pace joined the City of Sacramento's Planning Division. In the years since then, Sacramento and Pace -- who took over long-range planning in 2006 and became planning director in 2017 (after

Josh Stephens
Sep 7
Legislature Passes Bills That Erode CEQA, Speed Up Postentitlement Permitting
Newsom now has 30 days to sign or veto the bills.

William Fulton
Sep 2


What California Planners Need To Know About The 21st Century Road To Housing Act
Although the federal government doesn't directly control land use, the new law contains many provisions that California planners need to know about -- including a CDBG penalty if housing isn't produced. Here's the rundown.

William Fulton
Jul 12


Cities Take Steps To Defer SB 79 And Create Alternative Plans
San Francisco and San Jose have gotten their alternative plans approved. Los Angeles and San Diego took the deferral route.

William Fulton
Jul 6
Will Huntington Beach's Approach To Housing Element Overlays Work?
The city finally approved its 2021-2029 housing element. But compliance depends on whether a judge and HCD will accept a vastly increased overlay system.

William Fulton
Jun 22
How Much Housing Does The Surplus Land Act Actually Create?
Affordable housing developers say it helps them. But economic development folks say it hurts their efforts and may actually decrease the amount of housing built.

Josh Stephens
Jun 15
Transportation Board Can't Kill Housing Project
In a case from Los Angeles, a judge ruled that just because the transportation commission oversees parking on a city lot, that doesn't mean it can deny approval of an affordable housing project on that lot already approved by the city council.

William Fulton
Jun 15


Fountain Valley Denies A Housing Project The Old Way
The location wasn't on the city's Housing Element sites inventory. But the denial may be based on subjective standards. All in all, it's a good example of how small cities are struggling to adapt to new housing laws.

William Fulton
Jun 7
Bill Moves Forward to Narrow CEQA Exemption For Advanced Manufacturing
Many housing and land use bills made it out of the house of origin last week and are moving forward.

William Fulton
Jun 1


One Year In, Sarah Dennis Phillips Tries to Harness “Evolving” Attitudes in San Francisco
This article is brought to you courtesy of the paying subscribers to California Planning & Development Report. You can subscribe to CP&DR by clicking here. You can sign up for CP&DR’s free weekly newsletter here. Shortly after the election of San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie, he nominated Sarah Dennis Phillips to succeed Rich Hillis as planning director. Dennis Phillips was both a conventional choice and an offbeat. Offbeat, because she was coming from over a decade in the pr

Josh Stephens
May 26


City Wins Latest Round In Santa Barbara Mission Housing Dispute
The developer said the city kept stalling the builder's remedy application. The city sid the developer never actually proved a "disapproval".

William Fulton
May 4
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