CP&DR News Briefs, April 7, 2026: Coastal Commission Plan; Bay Meadows Closure; Midway Rising; and More

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New Coastal Commission Strategic Plan Emphasizes Housing

The Coastal Commission unanimously adopted its 2026-2030 Strategic Plan, which lays out five goals, 15 objectives, and 72 specific actions to protect and enhance the coast over the next five years. The plan is organized around five core goals: ensuring coastal access for all; planning for resilient communities; improving external engagement and communication; protecting coastal resources; and building a resilient organization. In light of claims that the commission has impeded the development of housing, the plan pledges to "advocate for climate-smart policies that address housing needs, particularly affordable housing needs... expand early coordination efforts with state partners on priority housing, transportation, and other infrastructure projects.... [and] coordinate with local governments and HCD on implementing housing projects and aligning LCPs with state housing policies." Other actions focus on equity and inclusion, addressing climate concerns such as sea levels and coastal resilience, and a commitment to using tribal and community input in decision-making.

Land Trust Seeks Purchase of Defunct East Bay Racetrack

Golden Gate Fields, a horse racing track that closed in 2024 after more than 80 years of operation, could become a major new public park. The nonprofit Trust for Public Land has agreed to purchase the 161-acre property for $175 million and transfer it to the East Bay Regional Park District, which will contribute $20 million from a 2008 bond measure. About three-quarters of the property sits in Berkeley, with the remainder in Albany. Both cities have zoning that restrict the development of housing on the site. Albany designates it a "waterfront district," and, per a 1990 ballot measure, voters in Albany would have to approve any zoning changes. If completed, the project would expand shoreline access, restore ecosystems, and provide recreational space for hundreds of thousands of residents along the Bay’s eastern shore. Officials estimate the project could take about five years to open, with funding potentially coming from public and private sources, including a 2024 climate bond. (See related CP&DR coverage.)

San Diego Pushes Legislation to Advance Midway Rising Project

Introduced at the behest of San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, Senate Bill 958 aims to shield the controversial Midway Rising redevelopment project in San Diego from legal challenges under the CEQA. The current plan for the 49.2 acre property includes 4,254 total residential units in 105-foot-tall residential buildings, a 16,000-seat replacement arena that is 165 feet in height, 130,000 square feet of commercial space, 8.1 acres of parks, and another 6.4 acres of plazas and public space. Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson, who authored the bill, argues that the project qualifies for exemption because of its significance to the city’s economy and landscape. (See related CP&DR coverage.)

ABAG Adopts 25-Year Vision for Bay Area

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) officially adopted Plan Bay Area 2050+ and approved its EIR, finalizing the blueprint for transportation, housing, economic resilience, and sustainability. The plan was also unanimously approved by the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG), concluding a nearly three-year process that included input from over 17,600 residents, community organizations, advocacy groups and public sector partners. Plan Bay Area 2050+ focuses heavily on increasing affordable housing, reducing the cost of living, and improving public transit especially in Equity Priority Communities. Climate resilience strategies in the plan address threats like sea level rise and wildfires. The plan also introduces Transit 2050+, a coordinated effort with regional transit agencies to reimagine and improve public transportation systems across the Bay Area.

CP&DR Coverage: Roundup of Federal Housing Bills

Both the Senate and the House have passed housing bill with bipartisan support. And while neither bill is likely to become law in its current form – there is a dispute over whether to place restrictions on investors who build so-called “build to rent” housing projects – some housing bill could still pass, with implications for local planners in California. The Senate passed the Road To Housing Act, and the House passed the Housing for the 21^st Century Act in February. It’s unclear when – or even whether – a housing bill will pass Congress and be signed into law by President Trump. But both the bills are unusual in that they attracted overwhelming bipartisan support and the odds of a bill passing eventually are good even the current Senate bill does not fly in the House. Obviously, the federal government’s role in the regulation of land use is limited. Nevertheless, the bills contain provisions that seek to indirectly affect land-use regulations in a way that would increase the overall supply of housing.

Quick Hits & Updates

The December 2025 Transportation Trends Update from the Southern California Association of Governments reports that transit use and vehicle miles traveled have continued recovering toward pre‑pandemic levels, with bus ridership leading the rebound while commuter rail trails behind. Overall travel behavior continues to be shaped by remote work, which has kept vehicle miles and demand below historic norms.

Four months after the Beverly Hills Planning Commission rejected the project, the City Council voted to approve a controversial 26-story high-rise project. The development, proposed under California’s “Builder’s Remedy” law, will include 200 housing units, with a portion designated as affordable housing. City officials determined they were legally required to approve the project despite pushback about its height, density and design. (See related CP&DR coverage.)

Oakland released a draft of its second phase of its General Plan update, focusing on land use, transportation, and infrastructure. It builds on earlier adopted elements like the Downtown Specific Plan, which addressed housing, jobs, and infrastructure in key areas. The plan is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.

An Australian mining company is exploring the potential to extract rare earths metals near Joshua Tree National Park in the Pinto Mountains. Dateline Resources Ltd.’s proposed site lies within a Mojave desert tortoise critical habitat, raising concerns about environmental damage. The company says historical samples suggest valuable heavy rare earth elements used in clean electric vehicles, wind turbines and defense systems.

The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s proposal to allow fracking on up to 16 wells off the coast of Ventura is being challenged by Attorney General Rob Bonta. Bonta claims that the government failed to document an official national energy emergency justifying the suspension of the environmental review process, and that these wells would violate a federal court ruling. The federal agency is basing their proposal on a January 2025 executive order in which President Trump declared a national energy emergency.

The Great Redwood Trail Agency approved its Great Redwood Trail Master Plan for 231 miles of trail across Mendocino, Trinity, and Humboldt counties. The project will convert the former Northwestern Pacific Railroad corridor into part of a 300+ mile multi-use trail stretching from the Bay Area to Humboldt Bay.

The introduction of a San Francisco ordinance amends the health code, police code, business and tax code, and planning code to enable cannabis retailers to prepare and serve food and non-alcoholic beverages at cannabis lounges. The ordinance will also enable the creation of cafes where cannabis can be sold only for on-site consumption, and implement a phased rollout where initially only existing cannabis retailers can open new cannabis cafes.

Stanford Medicine is planning a large cancer center on its Redwood City campus, including a hospital, research labs, outpatient facilities, and parking across a 35-acre site. The early plan features multiple new buildings connected by enclosed bridges and would exceed current height limits. To proceed, Redwood City would need to amend its precise plan and general plan, followed by environmental review and public hearings that could take years.

A study found that moving to a more walkable city can increase people’s physical activity by about 1,100 additional steps per day, or roughly 11 extra minutes of walking. The research analyzed smartphone data from more than 2 million people and tracked over 5,000 individuals who moved between 1,600 U.S. cities. It rated West Hollywood the fourth most walkable among 1,600 cities included in the study.

Sacramento voters may see a half-cent tax that is expected to generate an estimated $70 million a year for street safety improvements and expanded public transit service. The “Safe Streets and Affordable Transit Measure,” filed Feb. 20 with the Sacramento City Clerk’s Office, would fund road maintenance, pedestrian and bicycle safety projects and transit operations.

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority board approved the extension of the K Line from Redondo Beach to the Torrance Transit Center on an elevated guideway along the 405 and along Hawthorne Boulevard. The project will add about 4.5 miles of new light rail and include two new stations, giving riders an estimated 19-minute trip.