Articles

Voters in Loma Linda could soon make decisions that greatly affect how the San Bernardino County city of 21,000 people grows. Referendums of two specific plans that call for a total of 2,400 housing units are likely to appear on the June 2006 ballot. And petitions for a general plan initiative are currently circulating.

Slow-growth advocates dominated local balloting during the November special election, winning 16 of 24 easily classifiable local ballot measures. In the northern part of the state, voters rejected large housing projects in Livermore, Davis and Monterey County. Voters did what they could to block redevelopment efforts in Humboldt County and the City of Half Moon Bay. In advisory elections in Amador and Yuba counties, voters said no to Indian casino development. >>read more

Treasure Island has nearly every necessary feature to make it the most exciting new residential development in San Francisco. This 403-acre island between San Francisco and Berkeley has superb views of downtown San Francisco, Alcatraz and Angel islands, and the Bay Area's ridgelines. It has dozens of acres of green fields and an environmentally sensitive coastline, to make it a regional eco-attraction. >>read more

One of the most interesting phenomena of the urban-infill craze of recent years has been the conversion of industrial corridors, such as riverfronts and railroad tracks, into middle-class housing, "creative" office space and touristy retail. >>read more

Rep. Richard Pombo has been trying to revise the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) for nearly a decade, having been handed that seemingly Sisyphean task by the GOP leadership shortly after the party took control of Congress in 1994. The Tracy Republican has never made much headway in what he calls an effort to "improve"- critics typically substitute "cripple" or "gut" - one of the nation's key environmental laws. >>read more

From rural counties experiencing modest urbanization to California's fastest growing areas, regional transportation impact fees are being levied on new development. Nearly unheard of five years ago, the fees are bringing in hundreds of millions a year across the state for road work. >>read more

A state appellate court has thrown out the environmental study for the Cal-Fed Bay-Delta Program. The Third District Court of Appeal found that the study failed to identify what water would be used to carry out the program, did not consider reduced exports of Delta water, and failed to provide known details of an "environmental water account."

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger ended the 2005 legislative year by vetoing one-quarter of the approximately 900 bills that lawmakers sent him. >>read more

Riverside is slowly inching into implementation of a redevelopment project at the city's western gateway. The city recently resolved litigation with Riverside County over the boundaries of the project area, and some small infrastructure projects are moving forward. However, a lawsuit filed by a group of project area residents is pending. Until it is resolved, full implementation of the redevelopment plan must wait. >>read more

The City of Bakersfield has proposed a 112-square-mile expansion of its sphere of influence, the first step toward a major expansion of the southern San Joaquin Valley city of nearly 300,000 people. >>read more

The state Legislature wrapped up its business for the year without passing substantial land use legislation. A bill addressing Central Valley flooding threats failed to even get a vote in the state Senate, despite the attention focused on the flood catastrophe Louisiana. Bills seeking to alter eminent domain or redevelopment authority also failed to pass. >>read more

For four decades, North Natomas - a low-lying area just north of Interstate 80 - has represented what could be in Sacramento. Today, North Natomas is the state capital's primary growth area. Whether North Natomas is cutting edge or a lost opportunity, however, depends on one's viewpoint. >>read more

Two long-running growth disputes will add another chapter - and many disputes of more recent vintage will be aired out - when voters decide on local ballot measures in November. Voters in Livermore are scheduled to consider Pardee Homes' proposal to expand the city's urban growth boundary to permit development of a 2,450-unit housing project. Meanwhile, voters in Monterey County will decide a referendum of a 4,000-unit specific plan for Rancho San Juan, just north of Salinas. >>read more

The following bills are the major land use measures that state lawmakers introduced during 2005. Bills that did not pass this year may be revived when the Legislature reconvenes in January. >>read more