CP&DR - Articles

In Brief: SunCal Developments Face Financial Woes

Dec 1, 2008

California, CP&DR Staff, In Brief, Vol. 23 No. 12 Dec 2008

This month's roundup of land use news: SunCal places two more projects under bankruptcy protection; Desert Hot Springs finally gives up on a controversial resort development; Klamath River dams may crumble; Westlands Water District told to solve irrigation drainage problem; Caltrans launches policy plan website.

Glendale Establishes Urban Design As Top Priority

Nov 26, 2008

Infill development, Josh Stephens & Jillian Goodman, Local Watch, Los Angeles County, Vol. 23 No. 12 Dec 2008

When Pasadena first began to transform its moribund downtown into Southern California's premier urban destination, neighboring Glendale took a more cautious approach to urban renewal, which is to say that it did very little.

But that's changing. Earlier this year, the city's Planning Department established it own Urban Design Studio with the intent of enhance existing urban character.

AG Demands Study Of Species Act Changes

Nov 26, 2008

CP&DR, Endangered Species Act, Featured Articles, Vol. 23 No. 12 Dec 2008

A Bush administration proposal to streamline the Endangered Species Act has met with stiff opposition from California environmentalists and state Attorney General Jerry Brown. A November letter signed by Senior Assistant Attorney General Ken Alex and Deputy Attorney General Tara Mueller to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service accuses the agency of "flouting the public review process" as it rushes toward "a decision apparently already reached."

UCLA Extension: California's General Plans: Crafting Sustainability, Community, and Culture -Friday, December 5, 2008

Nov 25, 2008

UCLA Extension: The Role of CEQA in Public Health, Thursday, Dec 4, 2008

Nov 25, 2008

Studies Urge State To Prepare For Inevitable Climate Change

Nov 25, 2008

California, Climate change, Environment Watch, Paul Shigley, Vol. 23 No. 12 Dec 2008

Two recently released studies warn that California is not moving quickly enough to prepare for climate change, while a third study found that the San Diego region is not adapting. Meanwhile, Gov. Schwarzenegger signed an executive order directing state agencies to study the situation and recommend actions quickly.

Voters Demonstrate Slow-Growth Tendency

Nov 25, 2008

California, Featured Articles, Initiatives and referendums, Paul Shigley, Vol. 23 No. 12 Dec 2008

Balloting on local land use measures during the general election provided the usual mixed-bag of results, but also a number of surprises. Overall, slow-growth forces won 22 of 39 classifiable elections.

Despite the poor economy, the electorate demonstrated a willingness to spend money and even raise taxes for transit, roads and schools.

Complete Local Election Results, November 2008

Nov 25, 2008

California, CP&DR Staff, Featured Articles, Initiatives and referendums, Vol. 23 No. 12 Dec 2008

Complete results of 67 ballot measures in 23 counties.

Court Supports City Attorney Who Rejected Ballot Measures

Nov 24, 2008

CP&DR Staff, Initiatives and referendums, Legal Digest, Ventura County, Vol. 23 No. 12 Dec 2008

A state appellate court has sided with a city attorney who declined to prepare ballot titles and summaries for proposed ballot initiatives because they were unconstitutional. The court rejected the initiative backer's arguments that the Ojai city attorney acted too late, that judicial review at the "pre-petition" stage was inappropriate, and that a lawsuit filed by the city attorney was a SLAPP.

Private Agreement Fails To Provide Relief From Rent Restrictions

Nov 24, 2008

CP&DR Staff, Legal Digest, Los Angeles County, Rent control, Vol. 23 No. 12 Dec 2008

A Los Angeles property owner who leased a multi-family dwelling could not collect a rent increase of more than about 3% per year, even if the tenant agreed to pay more. That is the most broadly applicable portion of a recent appellate court ruling in a nasty dispute between a landlord and tenant.

State Supreme Court: Conditional Agreement And 'Circumstances' Equal Project Approval

Nov 19, 2008

California Environmental Quality Act, Legal Digest, Los Angeles County, Paul Shigley, Vol. 23 No. 12 Dec 2008

Government agencies that appear to commit themselves to a project through a conditional agreement and funding must first complete a California Environmental Quality Act analysis, even if the actual project approval comes later, the state Supreme Court has ruled. The circumstances surrounding the agreement matters as much as the agreement itself, the court determined.

The court ruled unanimously that the City of West Hollywood violated CEQA by not preparing an environmental review for an affordable housing development prior to approving a conditional agreement to provide property and funding to a nonprofit housing developer.

Santa Barbara COG's Work On Sales Tax Measure Upheld

Nov 19, 2008

CP&DR Staff, Legal Digest, Santa Barbara County, Transportation, Vol. 23 No. 12 Dec 2008

The Santa Barbara County Association of Governments did not illegally campaign for a ballot measure to fund transportation projects, the Second District Court of Appeal has ruled. By preparing a transportation plan and making presentations to member agencies and the public about the benefits of a proposed sales tax extension, the Association of Governments was simply performing its duty, the court determined.

CP&DR's SB 375 Resources Page

Nov 19, 2008

Announcement

Click here for links to California Planning & Development Report's ongoing coverage on SB 375, the important new law that links land use planning and greenhouse gas emissions reduction in California.Senate Bill 375 – the 2008 law that links land use planning and greenhouse gas emissions reduction in California – is big news in the planning and development world nationwide.

Let California Planning & Development Report help you figure out what SB 375 means. As the leading planning publication in California, CP&DR has been watching SB 375 more closely than anybody else. You can find out more simply by clicking on the links below. Check back often because we will be updating this page frequently.

Stadium Could Replace Dead Chula Vista Bayfront Project

Nov 18, 2008

CP&DR Staff, Featured Articles, Redevelopment, San Diego County, Vol. 23 No. 12 Dec 2008

A proposed 400,000-square-foot convention center and 2,000-room resort hotel that was supposed to anchor the redevelopment of Chula Vista's waterfront is dead, but the demise of the convention center and hotel could open up the site to potential development of a San Diego Chargers football stadium. The Chargers have been seeking a location for a stadium and related commercial development and have considered two other sites in Chula Vista.