Gov. Gavin Newsom has vetoed AB 309, the so-called “social housing” legislation – which was watered down in last-minute Senate amendments – because it would have given cities and counties some power over the design of state-created housing projects.

State Again Seeks to Restore Sacramento Bay-Delta The State Water Resources Control Board released a nearly 6,000-page draft to update the Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan, addressing the ecological crisis in the Bay-Delta watershed, focusing on boosting water flows and limiting pumping in the Sacramento River basin and the delta. The draft evaluates various strategies, including setting minimum water levels in rivers and streams, potentially requiring water users to cut back on diversions for urban and agricultural needs. The report also delves into a controversial pact reached by Governor Gavin Newsom with major water suppliers, criticized by environmentalists and tribes. The next steps involve public workshops, hearings,and comments to shape regulations, with the State Water Resources Control Board likely making decisions in about a year. However, the full implementation of the updated Bay-Delta plan might take several years. HCD Refuses to Certify Davis Housing Element; Developer Sues City The City of Davis is in violation of state housing law as it has not adopted an acceptable plan for housing development, being over two years overdue in creating a compliant "housing element," according to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). In an Aug. 31 letter, the state agency warned Davis of potential legal action, fines, and the risk of losing state funding if an acceptable housing element is not approved. Despite receiving $610,000 in state funding for housing element development, Davis officials are accused of not planning for enough housing, especially after the removal of over 260 units from the University Commons project. Developer David Taormino has sued Davis for not approving his 163-unit Palomino Place development, emphasizing the need for housing for local workers and families. Davis officials, in response, claim they have not formally denied the project and are working with HCD to address concerns and bring an updated plan to the City Council by year-end. (See related CP&DR coverage .) Cost of San Jose BART Extension Balloons to $12.2 Billion The extension of the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system to downtown San Jose faces an 80% cost increase since 2020, with estimates now at $12.2 billion and completion expected by 2036. The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), overseeing the project, attributes the rise to inflation, construction, and labor costs. The extension, covering 6.1 miles, will connect the Berryessa/North San Jose Station to new stations at 28th Street/Little Portugal, Downtown San Jose, Diridon and Santa Clara, forming a rail ring around the San Francisco Bay. The project, one of the nation's costliest, is backed by local taxpayers through approved tax measures. The VTA anticipates federal funding covering about half the cost, with construction slated to begin in 2024, featuring the nation's largest single-bore transit tunnel, aimed at minimizing surface impact in downtown San Jose. Despite challenges, VTA's CEO remains committed to delivering the project without seeking additional local funding. San Diego to Participate in Pro Bono Program to Track Property Data San Diego, along with 10 other cities, is participating in a pro-bono pilot program led by a software company and a national nonprofit to leverage big data and shared expertise in addressing housing access and affordability challenges. The initiative aims to uses a data software tool, BuildingBlocks, to analyze property and ownership data, aiding cities in making informed decisions on land use, affordability and neighborhood revitalization. The collaboration learning among the participating cities, including Albuquerque, Austin, Birmingham, Chicago, Dayton, Lansing, Kansas City, Philadelphia, Tampa and Tucson, is expected to expedite the development of effective solutions. The tool allows for detailed analyses, such as examining the overlap of different urban layers and scrutinizing how institutional investors maintain properties. Ultimately, the program's goal is to visualize complex data, facilitating informed policy shifts to address housing challenges and boost economic stability. CP&DR Coverage: How "New City" in Solano County Upstages Conventional Planning California Forever offers more of a lesson in public relations than in planning. The developer, Flannery Associates LLC, had been operating in stealth mode for five years until the Chronicle uncovered what was going on. Flannery's most exquisite move was to immediately post a website -- so fully-formed that it must have been designed and written ahead of time, like an aging celebrity's obituary, long before the news leaked. Flannery is thus both an enormity and a mystery at the same time. What this approach lacks is a vision -- a sense of enthusiasm or shared purpose. It's almost impossible to envision better cities in California because the new elements -- say, a well designed mixed-use building, or street furniture that might make a place walkable -- has to mingle with whatever outdated, Prop. 13-enabled ugliness is still hanging around. So, we can forgive anyone who gets excited about California Forever. Quick Hits & Updates The Los Angeles City Planning Commission approved the District NoHo development, a Metro joint project planned by two development companies that has been in various stages of development for over a decade. The 16-acre development near North Hollywood Station will include housing, retail, office space and public amenities, with construction potentially commencing in 2025 or 2026 and spanning up to 15 years. A study by SPUR provided 16 recommendations of methods to accelerate Bay Area public transit. The study emphasized the need for policy changes and funding programs to alleviate transit challenges, enhance bus speed and address traffic congestion. Collaborative efforts between transit agencies and local jurisdictions are crucial, with dedicated resources urged to support the adoption of transit priority projects, improving service, affordability and competitiveness against private automobiles. The Long Beach City Council approved an $800,000 allocation from the Long Beach Recovery Act of 2021 to Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs (SEE), a fiscal sponsor for nonprofit Long Beach Residents Empowered (LiBRE). The funds will facilitate the launch of a pilot Community Land Trust program, led by LiBRE, aiming to identify and acquire properties for affordable housing in an effort to address homelessness and housing crises in the city. A California transportation official and former Caltrans deputy director, Jeanie Ward-Waller, claims she was demoted for objecting to highway expansions that increase driving. She alleges that road construction projects in the Sacramento area, which circumvent environmental rules, wrongly use state funds for widening roads instead of maintenance, prompting her reassignment and subsequent whistleblower complaint. In August 2023, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) experienced a notable 13% year-over-year increase in total system ridership, totaling over 25 million boardings and marking the ninth consecutive month of growth. The recovery in ridership, now at 79% of pre-pandemic levels, is particularly pronounced on weekends, with the newly reconfigured A and E Lines contributing to a significant rise, and special event services, like those for concerts and festivals, playing a role in boosting ridership. A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge ordered Beverly Hills to create a new plan to comply with California's housing law, which requires offering housing for moderate- and low-income residents. The city failed to meet the regional plan's target of 3,104 housing units, over half of which should be affordable to low- and very low-income households, by 2029. The City of San Diego filed a petition with the California Supreme Court, seeking clarification on whether Measure C, a hotel tax hike initiative to finance a convention center expansion, is a citizens' initiative or a government-sponsored measure requiring a supermajority vote. The legal ambiguity surrounding Measure C has impeded the city's ability to fund the convention center expansion, prompting both the city and the initiative's proponents to request a speedy resolution from the Supreme Court, with a decision expected by mid-December. The Center for Biological Diversity has filed a lawsuit against Long Beach, California, alleging that the city violated the California Environmental Quality Act by failing to conduct an environmental review of oil and gas drilling operations. The lawsuit aims to block the city's authorization of such drilling for the next five years. Long Beach's plan permits 100 drilling activities between 2023 and 2028, projecting the extraction of over 26.2 million barrels of oil and 12 billion cubic feet of natural gas production, an increase over the last five years. Vista Hermosa Natural Park in Los Angeles, designed by landscape architecture firm Studio-MLA, has received the ASLA 2023 Landmark Award. Completed in 2008, the park was the first public park built in downtown Los Angeles in over a century, transforming an oil field into a green space. The award recognizes projects completed between 15 and 50 years ago that have retained their original design integrity and continue to provide significant benefits to the community.

Hold on to your seat belts. Attorney General Rob Bonta says he intends to keep pushing hard against cities that are “brazen violators” of state housing law – pursuing high-profile cases that he says have broad impact by influencing the actions of other cities.

In a stunning move, the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to take a development fee case from El Dorado County that the California Supreme Court declined to hear. It’s the most important Supreme Court land use case to come out of California since the court decided both the Nollan and First English cases in 1987.

San Diego Region Retreats from Mileage Tax The San Diego Association of Governments has committed to exclude a regional road user charge, or " mileage tax, " from its 30-year planning documents. In a 15-4 vote, the SANDAG board eliminated the controversial per-mile driving fee from consideration in the 2025 Regional Plan and future plans, preventing agency staff and board members from pursuing legislation to implement the charge. Initially part of SANDAG's long-term vision, the local road user charge aimed to supplement dwindling gas tax revenue and reduce emissions. It would have been one of the first, if not the only, such tax in the country. The current transportation plan, adopted in 2021, envisioned charging drivers 3.3 cents per mile by 2030 but is in the process of removing the fee. The recent board action aims to prevent the charge from resurfacing in the 2025 Regional Plan, with concerns raised about fairness, privacy, environmental impact and the high cost of living in San Diego. Despite the vote, it remains uncertain if the action is legally enforceable, leaving the door open for future reconsideration. Environmental Justice Advocates Settle with at Oakland Port California Attorney General Rob Bonta negotiated a settlement with the Port of Oakland and Eagle Rock Aggregates, Inc. regarding the planned construction of a new 18-acre marine terminal less than one mile from the West Oakland community. Known as the Eagle Rock Aggregates Terminal project, the marine terminal will be used for aggregate stockpiling and distribution. In August, Bonta intervened in a lawsuit filed by the West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project (WOEIP), a local environmental justice organization, alleging that the Port's approval of the Eagle Rock project on February 24, 2022 violated CEQA in several ways. Through settlement negotiations the parties agreed to binding commitments to mitigate the Eagle Rock project's air quality impacts and provide other benefits for West Oakland residents, including dust control measures and electrification. Study Analyzes Patterns, Policies of Transit Oriented Development A recent study by UC Berkeley's Terner Center for Housing Innovation analyzed housing near transit. The study, authored by Yonah Freemark, found, despite rising housing costs and limited federal support for housing, national policy can still play a role in financing new projects and laying the groundwork for investments, including land acquisition and site preparations. Transportation can be leveraged to enhance housing access, whether by concentrating housing near existing transit, building new transit near housing concentrations, or planning both concurrently. While federal policies aim to link transportation and housing, the success of integrated planning relies on engaged state and local governments, which have the authority to allocate limited affordable housing funds, prioritize transit investments and control land-use policies crucial for new residential development. The study concluded that, despite previous shortcomings in encouraging concentrated housing near public transportation, the new federal infrastructure funding presents an opportunity for cities and states to promote dense, accessible housing near transit stations, offering benefits such as reduced greenhouse gas emissions, integrated neighborhoods, preservation of natural land and lower overall living costs for households across the nation. Report: Small Multifamily Projects Need Financial Incentives, Assistance A paper out of UCLA's Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies for the San Francisco Planning Department studied the financial feasibility of 5-to-10 unit projects in majority single-family zoned areas in San Francisco and Los Angeles, concluding that Senate Bill 9 (SB 9) does not allow enough density on single-family zoned parcels for financial feasibility. Currently, SB 9 allows for up to four units per single-family land parcel. The study additionally supports the increasingly-popular single-stair or vertical shared access building codes for three stories and above residential buildings to encourage more affordable development without sacrificing fire safety. Another suggestion is a partial property tax abatement and subsidy program, concluding an 80 percent property tax abatement allowed the greatest reduction in observed financial feasibility gaps for 5- and 10-unit projects. Additionally, for nonprofit or small-scale developers, State-supported financing options would also reduce financial feasibility gaps. At a local level, revising regulations, implementing fee waivers and capping fees for development projects under 11 units, incentivizing shared ownership, streamlining the permitting process and supporting community-based coalitions could contribute to meaningful housing development progess. (See related CP&DR coverage .) CP&DR Coverage: Fulton on This Year's Legislative Trends A dozen land use bills related to housing have landed in Gov. Gavin Newsom's desk, and he has until mid-October to sign or veto them. That's become the norm in the last few years in Sacramento. But there's a pretty good argument that the Legislature is beginning to run out of things to do on housing - unless the lawmakers are willing to take on the California Environmental Quality Act. Bill Fulton writes that CEQA reform still has a ways to go. But, the legislature's recent efforts to expand ministerial decisions may be running out of steam . Quick Hits & Updates Mountain House is closer to becoming San Joaquin County's eighth city following an unanimous vote from the county's Local Agency Formation Commission, approving the incorporation of the county-governed community services district. The next step involves a vote by Mountain House residents in March 2024, with the potential benefits of incorporation including increased control over local governance, access to state and federal funding for infrastructure and the retention of property tax and sales tax dollars within the town. The Los Angeles County city of Pico Rivera, under the Pico Rivera 2035 initiative, is advocating for a new commuter rail station and a 26-mile north-south bus rapid transit line as part of a larger effort to redevelop industrial land. The initiative aims to create a downtown hub, emphasizing micro electric vehicle production, and the proposed BRT line, backed by local, state and federal funds, is a central feature of the plan, with construction anticipated between 2029 and 2032. One year after the Riverside County Transportation Commission adopted plans for a $1 billion passenger rail line connecting the Coachella Valley and Los Angeles, $5 million worth of funding is beginning to materialize through the federal Fiscal Year 2024 Transportation/HUD Appropriations bill. The proposed 144-mile rail line would use existing tracks, linking Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles to the Coachella Valley, with plans for up to five new stations in Riverside County and a construction timeline potentially beginning within 10 years of completing the environmental study. The Turlock City Council abandoned plans for a project involving 50 apartments made from shipping containers, reversing its decision due to a shift in program requirements that necessitate permanent housing rather than transitional. The project, seeking a $9.95 million state grant for the South Walnut Road initiative to serve seniors and veterans at risk of homelessness, faced opposition from nearby businesses and criticism for its high cost per unit, leading to the unanimous decision to rescind the proposal. The Sacramento City Council's Law and Legislation Committee is leaning toward allowing cannabis consumption lounges as part of a pilot program, with a formal resolution expected in early 2024. The proposal, supported by three out of four committee members, aims to create legal spaces for cannabis use, particularly addressing challenges faced by renters and providing an alternative to smoking in private vehicles. (See related CP&DR coverage .) The Baylands project, a 660-acre carbon-neutral community on the San Francisco-Brisbane border, is set to resume construction after pandemic-related delays. The redevelopment includes plans for nearly 4,000 homes, 6.5 million square feet of commercial space, 90 acres of solar panels, and 140 acres of parks. The development aims to be a "15-minute city," emphasizing walkability, biking and sustainability. Construction on the first phase is expected to begin next year, including 594 housing units, parks and retail space. The Imperial County Local Agency Formation Commission has agreed to provide the City of El Centro with a proper California Environmental Quality Act process, including a comment period for a Negative Declaration, following an injunction hearing. Although the City's injunction request was unsuccessful, the primary intent was to ensure that LAFCO adheres to CEQA guidelines in its feasibility study for the expansion application by Pioneers Memorial Healthcare District, which includes annexing El Centro Regional Medical Center. Vital Signs , an interactive website created by MTC/ABAG, serves as a comprehensive monitoring initiative in the San Francisco Bay Area. Led by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG), this collaborative effort provides data, visualizations and contextualized narratives across various categories, such as land use, transportation, the environment, the economy, and equity, enabling users to analyze historical trends, regional variations and comparisons with peer metropolitan areas. The National Park Service received legal approval to continue thinning trees and vegetation in Yosemite National Park as part of its prescribed burning projects. This decision comes after the Earth Island Institute filed a lawsuit in June 2022 against the park service, temporarily halting biomass removal and tree thinning efforts, claiming them to be commercial logging; however, the court dismissed the challenges, and the park service's projects will proceed to protect the park's natural resources and communities from wildfires. Despite warnings from environmentalists and the state attorney general about worsening air pollution in West Oakland, the city's port has approved a 12-year lease for the construction of a sand and gravel plant by Eagle Rock Aggregates. The lease is expected to generate millions of dollars in annual revenue for the port, but concerns persist about the environmental impact on an area already suffering from disproportionately high air pollution and health issues. The City of Sacramento is facing a lawsuit from the Sacramento County District Attorney accusing the city of not doing enough to remove homeless people from the streets, leading to a "collapse into chaos." Homelessness in California has become a significant issue, with more than 170,000 people homeless in the state, accounting for about one-third of the nation's homeless population. The lawsuit reflects growing frustration with homeless camps and progressive policies that have complicated their removal, despite the state's efforts to address the crisis.

CP&DR Vol. 38 No. 9 September 2023 Report

State Releases Guidance on Environmental Justice Elements in General Plans The Attorney General's Office released comprehensive guidance for local governments to address environmental justice issues in their land use planning, as mandated by Senate Bill 1000. This guidance aims to rectify the historical disparity in pollution exposure faced by vulnerable populations, particularly low-income communities and communities of color. It provides cities and counties with information to develop general plans that reduce pollution exposure, promote community health and address these long-standing inequities. SB 1000, passed in 2016, requires local governments to consider these disparities when formulating or updating their general land use plans. The new guidance covers key aspects of SB 1000 compliance, such as identifying disadvantaged communities, community engagement strategies, reducing health risks related to pollution, ensuring safe housing, addressing disparities in access to parks and green spaces and promoting equitable access to healthy food. Federal Government to Grant $103 Million Statewide for Climate Change Mitigation The U.S. Forest Service will allocate over $103 million in federal grants to California aimed at mitigating climate change and extreme heat through tree planting initiatives. This funding, part $1 billion being granted nationwide under the Inflation Reduction Act, marks the largest-ever investment in urban and community forests under the act. The urban heat island effect, which makes areas with less vegetation up to 10 degrees warmer, is a key concern being addressed. These grants will support tree planting, maintenance, and enhancements to urban canopies. Organizations like TreePeople will receive grants to plant trees strategically, especially in high-need areas of Southern California. This funding underscores a changing perspective on urban forests as essential infrastructure and arrives at a critical juncture as trees face threats from drought, wildfires, and urban development. Despite past challenges in tree maintenance, proponents are optimistic that proper planning and care can yield substantial benefits, including job creation, enhanced shading, increased oxygen, and relief from heat. The high demand for this funding highlights the pressing nationwide need for urban tree planting. Legislature to Place Measure for Homelessness Funding on March Ballot California will move forward with a ballot measure that would secure funding for housing and support for individuals suffering from severe mental illness, many of whom are homeless. The state legislature passed two bills, one redirecting tax revenue from the Mental Health Services Act towards addiction treatment and housing, and another approving a measure that would authorize $6.38 billion in bond funding to build residential treatment facilities. The measure will appear on the March 2024 primary ballot. The focus is on helping chronically homeless individuals with severe mental health issues reintegrate into communities rather than jails and prisons. Additionally, lawmakers unanimously passed SB43, a bill designed to make it easier to compel individuals with severe mental illness into treatment or temporary psychiatric holds, expanding criteria for involuntary medical treatment. This legislation aims to address the mental health and addiction crisis, with San Francisco Mayor London Breed as a key supporter. Colleges, Faith Organizations Sitting on 170,000 Acres of Developable Land A report out of UC Berkeley's Terner Center for Housing Innovation found there is a large portion of land owned by faith-based organizations and nonprofit colleges that qualify for streamlining incentives and ministerial approval under Senate Bill 4. These projects on over 171,749 acres of developable land could potentially bolstering affordable housing in the state, particularly in areas historically lacking affordable housing, like affluent communities and single-family neighborhoods. Of that acreage, 13 percent is located near transit high-quality transit and half of the land is located near higher opportunity areas. Despite this, significant obstacles remain to expand affordable housing on these sites, like land use regulation issues and a lack of funding. The study concluded there is an opportunity to bridge those gaps by establishing or expanding technical assistance programs to support institutions interested in building housing but lacking the capacity or expertise. CP&DR Coverage: S.F. Megadevelopment Treasure Island Takes Shape After over a quarter century of planning and seven years of infrastructure development, San Francisco's Treasure Island neighborhood is finally taking shape. One of the project's signature elements—a 22-story apartment tower—topped out in July, and new structures, parks, and public amenities are under construction on the 405-acre landfill site, and on adjacent 300-acre Yerba Buena Island. The forward moves are taking place at the same time that the project's main developers are suing each other and the Bay Area's urban housing market has softened. Disputes between developer Wilson Meany and primary funder Stockbridge Capital center on the project's anticipated profits, which are likely far lower due to current economic conditions than they were in 2016, when the project broke ground. It's also a cautionary tale about how long development takes in California. “I'd like to see cities and design professionals around California focused on getting things built, not just looking at getting things approved,” said Christopher Meany, the project's lead developer. Quick hits & Updates A study by Visit SLO CAL and Beacon Economics found that short-term rentals (STRs) do not significantly drive up rental rates and housing prices in the county. According to the study, STRs have contributed to the growth of tourism in the county and benefit the local economy more than they harm housing availability or affordability, and converting STR properties to long-term rentals would have minimal impact on housing affordability, with rents decreasing by less than 1%. The study suggests that addressing housing affordability issues should focus on building more multi-family housing rather than solely targeting STRs. The Friant Water Supply Protection Association - a water user group in San Joaquin Valley's east side - filed an appeal on July 24 in the Fifth District Court of Appeals after concerns and environmental challenges against the proposed Del Puerto Canyon Reservoir were dismissed by a Stanislaus County Superior Court judge in October 2022. The proposed project would allow the San Joaquin River Exchange Contractor Authority to store up to 84,000-acre feet of water west of Interstate 5, potentially affecting Friant water supplies in dry years and the Friant group seeks assurance in the project's environmental documents that it won't negatively impact other water users. The Tübatulabal Tribe in Kern River Valley has reclaimed ownership of 1,240 acres of ancestral land , marking their first land title since the 1800s. With support from various conservation organizations, the land will be preserved as a conservation easement for public access and ecological restoration, aligning with the tribe's belief that the land is like a mother that cares for them. San Francisco is grappling with the challenge of preserving its historic waterfront , including iconic landmarks like the Ferry Building, in the face of rising sea levels caused by climate change. The city is considering measures like strengthening the sea wall and potentially elevating structures to protect its heritage, although there are differing opinions among residents about how to balance preservation with community interests. Newport Beach City Council plans to override the Orange County Airport Land Use Commission's decision to make amendments to land use, noise elements and zoning codes to allow for housing near the airport . Residents are predominantly against this move, expressing concerns about increased aircraft noise and pollution due to residential projects near the airport, but the council aims to find housing solutions while protecting the city's quality of life. Cal State Long Beach's draft environmental impact report outlines a master plan update for campus development until 2035, including expanding on-campus student housing by about 1,600 beds and introducing faculty and staff housing. The plan is expected to be adopted by the university's Board of Trustees in January 2024. San Diego County's beaches require ongoing and expensive efforts to maintain their tourist-friendly, wide, sandy appearance, as revealed in the 2023 "State of the Coast" report by the San Diego Association of Governments. According to the study, shorelines in several areas, including south Oceanside, south Carlsbad, Leucadia, and Coronado, are rapidly eroding, with only beaches replenished by sand from nearby lagoons, harbors, and offshore deposits retaining or increasing their width. Human activities, including construction and upstream development, have contributed to beach losses, making beach preservation and nourishment crucial, particularly in the face of rising sea levels. The Los Angeles County Metro's long-awaited Regional Connector has officially opened, offering more direct access to downtown Los Angeles and facilitating transfer-free journeys across the city. This project features three new underground stations and aims to enhance transit connections by linking multiple Metro lines, although it comes amidst concerns about rising crime rates and safety on public transit systems. (See related CP&DR coverage .) Following state certification of its environmental study, Marin County's largest affordable housing project of the last 50 years plans to move forward. The project, covering almost 8.5 acres, will provide 135-units of workforce housing for teachers and local housing district staff, as well as 115 homes for low-income families, addressing the pressing need for affordable housing in the area. The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) requests the public submit new names for the proposed West Santa Ana Branch rail line that will run from downtown Los Angeles to Artesia through southeast LA County. LA Metro aims to eliminate confusion as the project's current name references Santa Ana, which is not within its route, and rebrand it to reflect the actual area it will serve. The Vernon City Council progressed with new zoning rules allowing residential development in the industrial city south of Downtown LA. The Westside zone changes target underutilized sites along Santa Fe Avenue, offering property owners the option to redevelop with residential, office, retail and industrial uses, with draft environmental impacts suggesting the changes could result in 874 residential units, 360,429 square feet of office/research and development and 253,021 square feet of production retail.

The California Chapter of the American Planning Association presented the following awards at its annual conference in Fresno last week: Comprehensive Plan (Large and Small) Award of Merit: San Jose Diridon Station Area Plan , City of San Jose Award of Excellence: The Plan to House LA – City of Los Angeles 2021-2029 Housing Element, Los Angeles City Planning and Los Angeles Housing Department Award of Merit: South San Francisco 2040 General Plan, “Shape SSF” , City of South San Francisco Award of Excellence: Not Just Another Housing Crisis Band-Aid: Downtown Bishop Specific Plan & Mixed-Use Overlay and Environmental Impact Report, City of Bishop Planning Department + Alta Planning & Design, Inc. + Helix Environmental Planning Resilience and Sustainability Award of Merit: Mariposa County Merced River Trail Vision Plan , Mariposa County Planning Department Award of Excellence: Los Angeles Countywide Parks Needs Assessment Plus (PNA+), Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation Transportation Planning Award of Merit: Lompoc Streetscape Multimodal Improvement Plan , City of Lompoc Planning Division, Caltrans District 5, RRM Design Group, Toole Design Award of Excellence: Glendale Citywide Pedestrian Plan , City of Glendale Best Practices Award of Merit: Other-to-Residential Toolkit , Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) Award of Excellence: Neighborhood Development Action Team Community Ambassador Program, City of Sacramento  Implementation (Large) Award of Excellence: Napa Sonoma ADU Center Grassroots Initiative Award of Merit: How East Los Moves: Creative, Custom, People-Powered Transit!, Public Matters Award of Excellence: Willard Safe Streets , Santa Ana Active Streets & Willard Neighborhood Association Public Outreach Award of Merit: KCCTOD Study Zine s, City of Fresno Long Range Planning Division Award of Excellence: Build Better SD: Imagine Public Spaces , City of San Diego Urban Design Award of Merit: San Jose Berryessa BART Urban Village , City of San Jose Award of Excellence: Verdugo Wash Visioning , City of Glendale Planning Agency Award of Excellence: Regional Housing Technical Assistance Program , Association of Bay Area Governments and Metropolitan Transportation Commission Opportunity and Empowerment Award of Excellence: Dignity Village , City of Alameda Advancing Diversity and Social Change in Honor of Paul Davidoff Award of Merit: ESA’s Commitment to Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI), Environmental Science Associates Award of Excellence: Parks Make Long Beach : Department of Parks, Recreation, and Marine Strategic Plan, Long Beach Parks, Recreation, and Marine Administration Academic Award Award of Merit: "Transportation Challenges to Healthcare: Evaluating the Transportation Needs of Patients at Saban Community Clinic," Nataly Rios Gutierrez, UCLA: Institute of Transportation Studies Award of Excellence: PlanSearch.caes.ucdavis.edu : A Search Engine for California’s General Plans, University of California, Davis - Center for Regional Change, Faculty Director, Dr. Catherine Brinkley Economic Planning and Development Award Award of Excellence: Artsakh Creative Retail Pop-Up Pilot Program , City of Glendale

A dozen land use bills related to housing have landed in Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk, and he has until mid-October to sign or veto them. That’s become the norm in the last few years in Sacramento. But there’s a pretty good argument that the Legislature is beginning to run out of things to do on housing – unless the lawmakers are willing to take on the California Environmental Quality Act.

Two land use bills got all the attention this year, both carried by Sen. Scott Wiener: SB 423, which extends SB 35, and SB 4, which requires ministerial approval for projects on college and church land. But the Legislature passed two dozen important land use bills this year, most of which are now sitting on the desk of Gov. Gavin Newsom. And Newsom isn’t likely to veto many of them – especially the housing bills.

Coastal Commission Imposes $1 Million Fine on Coastal Resort The Coastal Commission unanimously approved a significant settlement with San Diego's Paradise Point resort, addressing Coastal Act violations that hindered public access to city-owned waterfront property for years. The settlement, estimated at $4.1 million, involves a $1 million fine, the installation of over 70 new coastal access signs throughout the 52-acre resort, additional public restrooms near the beach, and a $500,000 outreach program providing free overnight stays to lower-income students and families. It also ensures an uninterrupted pathway across the bayfront. Concerns were expressed about potential future violations despite the settlement's cost, with some commissioners questioning the adequacy of the $1 million fine. The resort, owned by Pebblebrook Hotel Trust, is now free to proceed with plans to reposition as a Margaritaville Resort. Navy Agrees to Return Property to Port of San Diego The Port of San Diego and the U.S. Navy have reached a historic agreement after 38 years, wherein which the Navy will vacate a 3.4-acre waterfront property in exchange for $5.75 million in goods and services. The deal will return prime real estate to the port for redevelopment, potentially including hotels and public amenities. The Navy's 100-year lease on the property will end before the year's end, pending approval by Port of San Diego Commissioners. The site currently hosts outdated Navy buildings but is surrounded by public attractions and hotels. Once the Navy exits, plans for additional park space, hotels, and retail shops are in place, with a local San Diego developer given the first opportunity for redevelopment. Climate Change Exacerbates Wildfire Danger by 25% According to a new study published from Breakthrough Institute, a Berkeley-based think tank, climate change bolsters the risk of severe wildfire growth by 25%, and it will continue to influence severe wildfires in the state for decades to come. The research studies exactly how temperatures impact individual fires statewide, and predicts the influence of climate change on the behavior of fires in the future, analyzing almost 18,000 fires in California between 2003 and 2023. Over that time, climate change has increased the risk of deadly daily wildfires by an average of 25%. Researchers further estimate climate change will increase the risk of extreme wildfire growth by an average of 59% by the end of the century if greenhouse gas emissions reach net zero by 2070. If emissions continue to increase until 2050, climate change poses an average risk of 90%. Los Angeles Establishes Priority Transit Projects for 2028 Olympics The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) is preparing for the 2028 Olympic Games by seeking Federal funding for 15 projects to manage the anticipated increase in tourists. These projects aim to address transportation and mobility challenges. Metro may potentially double its bus fleet by borrowing buses and staff from transit agencies, primarily within California. They plan to establish a Games Routes Network to efficiently connect event venues with transportation hubs using existing and planned ExpressLanes and bus-only corridors. The initiative includes the creation of mobility hubs, micro-mobility options, and first/last-mile connections for visitors. Additionally, they will address street-running operations and traffic signal improvements while considering plans for grade separation. Lastly, Inglewood's automated people mover system and Metrolink's SCORE program were deemed essential components of the preparations. CPD&R Coverage: Planning in the Central Valley In that time, the eight-county San Joaquin Valley region's population has grown to an estimated 4.3 million. It has gained a campus of the University of California, and it is, slowly, gaining High-Speed Rail. And, though agriculture dominates the region, it is far from rural, including major cities like Fresno, medium-sized cities like Modesto and Merced, and small towns like Taft. They and other communities are feeling housing pressures, especially in light of dramatic price spikes in coastal metropolitan areas, while serving populations that are dramatically lower-income and more predominantly blue-collar than in their coastal counterparts, including some of the highest countywide poverty rates in California. To mark the occasion of this week's conference of the California Chapter of the American Planning Association, CP&DR's Josh Stephens spoke with four planners in the Central Valley to find out about the Valley's priorities and challenges. Quick Hits & Updates BART is set to launch a plan aimed at improving service and boosting ridership. The plan includes reducing wait times to a maximum of 20 minutes, increasing evening service by 50% seven days a week, shortening the length of trains to improve safety and resource allocation, and utilizing only the "fleet of the future" trains for the base schedule to enhance efficiency and reduce costs, all in an effort to avoid a looming fiscal crisis. Philanthropist and Jeff Bezos's ex-wife MacKenzie Scott donated $20 million to the San Francisco Community Land Trust, a nonprofit focused on affordable housing, enabling the organization to accelerate property acquisition and expand its reach to address the city's affordable housing crisis. This significant gift will allow the trust to triple its staff, acquire more buildings, and transform them into permanently affordable homes, benefiting communities of color and helping renters become homeowners. A Silicon Valley tech leader is selling his 14,100-acre Rana Creek Ranch in Carmel Valley to the Wildlands Conservancy for $35 million, with plans to create a public nature preserve. The conservancy intends to open the scenic property to the public for recreational activities, while the Esselen Tribe plans to purchase a portion of the land for cultural and environmental purposes, including controlled burns and recreating a historic village. After nearly five hours of discussion, the Brentwood Planning Commission sent a proposal for nearly 300 homes in the Bay Area city back to the staff due to concerns about potential traffic issues. The key issue centered on a second exit from the proposed development which would have directed traffic into and out of congested neighborhoods, prompting the commission to request solutions to reduce traffic and noise for nearby residents. The proposal will be reviewed by the commission again at a later date. The Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously to temporarily halt the demolition of Marilyn Monroe's former home in the Brentwood neighborhood after a council member introduced a motion to consider it as a city historic-cultural monument. This decision triggers a pause on all building permits, allowing for an assessment of the property's historic and cultural significance, with the process expected to conclude within 75 days.

After over a quarter century of planning and seven years of infrastructure development, San Francisco’s Treasure Island neighborhood is finally taking shape. One of the project’s signature elements—a 22-story apartment tower—topped out in July, and new structures, parks, and public amenities are under construction on the 405-acre landfill site, and on adjacent 300-acre Yerba Buena Island. The forward moves are taking place at the same time that the project’s main developers are suing each other and the Bay Area’s urban housing market has softened. The project's primary developer and funder, Wilson Meany and Stockbridge Capital are jointly involved in lawsuits and countersuits against a second developer, Kenwood Investments. The disputes center on the project’s anticipated profits, which are likely far lower due to current economic conditions than they were in 2016, when the project broke ground. And yet, demand for the project’s 8,000 housing units – a significant number in the housing-starved Bay Area – is likely as high as ever.