Still, some jurists still focus on expanding the law, creating a kind of schism in the appellate courts. Will the Legislature step in to clarify? Not likely.

Seven cities will now get preference for state housing programs -- and more cities will soon be designated.

Court found that developer had not pursued all administrative remedies before suing.

Among other things, the appellate ruling found that Livermore's design standards are not objective and therefore cannot be used to deny an affordable housing project.

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But appellate justices say state was correct that aesthetics is a subjective matter and not inherently a significant impact.

Several oil companies have filed suit against the City of Los Angeles, claiming the city’s recent ban on oil and gas drilling violates the California Environmental Quality Act. Among other things, they claim the city should have taken into account the environmental impact of obtaining more oil and gas products from other locations once the drilling in the city has ceased, since the oil companies say the drilling ban will not affect demand for oil and gas.

The American Planning Association bestowed its highest academic award on to an article by two California-based researchers who seek to describe the elusive relationship between California's job centers and housing.

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a 2023-24 budget that slashes over $22 billion of intended spending in order to accommodate what is expected to be lower tax revenues.

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A challenge to a major downtown Livermore affordable housing project has failed in large part due to the Housing Accountability Act, especially the objective standards provisions. And the fact that the project was in a specific plan area helped bulletproof it against legal challenge under the California Environmental Quality Act.

Developer's ignorance of appeals process means administrative remedies were not exhausted.

In spite of the California’s move toward electric vehicles, the Air Resources Board’s new scoping plan doesn’t let up on reduction in vehicle miles traveled – indicating that the state will continue to push local governments on land-use policies to reduce driving. CARB’s new goal of carbon neutrality by 2045 could also turn environmental analysis upside down under the California Environmental Quality Act. The scoping plan calls for a 25% reduction in VMT from 1990 levels by 2030, and 30% by 2040. These could conceivably turn into significance thresholds for CEQA purposes.

Appellate court rejected anti-SLAPP motion, saying San Anselmo lawsuit was meritless and lawyer was "indifferent".

Tentative People's Park ruling raises specter of NIMBYs using demographic information to challenge projects.

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SB 9 implementation, Builder's Remedy, the Berkeley enrollment case and more highlighted this year's planning and development news.

In yet another loss, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation had tried to overturn every land-use decision the City of Los Angeles made while corrupt councilmembers were on the land use committee.

Inflation, high interest rates, and other rising costs of construction threaten to nullify recently adopted laws and policies meant to alleviate California's housing crisis.

In striking down Capitol Annex EIR, Third District tells the state which visuals to use and which alternatives to examine.