CP&DR

Regional Planning Bill Advances

Aug 1, 2007

California, Legislation, Paul Shigley, Vol. 22 No. 08 Aug 2007

A bill tying all local transportation projects to a regional "preferred growth scenario" that reduces automobile travel is quickly becoming the most important land use proposal of recent years in Sacramento.

Highway Toll Plans Profit From Congestion

Jul 26, 2007

California, Insight, Transportation, Vol. 22 No. 08 Aug 2007, William Fulton

On July 24, the last 7-mile stretch of the 210 Freeway opened from Rialto to San Bernardino. In a way, it was the end of an era.

Global Warming Becomes CEQA Issue

Jul 2, 2007

California, California Environmental Quality Act, Legislation, Paul Shigley, Vol. 22 No. 07 Jul 2007

Like a blast of hot air from the Santa Ana winds of fall, the push to address global warming in environmental impact reports has come on suddenly and with surprising intensity.

Coastal Commission Rejects Development in Monterey County

Jun 29, 2007

California, Corruption, CP&DR Staff, Eminent domain, In Brief, Initiatives and referendums, Takings, Vol. 22 No. 07 Jul 2007

The Coastal Commission has rejected Pebble Beach Company's Del Monte Forest plan in Monterey County, Placer County Board of Supervisors remove thier panning commissioner after published controversy, a superior court judge rejects San Francisco referendum petitions, Napa County begins processing an application for the largest project in county history, and Oregonians will vote on a takings ballot measure.

U.S. Supremes Decide on Liability

Jun 29, 2007

California, CP&DR Staff, Environmental justice, Legal Digest, Vol. 22 No. 07 Jul 2007

The U.S. Supreme Court has changed course on liability for the cleanup of contaminated properties under the Superfund law. In a unanimous decision, the court ruled that a private party undertaking voluntary environmental cleanup can sue another "potentially responsible party" to recover cleanup costs.

State Supreme Court Accepts Cases

Jun 29, 2007

California, CP&DR Staff, Legal Digest, Legislation, Vol. 22 No. 07 Jul 2007

The California Supreme Court has recently accepted for review three land use cases, including the court's fifth California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) case since 2003.

'Green' Power's Drawbacks Becoming More Evident

Jun 29, 2007

California, Environment Watch, John Krist, Vol. 22 No. 07 Jul 2007

Californians are relatively thrifty when it comes to electricity consumption, using less on a per-capita basis than residents of any other state. The average Californian consumed 7,032 kilowatt-hours of power in 2005, according to the California Energy Commission. That's not much more than half the U.S. average of 12,347 kilowatt-hours.

Right On Cue, Ballot Measure Confusion Grows While Construction Slows

Jun 26, 2007

California, Initiatives and referendums, Insight, Vol. 22 No. 07 Jul 2007, William Fulton

Wouldn't you know it? Right when the real estate market slows down, the land use initiative business is picking up. And, as is often the case, the initiatives – rather than clarifying things – are making things more confusing. Although localized in nature, the confusion will continue all the way through the emerging real estate bust and on to the beginning of the next boom.

Eminent Domain Reform Is Quiet, But Alive

Jun 19, 2007

California, Featured Articles, Legislation, Paul Shigley

Little appears to have happened since local government organizations and their supporters rolled out an eminent domain reform package that they said would protect homeowners and small businesses from government abuse. The May 21 announcement from the California Redevelopment Association and the League of California Cities got extensive press coverage, and the proposed legislation won plaudits from several newspapers, including the Los Angeles Times. A number of business and environmental groups said they would support the measures.

Courts Wrestle With Definition Of 'Project' Under CEQA

Jun 5, 2007

California, California Environmental Quality Act, Legal Digest, Paul Shigley, Vol. 22 No. 04 Apr 2007

California courts are increasingly active in trying to clarify the question of when a government action becomes a "project" under the California Environmental Quality Act. Three recent appellate court rulings have turned on the answer to this question, and a fourth case involving a project definition is pending before the California Supreme Court. So far, however, the resulting picture is less than clear.