AG Sues Huntington Beach Over Builder's Remedy; More Than Two Dozen BR Projects Proposed
By Josh Stephens March 6, 2023
Orange County city's attorney is drawing an ordinance to "exempt" it from the builder's remedy. Meanwhile, Santa Monica -- which originally vowed to fight -- is processing builder's remedy projects.
Both cities claim that their Housing Elements are compliant, even though HCD has not yet approved them. Sonoma also claimed an apartment proposals application was deficient.
Two years ago, an appellate panel ruled that the controversial housing proposal should have been processed under SB 35 -- the first major ruling. Now the court has ruled that a local judge had the authority to rule on Housing Accountability Act violations as well. >>read more
The American Planning Association of California released its 2023-2023 Legislation Platform outlining priorities in the next two years of statewide city planning issues. >>read more
In a very strongly worded opinion, a Los Angeles appellate court shot down all the neighbors' arguments about an eldercare facility in Pacific Palisades -- and, in the process, reiterated that the role of the courts is to defer to the city’s judgment when substantial evidence exists and not "re-weigh the evidence". >>read more
Developers in Southern California filed 26 builder's remedy projects as of late January, allocating 1,795 of the 8,642 new homes as low-income housing. >>read more
History would suggest that the answer is no. It's more likely that the Legislature will punch a couple of holes in the law and plaintiffs' lawyers will continue to figure out how to get around the holes. >>read more
A restaurant critic wonders if they deserve blame for furthering gentrification in San Francisco. It's an interesting, and utterly counterproductive, question. >>read more
An EIR from Grass Valley failed because the project would put multifamily units 170 feet from a state highway and the city didn't analyze the air pollution impact. >>read more
In an indication of the increasingly acrimonious nature of land-use disputes, a prominent San Diego land-use lobbyist and a community activist opposed to a church project sued each other for libel. The activist then filed an anti-SLAPP suit -- which was not successful. Now the lobbyist can move forward with the libel suit. >>read more
The Huntington Beach City Attorney announced he is preparing a lawsuit to protest the city’s Regional Housing Needs Allocation of 13,368 units, and hte city will not recognize builder's remedy appplications. >>read more