This article is brought to you courtesy of the paying subscribers to California Planning & Development Report. You can subscribe to CP&DR by clicking here. You can sign up for CP&DR’s free weekly newsletter here.
20-Bill Housing Package Introduced in Legislature
Lawmakers have introduced a bipartisan legislative package called "Fast Track Housing" to address the state's housing crisis by streamlining development processes. The 20-bill package aims to eliminate bureaucratic delays, speed up permitting and provide clearer regulations while maintaining environmental safeguards. Key proposals include CEQA exemptions for infill housing, standardized applications, faster inspections and stricter enforcement against agencies that obstruct housing projects. Lawmakers stress the urgency of reform, warning that without action, California will continue to face skyrocketing housing costs and worsening homelessness. If passed, this legislation would mark a major shift in the state's approach to housing development, including potential CEQA exemptions for infill housing projects. This package builds off the recommendations in the Final Report of the Select Committee on Permitting Reform.
Newsom Suspends Environmental Regulations for Fire Recovery
Gov. Newsom has temporarily lifted environmental regulations under CEQA and the Coastal Act to accelerate the reconstruction of utilities in Los Angeles communities impacted by wildfires. The order is intended to speed up recovery while promoting the underground installation of power lines to mitigate future fire risks. Utility providers have welcomed the decision, but environmental advocates caution that bypassing these protections could have lasting ecological and climate-related repercussions. Critics stress the need for a balanced approach that prioritizes both swift rebuilding and environmental safeguards. Newsom stresses the exemptions are a short-term measure and do not reflect a broader policy shift away from environmental protection.
Final Set of Fire Hazard Maps Reveal Expansion of High-Risk Areas
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) released updated wildfire hazard maps for the first time since 2011 with a significant expansion of high-risk areas statewide. The new maps show a 168% increase in "high" and "very high" hazard zones since 2011, impacting almost 3.7 million residents. The designations could enforce stricter building codes, space requirements and real estate disclosure laws, potentially impacting homeownership and housing markets. Officials attribute the expansion to climate change, improved modeling technology and new legal mandates requiring more detailed assessment. Some experts are concerned about insurance costs and property values, while others stress the updated maps provide guidance for limiting fire risk and improving community resilience.
Federal Restructuring Could Hobble Environment-Related Agencies in California
The Trump administration’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) plans to terminate lease contracts at numerous federal offices across California, disproportionately affecting agencies focused on climate, agriculture and environmental protection. The closures, which include NOAA, the EPA, the National Park Service and the U.S. Geological Survey, align with broader cost-cutting and deregulation efforts, with officials citing $500 million in savings nationwide. Critics argue that shutting down these facilities will weaken environmental protections, disrupt scientific research and harm local communities that rely on these agencies. The move coincides with mass layoffs, particularly at NOAA, and echoes proposals in Project 2025, which advocates dismantling key environmental agencies. While the administration claims the terminations are about efficiency, opponents see them as an attack on climate science and federal oversight of natural resources.
CP&DR Coverage: Los Angeles Suburb Looses Builder's Remedy Case
In the latest twist over the long-running battle about housing development in the affluent Los Angeles suburb of La Cañada Flintridge, a judge has ordered the city to post a $14 million bond as a condition of appealing a recent ruling on a builder's remedy project. The city has been battling both a developer and the California Housing Defense Fund over the question of whether the city illegally denied a builder’s remedy application by the developer. The judge's ruling ultimately required the city to post a $14 million bond. The battle is part of a larger dispute – involving separate lawsuits – over whether the city’s housing element is compliant with state law.
Quick Hits & Updates
San Francisco's Board of Supervisors unanimously approved revisions to the Central SoMa Plan, removing requirements that prioritized office space development in favor of more housing. The changes aim to revitalize stalled projects and address the city's shifting economic needs following the commercial real estate downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The EPA confirmed its decision not to reconsider the Tijuana River Estuary as a Superfund site despite ongoing pollution concerns in South County San Diego, arguing existing infrastructure repair projects will create a long-term solution and the current pollution levels do not meet the limit for hazardous health risks.
The Trump administration is reconsidering whether to grant the monarch butterfly protections under the Endangered Species Act, reopening public comments for 60 days to reassess its risk of extinction. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service previously declined protections, citing higher-priority species, despite ongoing population declines since the mid-1990s.
The Oceanside City Council voted 3-2 to allow broader reviews of development projects during appeals, shifting from a review of specific issues to a de novo review, where the entire project can be assessed. Critics argue that the change could cause delays, discourage housing development and potentially violate state housing mandates while city officials believe it could streamline the review process and improve efficiency.
Oakland has failed to issue a bond to generate funds for infrastructure improvements and affordable housing projects, despite voters' approval of a property tax extension in 2022. As a result, nearly 1,000 affordable housing units, street repaving and bike safety improvements have been delayed, with concerns over the city's downgraded credit rating increasing borrowing costs and complicating the issuing process.
According to a study by Science Advances, fires in the wildland urban interface (WUI)—where human development meets wild landscapes—pose a greater threat to air quality and public health than previously understood. Despite making up a small fraction of total fire emissions, WUI fires are responsible for a larger share of smoke-related premature deaths due to the proximity of these fires to populated areas, leading to higher exposure to harmful pollutants like fine particulate matter and ozone.
Three years after its implementation, SB 9—intended to eliminate single-family zoning by permitting homeowners to convert single residences into duplexes or up to four units through lot splits—has seen limited success. Major cities like San Francisco, San Jose and Oakland have reported minimal applications for SB9 projects, prompting legislators to propose amendments addressing issues such as restrictive homeowner-occupancy requirements and prohibitive homeowner association rules.
Recently introduced bill SB 462 aims to strengthen California’s Farmland Conservancy Program by providing $20 million annually to fund conservation easements, permanently protecting agricultural land from development. Supporters, including Santa Clara County officials and conservation groups, highlight the bill’s role in preserving farmland, promoting food security and mitigating climate impacts, especially as rising land costs threaten open spaces. However, the bill faces potential challenges due to Governor Gavin Newsom’s focus on budget constraints and broader state financial uncertainties, including wildfire recovery and possible federal funding cuts.
The Hollister City Council unanimously voted to repeal its 2040 General Plan after a successful referendum by the activist group Hollister Guardians Action, reverting the city to its 2005 plan. The decision, driven by concerns about rapid growth and its impact on agricultural land and traffic, prevents the city from enacting a new plan for at least a year. Critics argue that the repeal leaves Hollister out of compliance with state housing requirements and limits the city’s control over development. The referendum particularly opposed the plan’s expansion of Hollister’s sphere of influence by 3,000 acres.
The Trump administration is launching a task force to identify federal land suitable for affordable housing development, aiming to transfer or lease it to local governments and nonprofits. The initiative could unlock millions of new homes—including over 512,000 homes across California, Utah and Arizona—but faces logistical, environmental and regulatory hurdles. Critics argue that much of the available federal land is in remote areas lacking infrastructure, making large-scale housing development challenging.
The City of Coachella is advancing plans for a rail transit system connecting the Coachella Valley to Riverside, supported by a planning grant from the Riverside County Transportation Commission. The proposed route includes stops in Indio, Palm Desert and Palm Springs, and is expected to take approximately ten years to complete.
