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Suisun City, Rio Vista Reach Annexation Agreements with California Forever
Two small cities in Solano County, Suisun City and Rio Vista, have entered into a joint memorandum of understanding to annex a portion of the 60,000 acres owned by Flannery Associates for the planned California Forever project. The annexations will likely allow Flannery Associates to proceed with commercial and industrial portions of the East Solano Plan, including a potential shipbuilding yard. The relatively brief MOU outlines broad goals, including environmental sustainability, attention to traffic impacts, economic development, infrastructure development, and projection of nearby Travis Air Force Base. The annexations will likely enable Flannery Associates to proceed with the development of the East Solano plan through city approvals without requiring support of Solano County supervisors or a popular vote. (See related CP&DR coverage.)
Federal Order, Predicated on Reducing Fires, Could Hasten Deforestation in California
The Trump administration has ordered a 25% increase in national timber production, opening all of California’s 18 national forests to expanded logging. This sweeping directive, issued by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, instructs the Forest Service to implement aggressive timber strategies across more than 100 million acres nationwide. Critics argue the policy sidesteps environmental safeguards, fast-tracks deforestation, and prioritizes industry profits over ecological and public health. Supporters claim the move will reduce wildfire risk, support rural economies, and increase domestic timber supply amid global instability. Environmental groups and legal advocates are preparing to challenge the order, calling it a severe threat to biodiversity and forest sustainability.
LA28 Confirms Olympic Venues Throughout Los Angeles Area
The LA28 organizing committee has nearly finalized all venues for the 2028 Olympic Games, with only two events yet to be assigned locations. The updated venue plan, approved by the International Olympic Committee, strategically clusters events across Los Angeles in an effort to limit construction and simplify logistics. New placements include Dodger Stadium for baseball, Alamitos Beach for beach volleyball, and Universal Studios for squash, while some original plans, like Santa Monica for beach volleyball, were scrapped due to unresolved negotiations. Long Beach will serve as the second-largest venue host behind Los Angeles, and sites like Venice Beach and the Sepulveda Basin have been added to distribute events throughout the city. With venues now spanning from USC to Santa Anita and even as far as Oklahoma City, officials say the plan balances international spectacle with local economic and environmental goals.
Study Praises Statewide AHSC Program
A new report by the California Housing Partnership and Enterprise Community Partners studying the outcomes of the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) program found that AHSC has significantly advanced affordable housing and climate goals by linking housing development with sustainable transportation. AHSC has reduced 5.7 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions across California through the production of 20,361 new long-term affordable homes. The $4 billion invested through AHSC since 2015 funded 209 catalytic affordable housing developments, 65% of which are located in disadvantaged communities. The study found investments have helped lower greenhouse gas emissions while improving access to transit and economic opportunities in underserved communities. The study also calls for expanded funding, streamlined processes and better coordination to strengthen the program’s effectiveness moving forward. (See related CP&DR coverage.)
Lithium Valley Projects Approvals Held up by Appeal
Two environmental groups have appealed a judge’s ruling that upheld Imperial County’s approval of the Hells Kitchen lithium extraction project, arguing the environmental review failed to address water supply, air pollution and tribal concerns. Despite the Superior Court’s decision that the county properly consulted tribes and met environmental requirements, the groups claim the project rushed its review and neglected key mitigation measures. Controlled Thermal Resources (CTR), the company behind the project, insists the lawsuit lacks merit and that the court ruling was clear. The first planned facility, Hell’s Kitchen 1, aims to produce lithium for electric vehicle batteries while generating renewable energy. While the appeal could prolong delays, the environmental groups remain committed to ensuring the project adheres to stricter environmental and community protections.
CP&DR Coverage: Court Second-Guesses GHG Benefits of VMT
In a major opinion that could unravel implementation of SB 743 throughout the state, an appellate court has ruled that cities and counties can’t assume infill development will automatically lead to lower vehicle miles traveled. The case was published and therefore can be used as precedent around the state. Overturning a Superior Court judge’s ruling, the Fourth District Court of Appeal has ruled that, in subjecting infill development to a different standard of analysis under the California Environmental Quality Act, San Diego County should have provided more rigorous evidence of the relationship between infill development and lower VMT.
Quick Hits & Updates
Attorney General Rob Bonta and a coalition of 21 states have filed a lawsuit challenging a Trump Administration executive order that seeks to drastically reduce or eliminate key federal agencies that support libraries, museums, labor mediation and minority-owned businesses. The lawsuit argues that the order is unconstitutional, violates Congressional authority and would cause severe harm to public services and local economies, especially in states like California that rely heavily on federal funding from these agencies.
A coalition of 127 environmental organizations, including major groups like the Sierra Club and Center for Biological Diversity, has come out against Senate Bill 607, calling it a threat to CEQA. The bill, introduced by Sen. Scott Wiener, proposes streamlining approval for certain infrastructure and development projects by significantly limiting CEQA review requirements
A lawsuit filed against the city of Los Angeles accuses the city of failing to include updated bike lanes on Vermont Avenue, despite voter-approved Measure HLA mandating improvements from the city's 2015 mobility plan. The suit challenges the city’s decision to repave Vermont Avenue without adding protected bike lanes and pedestrian enhancements and criticizes the Metro board's decision to move forward with bus lanes without bike lanes, citing violations of Measure H—approved last year by voters.
A recently published draft environmental impact report outlines the expected impacts of San Diego's Midway Rising project, with a 45-day review period before finalizing the deal by the end of the year. The project will redevelop the San Diego sports arena site, with thousands of apartments, a new arena and improve biking and walking in the area while addressing significant traffic and environmental concerns.
A new nonprofit, the San Francisco Downtown Development Corp., has been formed to raise private funds and collaborate with City Hall to revitalize downtown, focusing on beautification, events and supporting small businesses. This initiative comes in response to the city's economic struggles, including a projected $1 billion budget deficit by 2030, and aims to create a more vibrant and welcoming downtown.
Redwood City is at the highest risk for severe coastal flooding in California, with over 22,000 residents (27% of the population) living in areas vulnerable to a 100-year flood by 2050. This risk is due to its low-lying terrain along the bay and ongoing climate change, which is causing sea levels to rise and threatening many cities in the region, including San Rafael and Huntington Beach.
Sable Offshore Corp. is challenging the California Coastal Commission's authority to regulate its pipeline repair work along the Gaviota Coast, which follows a 2015 oil spill, despite the commission's cease-and-desist orders.
Rep. Robert Garcia has reintroduced the federal People Over Parking Act has in the hopes of removing mandatory parking minimums in local zoning laws to reduce construction costs and encourage housing development in walkable, transit-friendly areas. The bill aims to address the national housing shortage by promoting sustainable, affordable communities while aligning with the goals of the bipartisan YIMBY Caucus to improve accessibility and reduce environmental impacts.
Point Reyes Station is embroiled in controversy following a legal settlement that requires historic family dairies and cattle ranches to vacate the Point Reyes National Seashore due to environmental concerns, particularly regarding pollution and endangered species. While environmental groups support the settlement, many locals argue that the decision fails to consider the cultural and economic impact on the community.
