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Suisin City Annexation May Aid California Forever
The Suisun City city council voted to explore annexing land ostensibly to boost its finances, with potential expansion options including farmland owned by California Forever, a developer planning a large new city in Solano County. Critics argue that annexation could allow the project, now called the East Solano Plan, to bypass voter approval requirements, while supporters believe it could provide much-needed revenue for the cash-strapped city. Mayor Alma Hernandez insists the city’s priority is financial stability, not California Forever, emphasizing the challenges of maintaining public services with limited funds. At four square miles, Suisin City has about 28,000 residents; the East Solano Plan envisions several hundred thousand on over 20 square miles. Opponents advocate for infill development instead, but city officials note that past efforts to build within city limits have been largely unsuccessful. The debate continues over whether expanding the city outward is the best solution, with concerns about infrastructure, job access and the impact on Travis Air Force Base playing a key role in discussions. (See related CP&DR coverage.)
Two Lithium Projects Near Salton Sea Advance
A California judge ruled in favor of the Hells Kitchen lithium extraction project in Imperial County, rejecting environmentalists' concerns over inadequate studies on air and water impacts and tribal consultation. Despite legal delays, Controlled Thermal Resources (CTR) remains committed to its $2 billion geothermal lithium facility near the Salton Sea, aiming to boost clean energy supply while addressing environmental concerns. Separately, the U.S. Department of Energy pledged up to $1.36 billion in funding for the ATLiS lithium extraction facility, which will use direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology to produce 20,000 metric tons of lithium hydroxide annually. Both projects, key to the emerging "Lithium Valley," seek to secure domestic lithium supplies for EV batteries and reduce reliance on foreign sources. While industry leaders praise these developments, advocacy groups continue pushing for stronger environmental protections and community benefits.
Trump Intervenes in Statewide Water Delivery System
President Donald Trump issued an executive order directing federal agencies to increase Central Valley water deliveries and override environmental regulations, including the Endangered Species Act. The move, aimed primarily at benefiting farmers, was framed as a response to California’s wildfires, though critics argue it has no impact on fire suppression. Environmental groups and Democratic lawmakers condemned the order, warning it threatens ecosystems and could face legal challenges. The order reinstates Trump-era water rules that reduce environmental protections but could ultimately deliver less water to farms than Biden’s policies. Experts dispute Trump’s claims about California’s water sources, emphasizing that its supply depends on Sierra Nevada snowmelt, not external sources like the Pacific Northwest or Canada.
San Diego Implements Coastal Resilience Plan
Utilizing grants from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the California State Coastal Conservancy, the City of San Diego has implemented its Coastal Resilience Master Plan, aimed at enhancing the resilience of San Diego's coastal communities to sea-level rise. Focusing on six locations, including Sunset Cliffs, Ocean Beach and La Jolla Shores, the plan includes technical studies, environmental analysis and community outreach through workshops, pop-up events and surveys. The suggestions included in the plan will integrate natural features into environmental management and engineering to enhance climate resilience, support coastal protection and preserve resources, while providing multiple benefits such as hazard mitigation, ecological enhancement and recreational value to park visitors.
CP&DR Coverage: Wildfire Updates
Los Angeles County is asking the state to suspend a wide variety of housing production laws – including SB 35 and SB 330 – while the unincorporated Altadena community recovers from the recent wildfires. The request was part of an overall recovery package the board considered on January 28, included the following provisions, among others: temporary suspension of SB 35 and SB 9 in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones; temporary suspension of the requirement for ground floor commercial on projects that take advantage of State by-right or State density bonus laws in Altadena’s commercial areas; five-year suspension of SB 330 in fire-impacted areas, including the “no net loss” of housing requirement.
One of the state’s leading practitioners of fire-resistant planning is Erik de Kok, Director of Interdisciplinary Planning at Ascent Environmental. De Kok has been involved with the development and implementation of updated regulations intended to help Californians weather increasingly frequent and destructive fires; he oversaw the creation of the Office of Planning and Research’s 2022 Fire Hazard Planning Technical Advisory. CP&DR spoke with de Kok about the future of fire-related planning in California.
Quick Hits & Updates
A recent study from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) suggests that adding 15 new long-distance Amtrak routes could provide rail access to 39 million more people, including many areas that currently lack service. In California, a new route would connect Phoenix to the Bay Area via Barstow and the Central Valley; it would be part of a longer route connecting San Francisco with Dallas. The study contributes to the broader effort to enhance train travel in the U.S. under the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, though securing funding and support for these new routes remains a significant challenge.
Attorney General Rob Bonta faces scrutiny for accepting a $16,200 campaign donation from the Bicycle Casino, which was under investigation by his office for money laundering, although the case was eventually dropped. The donation raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest, as Bonta also returned donations from other entities involved in criminal investigations, emphasizing a strengthened vetting process moving forward.
The Sonoma Developmental Center's redevelopment faces another legal challenge as Sonoma Valley Next 100 sued the state, arguing the project disregards legislative guidelines, is too large for the area and threatens environmental resources. This lawsuit, following a previous legal victory that halted the project, seeks to overturn the developer’s selection and scrutinize controversial land use decisions, leaving the site’s future uncertain amid ongoing disputes over development and conservation. (See related CP&DR coverage.)
Sen. Catherine Blakespear (San Diego) introduced a bill, SB 92, to amend California's density bonus housing law, requiring developers to dedicate two-thirds of a project's floor space to residential units in order to qualify for exemptions from local restrictions. The bill aims to ensure that the law is used to encourage affordable housing development, rather than luxury projects, addressing a loophole highlighted by a mixed-use development in San Diego that primarily consists of hotel rooms with only a small number of affordable units.
The City of Tulare has responded to a lawsuit filed by Attorney General Rob Bonta, claiming that the state ignored its requests for a meeting last year before filing the suit. Tulare argues that its recent Zoning Ordinance Update, which permits cold-storage facilities by-right in industrial zones, did not alter previous regulations and that it has already made efforts to support the Matheny Tract community with infrastructure improvements, while expressing concern about the infringement on private property rights in proposed changes around the area.
The Los Angeles City Council adopted the Downtown Community, which prioritizes equitable development, adding 70,000 housing units, 55,000 jobs and 125,000 people by 2040. The new zoning code combines building design and use regulations to support inclusive growth, economic development and address social issues such as racial segregation and homelessness.
A $1.4-billion mixed-use development in Los Angeles's downtown Arts District received approval from the city Planning Commission and is set to replace a cold storage facility with apartments, offices, a hotel and public spaces. The project will include 894 apartments, 144 of which will be affordable, with construction expected to start in about a year and finish by 2031.
A judge ruled that Los Angeles unlawfully blocked a developer’s proposal for 220 affordable housing units in Reseda, which was filed under a program designed to streamline approvals for low-income projects. The court sided with housing advocates, saying the city improperly changed rules during the approval process, marking its third loss in a case involving affordable housing in single-family zoned areas.
The Sonoma Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) rejected a proposal from the Sonoma Valley Next 100 group to create a special district focused on services like recreation, transportation and environmental protection for the Sonoma Developmental Center site. Despite strong community support and a petition drive, LAFCO favored a more traditional approach, asking for more specific details about services and funding, leaving the group to regroup and revise their application.
