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In Turnaround, San Francisco Earns Prohousing Designation
San Francisco has earned the state's Prohousing Designation. This designation reflects the city's compliance with 18 required actions aimed at resolving legal inconsistencies and enhancing housing production, per a scathing review from the Dept. of Housing and Community Development a year ago. Recent changes include eliminating parking minimums for residential developments and allowing mixed uses in commercial districts. State officials commend the city's commitment to fostering affordable housing and addressing homelessness through structural policy changes. Among the highlights that earned the prohousing designation were efforts such as the citywide elimination of parking requirements for residential development; residential and mixed use developments permitted in all commercial districts; and city legislation to allow the creation of Enhanced Infrastructure Financing Districts, which can be used to finance the development of infrastructure necessary for large-scale housing projects. (See related CP&DR coverage.)

State Allocates $1.3 Billion for Public Transit
The state will allocate over $1.3 billion from the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program (TIRCP) to support 27 public transportation projects designed to enhance transit and passenger rail services statewide. These projects are expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 4.3 million metric tons, equivalent to taking 1.3 million gas-powered cars off the road. Among the funded initiatives, Imperial County Transportation Commission will receive $12.6 million to construct a new intermodal center and purchase electric zero-emission vans, marking its first award. Golden Empire Transit will get over $117 million to acquire 18 zero-emission buses, improve bus service frequency and develop infrastructure for affordable housing and retail. Additionally, the Orange County Transportation Authority is set to receive $125 million for coastal rail infrastructure improvements to enhance the resilience of a critical rail corridor.

State Audit Reviews Locations of Addiction Treatment Facilities
An audit by the Department of Health Care Services revealed concerns regarding residential drug and alcohol treatment facilities in California, particularly their concentration in certain neighborhoods. The report highlighted that state law does not impose limits on the number of these small facilities in residential areas, leading to community worries about their impact. While Health Care Services effectively reviews licensing applications, it has been slow in conducting required inspections, with many facilities facing delays of over six months. Furthermore, the department often does not promptly investigate complaints, taking significantly longer than its internal guidelines suggest. This lack of timely oversight raises concerns about the health and safety of residents. Recommendations include improving inspection timelines and complaint handling, as well as potentially revising legislation to address facility concentration issues in residential communities. (See related CP&DR coverage.)

Study Details Causes of Long-Term Drops in Transit Ridership in Los Angeles
A new study in the journal Transportation concludes that transit ridership in the U.S. saw significant declines during the 2010s, particularly in Los Angeles, where increased vehicle access played a major role in this trend. The decline coincided with a drop in used car prices, making vehicle ownership more attainable for many residents, which ultimately shifted them away from public transit. While factors such as ride-hailing services and gas prices also contributed, the strong correlation between vehicle access and ridership loss suggests that people were opting for the convenience of cars in a city designed for automobile use. The study highlights the tension between promoting vehicle ownership among low-income individuals and the viability of transit systems that often serve as safety nets for those without access to cars. Ultimately, addressing the structural advantages of driving, such as improved infrastructure and policies, could be key to boosting transit ridership in the future.

CP&DR Coverage: Capitol Annex Legal Saga Continues
The new State Capitol Annex has survived yet another court challenge, this one arguing that SB 174 – the bill exempting the project from the California Environmental Quality Act – runs afoul of a 44-year-old constitutional amendment designed to protect the Capitol’s historic character. The Third District Court of Appeal rejected a preservationist group’s argument that even if the bill conformed to the constitution, the Department of General Services cannot be trusted to carry out the legislation constitutionally.

Quick Hits & Updates

At a recent Fresno City Council meeting, members resorted to drawing lots to decide which council members will eventually vote on the Tower District Specific Plan. The council was unable to reach a quorum because five of the seven councilmembers own property in the area. To address this, the council used a lottery system to select which members could participate in the vote, a first for the council. The update to the Tower District plan, aimed at modernizing land use and protecting residential areas, is expected to take until December 2025 for a final vote.

City officials in Fresno are facing criticism and a lawsuit regarding the relocation of a Costco to a new site near the San Joaquin River, where concerns have been raised about increased traffic hazards and environmental impacts from stormwater runoff. The lawsuit claims that the city circumvented proper zoning processes and failed to consider alternative sites that could better manage drainage and safety, reflecting broader issues of economic decline and retail displacement in south Fresno.

Humboldt County Supervisors unanimously adopted the county's draft climate plan proposing a comprehensive Regional Climate Action Plan aiming to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions through new energy use requirements over the next 20 years. Key elements include forming a Regional Climate Committee, achieving 90% carbon-free electricity by 2030, decarbonizing new residential construction by 2027 and enhancing public transit to cut vehicle emissions, all while ensuring public engagement and further environmental review before final approval by mid-2025.

Recent research from NASA indicates a strong correlation between warehouse density in the Los Angeles area and elevated levels of fine particulate pollution (PM2.5), particularly elemental carbon from diesel engines. A study published in September 2024 utilized satellite data to analyze PM2.5 concentrations from 2000 to 2018, revealing that neighborhoods with more warehouses experienced higher pollution levels, raising concerns about associated health risks such as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. (See related CP&DR coverage.)

UC Berkeley is planning a 23-story, 1,634 bed student housing project for first and second-year students. The planned student housing construction costs will range between $425 and $465 million, with final plans presented to the Board of Regents in early 2025.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is appealing a federal ruling requiring it to construct over 2,500 housing units for veterans on its West Los Angeles campus, while also invalidating leases with UCLA and a private school. This move has created uncertainty regarding immediate plans to install modular housing units, as the VA contends that compliance would divert crucial resources from its broader mission to end veteran homelessness, despite previous commitments to expedite housing for disabled and homeless veterans.

In WalletHub's ranking of the greenest U.S. cities, several California cities stood out: San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland, Fremont and Irvine made the top ten. These cities excelled in various sustainability metrics, while Anaheim was noted for having the lowest greenhouse gas emissions per capita.

A former golf course in East San Jose is set to be redeveloped into a mixed-use housing project after city leaders approved new development guidelines aimed at ensuring an abundance of affordable homes. While specific plans from developer Terrascape Ventures are still in progress, the guidelines reflect extensive community input, favoring smaller local businesses and maintaining sufficient green space to benefit the neighborhood.

Santa Cruz City Council adopted new policies aimed at managing building heights in the downtown expansion area, proposing a cap of 12 stories in exchange for incentives that include reducing affordable housing requirements. This initiative comes amid ongoing debates about tall buildings in the area, as the city seeks to balance development with community preferences for lower heights and more affordable housing options while navigating state regulations that complicate local control over such decisions.

Caltrans will allocate $206 million for 149 local clean transportation projects aimed at reducing pollution, particularly in disadvantaged communities. This funding, part of the Low Carbon Transit Operation Program (LCTOP) supported by California's cap-and-trade program, brings the state's total investment in clean transit to over $1 billion over the past decade, enhancing public health and providing improved transit options across the state.