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California's Deserts: Hot, Windy And Delicate

Apr 10, 2009

Where the burgeoning renewable energy industry sees empty spaces and piles of sand, environmentalists see scenic vistas and fragile habitat for rare flora and fauna. These different views of California's vast deserts are leading to a clash over how to use lands owned by the federal government.

Energy Companies Win Supreme Court's Clean Water Act Ruling

Apr 1, 2009

Clean Water Act, Kenneth Jost, Legal Digest, Vol. 24 No. 05 May 2009

WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court has given power plant operators in California and around the nation an important victory by upholding the Environmental Protection Agency's power to use cost-benefit analyses in deciding whether to require expensive retrofitting to minimize fish-kills.

Environmental groups, however, say they hope the Obama administration EPA will shift policy and take a stricter view of what existing power plants must do to reduce the impact on aquatic life from using ocean or river waters to cool the facilities.

Planning Departments Downsize, Private Firms Scramble For Jobs

Apr 1, 2009

California, Featured Articles, Paul Shigley, Vol. 24 No. 04 Apr 2009

Significant reductions in general fund revenues and building activity have caused many cities and counties in California to reduce planning department staffs. Numerous jurisdictions have shrunk staff sizes by one-quarter to one-half, and more cuts may be coming during the 2009-10 fiscal year.

The tough economy is also hitting private consulting firms. Consultants that typically work for private developers are seeking public-sector jobs, and large outfits are bidding on ever-smaller projects, creating a high level of competition.

School Campus Replaces L.A.'s Ambassador Hotel

by Morris Newman on Apr 1, 2009

Historic preservation, Los Angeles County, Morris Newman, Places, Vol. 24 No. 04 Apr 2009

Wilshire Boulevard is the Main Street of Los Angeles, and the Ambassador Hotel (1921-2006) was its biggest, swankiest, classiest address. The hotel is but a memory these days. Now, after nearly two decades of false starts and lawsuits, construction has finally started on the scheme to convert the Ambassador Hotel property into an education center. >>read more

Check Your Calendar

Apr 1, 2009

Our friends over at Planetizen are having too much fun today, which happens to be April 1.

Planners Face Questions About The Future Of Retailing

Mar 31, 2009

How the heck do you plan a city when no one knows what the world of retail sales will look like in 10 years?

UCLA Ext: Planning Commissioners Training, Thursday, April16, 2009, Caltrans District 7 HQ, Los Angeles

Mar 31, 2009

San Leandro Embraces Its Past, Present And Future

Mar 31, 2009

Alameda County, Downtown planning, Local Watch, Paul Shigley, Vol. 24 No. 04 Apr 2009

Downtown San Leandro is clearly in transition. A working-class city with a large industrial base located just south of Oakland, San Leandro's suburban past and its more urban future are present at the same time. Now, the city has big plans to transform its downtown into a truly urban, pedestrian-oriented place that takes full advantage of the BART station and a planned bus rapid transit line.

In Brief: Neighboring City Sues Over Football Stadium

Mar 31, 2009

CP&DR Staff, In Brief, Vol. 24 No. 04 Apr 2009

In this month's roundup of land use news: The City of Walnut sues the neighboring City of Industry over the environmental review for a proposed professional football stadium; Loma Linda officially kills two unpopular projects; Forest City leaves Fresno; The Center for Biological Diversity opens a new climate law institute; the state auditor applauds bond spending safeguards, but questions real estate policies.

Court Sides With Butte County In Flood Control Suit

Mar 31, 2009

Butte County, CP&DR Staff, Legal Digest, Takings, Vol. 24 No. 04 Apr 2009

A Butte county landowner who claimed that flood control measures undertaken and approved by Butte County amounted to inverse condemnation had all of his arguments rejected by the Third District Court of Appeal. The court ruled that the strict liability standard that applies in most inverse condemnation cases does not apply in the flood control context. Instead, the court determined a rule of reasonableness applied to the claims, and the landowner did not prove that the county acted unreasonably.

Court Rejects In-Lieu Housing Fee Methodology

Mar 30, 2009

Housing, Legal Digest, Paul Shigley, San Joaquin County, Vol. 24 No. 04 Apr 2009

The City of Patterson's in-lieu affordable housing fee has been invalidated by the Fifth District Court of Appeal, which rejected the city's methodology for setting the fee. Homebuilders celebrated the decision as a victory in their long fight to constrain development fees, while affordable housing advocates and municipal attorneys described the ruling as limited.

Washington Stimulates Old-Style Growth, But Change May Come Via Legislation

Mar 30, 2009

Insight, Local government finance, Vol. 24 No. 04 Apr 2009, William Fulton

Suddenly, for the first time in 30 years, Washington is the center of the government money world. This is turning things upside down for the planning and development establishment, as local officials, developers, transportation leaders and others flood the nation's capital in search of dough. But what will all the dough do? And how will it shape the growth landscape of California over the next few years?

Environmentalists Blocked From Challenging Forest Regulations

Mar 30, 2009

CP&DR Staff, Legal Digest, Logging, Vol. 24 No. 04 Apr 2009

A sharply divided U.S. Supreme Court has issued a ruling limiting environmental organizations' ability to challenge U.S. Forest Service regulations. The five-judge majority ruled that five environmental groups lacked legal ability – or "standing" – to challenge Forest Service regulations exempting salvage-timber sales of 250 acres or less from statutory environmental review provisions because the organizations could not show they suffered concrete harm from the exemptions.

Lodi Voters Kill Redevelopment Plan

Mar 26, 2009

California, Elections, Initiatives and referendums, Paul Shigley, Vol. 24 No. 04 Apr 2009

Voters in Lodi rejected redevelopment, while those in Alamo said no to incorporation of a new city during municipal balloting on March 3. In Los Angeles, voters narrowly rejected two charter amendments, one for a solar energy program, the other for fiscal incentives for business development. Only in Glendora did the electorate provide a positive response to proposed change. A measure rezoning the site of a former automobile dealership for other retail uses passed easily.