Orange County's approval of a controversial housing project in the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains has been overturned by the Fourth District Court of Appeal.
Fallout from the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision permitting use of eminent domain to aid private development continues to rain down on the state Capitol. With two weeks remaining before the Legislature adjourned, it was unclear whether any eminent domain bill would pass this year. However, lawmakers did ensure that no constitutional amendment limiting eminent domain made the November special election ballot. >>read more
Few housing policies are as inherently controversial as inclusionary zoning - the requirement that market-rate home builders provide a certain percentage (usually 10% to 20%) of their new units for very low-, low- or moderate-income families. Inclusionary zoning is commonly a way that cities and counties propose to meet their fair-share housing requirements. >>read more
After heavy lobbying by the energy industry, the federal government has inserted itself into California's intensifying debate over proposals to build import terminals for liquefied natural gas (LNG) along the coast. >>read more
The City of San Jose has adopted a plan that seeks to transform the north end of town from a suburban-style industrial park into a transit-oriented district featuring mid-rise office buildings, tens of thousands of high-density residential units and retail outlets to serve employees and residents. >>read more
President Bush's signature on the federal transportation bill in August opened the spigot for $21.6 billion in federal money for California. The bill funds hundreds of specific projects, ranging from a $25 million "non-motorized transportation pilot program" in Marin County to carpool lanes on the San Diego Freeway in Los Angeles to a study of a new transportation corridor between western Riverside County and Orange County. >>read more
The next round of housing element updates will be delayed by two years for all of Southern California outside of San Diego County and for the Bay Area. The two-year postponement might be extended to all jurisdictions except San Diego, although state officials have not made that decision. >>read more
The U.S. Supreme Court's controversial decision backing the use of eminent domain for economic development purposes is creating a backlash in California that could have significant ramifications for redevelopment. A state constitutional amendment to limit the use of eminent domain has been introduced in Sacramento with both Republicans and conservative Democrats as co-authors. Meanwhile, local redevelopment agencies are having to defend their practices from questioning by board members and the public. >>read more
Development activity in San Bernardino County's high desert is as hot as a mid-summer afternoon. With miles of wide-open spaces, the Victor Valley has become an affordable housing relief valve for Southern California. The area's four incorporated cities and half a dozen unincorporated communities will see about 7,500 new housing units this year alone. >>read more
California appears to be headed slowly away from the carbon age. However, the experience at the Altamont Pass Wind Resource Area - California's oldest and one of the world's largest wind farms - suggests that the move to renewable energy sources could have consequences. >>read more
The City of Oceanside, which has enjoyed a renaissance in recent years, is preparing for a major civic improvement: rehabilitation of a 465-acre former sand quarry for parkland and public buildings. However, financing for the project - estimated to cost more than $100 million over 25 years - is far from certain. >>read more
A convergence of money, technology and landscape has given rise to a project that is both understated and remarkable. However, the set of forces, circumstances and personalities behind the Letterman Digital Arts Center in San Francisco is unlikely to be matched in the Bay Area or anywhere else. >>read more
In commodity futures markets, investors agree to pay a price today for the unknown cost of goods some time in the future. The City of Beverly Hills does not play the futures market, at least to my knowledge. >>read more
The Supreme Court's closely divided decision backing the use of eminent domain for economic development gives state and local governments a qualified boost in what property rights advocates promise to be continuing challenges to the practice in state courts. >>read more
