CP&DR - Articles

Water Bond Would Fund Environmental Projects

Jun 1, 2002

Environment Watch, John Krist, Vol. 17 No. 06 Jun 2002

Water bonds are as familiar as summer reruns to California voters, who have considered at least 16 of them on statewide ballots since 1960 — the year voters narrowly approved spending $1.75 billion to build the State Water Project. On November 5, however, the electorate is likely to consider a water bond measure that is different from all predecessors.

Opponents of Hazardous Materials Dump Win Right to State Hearing

Jun 1, 2002

Legal Digest, other, Vol. 17 No. 06 Jun 2002

Opponents of a proposed expansion of a hazardous waste dump in rural Kern County took the proper steps to earn a hearing before a state-appointed appeals board, the Fifth District Court of Appeal has ruled in one of its rare published opinions.

State Supreme Court to Decide Special Water District Water, Fire Fee Case

Jun 1, 2002

Legal Digest, other, Vol. 17 No. 06 Jun 2002

The State Supreme Court has accepted for review a Proposition 218 case from Shasta County. All seven justices voted to review the decision in Richmond v. Shasta Community Services District, No. S105078 (see CP&DR Legal Digest, April 2002).

In Brief

Jun 1, 2002

In Brief, other, Vol. 17 No. 06 Jun 2002

CP&DR's In Brief section contains short news notices and notes.

High Court Gives New Life to L.A. Adult Business Zoning

Jun 1, 2002

Kenneth Jost, Legal Digest, Vol. 17 No. 06 Jun 2002

WASHINGTON _ A U.S. Supreme Court decision tentatively upholding a Los Angeles zoning ordinance banning multiple adult businesses at the same location left lawyers for both sides predicting victory at an eventual trial.

Unpermitted Activity Doesn't Alter Baseline for Review, Court Rules

Jun 1, 2002

California Environmental Quality Act, CP&DR Staff, Legal Digest, Sacramento County, Vol. 17 No. 06 Jun 2002

Sacramento County properly used 1997 conditions as the baseline for the environmental review of an airport project, even though the general aviation airport had been operating and growing without county permits since the early 1970s, the Third District Court of Appeal has ruled.

City Barred From Adding Conditions To Mobile Home Park Conversion

Jun 1, 2002

CP&DR Staff, Housing, Legal Digest, Riverside County, Vol. 17 No. 06 Jun 2002

The City of Palm Springs added improper conditions to a subdivision map approval when it considered a property owner's proposal to subdivide a mobile home park so that the park could be converted to resident-owned, the Fourth District Court of Appeal has ruled.

Complete Text, Nevada County Property Owner Reimbursement Process Initiative

Jun 1, 2002

other, Vol. 17 No. 06 Jun 2002

the full text of the Nevada County 2002 "Property Owner Reimbursement Process Initiative" is contained in this article. For context on the article, make sure to see Paul Shigley's featured article in this same June 2002 edition of CP&DR, entitled "Local Takings Initiative Heads to Ballot."

Federal Agency Told It Can't Avoid 1-Year Deadline To Decide Listing

May 1, 2002

Legal Digest, other, Vol. 17 No. 05 May 2002

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service cannot ignore the one-year deadline to decide on a petition for protecting a species under the Endangered Species Act, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled.

One County Proves Ballot-Box Zoning Begets More Ballot-Box Zoning

May 1, 2002

Insight, Vol. 17 No. 05 May 2002, William Fulton

One of the cardinal rules of ballot-box zoning in California is that ballot measures beget ballot measures. That is, once the concept of making land-use decisions gets embedded in the local political culture, there is no getting rid of it — it only burrows deeper and deeper into the political landscape.

Household Formation Rates Could Alter Housing Needs

May 1, 2002

Chris Williamson, Research Reports, Vol. 17 No. 05 May 2002

Where do housing unit need projections come from? If you answered, "from population projections," you are only partly correct. The little-understood and unappreciated "headship rate" translates population projections into units. Small changes in headship rates could result in significant changes in housing need projections.

San Diego City Council Handing Of Stadium Project Ruled Illegal

May 1, 2002

Legal Digest, other, Vol. 17 No. 05 May 2002

While discussing a proposed downtown baseball stadium and adjoining redevelopment project, the San Diego City Council repeatedly violated the California open meeting law because the council's descriptions of closed door negotiations were too general and because some topics should have been discussed in public, the Fourth District Court of Appeal has ruled. The appellate court also ruled that a trial court judge was correct to issue an injunction detailing how the council should comply with the law in the f

San Bernardino County General Plan Amendment Is Invalidated

May 1, 2002

Legal Digest, other, Vol. 17 No. 05 May 2002

An appellate court has invalidated amendments to the San Bernardino County general plan that gave the county greater authority over development within cities' spheres of influences. The Fourth District Court of Appeal ruled that the county's failure to prepare an environmental impact report on the amendments violated the California Environmental Quality Act.

San Jose's Loss Could Become A Win

May 1, 2002

Deals, Morris Newman, Vol. 17 No. 05 May 2002

Imagine this scenario: A major symphony orchestra woos an internationally renowned conductor to become its next music director. After extensive, high-tension negotiations, the conductor at last accepts the job. The day after, however, the orchestra discovers something disconcerting: The conductor is tone deaf. Truth be told, she does not care much for music. After the inevitable flap, the conductor withdraws from the contract, citing unspecified "unsuitable conditions." Given this situation, should