CP&DR - Articles

State's Longest-Running Project Battle Continues To Rage

Dec 1, 2002

Housing, Insight, Ventura County, Vol. 17 No. 12 Dec 2002, William Fulton

Later this month, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors will meet to consider an appeal of the approval of Tentative Tract Map No. TT-5206 and certification of the accompanying Supplemental Environmental Impact Report. At first glance, this tract map approval might seem routine. It is the first of four tract maps that the developer anticipates bringing forward, allowing the developer to build 628 homes, a golf course, and other facilities on 846 acres of unincorporated land. It's a follow-on to a gener

Major CEQA Guideline Revisions Remain Invalid

Dec 1, 2002

Legal Digest, Paul Shigley, Vol. 17 No. 12 Dec 2002

A superior court's decision that invalidated several changes the state made to the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines in 1998 has been upheld almost entirely by a state appellate court.

Parking Rules Are Exempt From Environmental Study, Court Rules

Dec 1, 2002

Legal Digest, other, Vol. 17 No. 12 Dec 2002

A city resolution restricting parking on certain residential streets to residents with parking permits was categorically exempt from environmental review, the Second District Court of Appeal has ruled.

Segmentation, Lack of Review Sink L.A. Port Expansion Project

Dec 1, 2002

California Environmental Quality Act, CP&DR Staff, Legal Digest, Los Angeles County, Vol. 17 No. 12 Dec 2002

A state appellate court has halted a project at the Port of Los Angeles because the city never studied the development's environmental impacts. The court rejected the city's arguments that the project was covered by a 1997 environmental impact report and a 2000 subsequent EIR because the project had not been contemplated in 1997, and there was no evidence the 2000 study considered the project.

Sea Wall Qualifies For Emergency Exemption Despite Process Delays

Dec 1, 2002

Legal Digest, other, Vol. 17 No. 12 Dec 2002

An exemption to the California Environmental Quality Act for construction of a sea wall below two houses has been upheld by the Fourth District Court of Appeal. The court ruled that the potential collapse of a bluff could threaten public safety and qualified for an emergency exemption under CEQA.

San Marcos Feels The Good And The Bad Of Rapid Growth

Dec 1, 2002

Local Watch, Paul Shigley, Vol. 17 No. 12 Dec 2002

By any measure, a great deal has happened in San Marcos lately, and the city is feeling both the benefits and pressures of the growth and change. A city of 58,000 in northern San Diego County, San Marcos is the scene of a new 3,400-unit housing development, aggressive redevelopment by the city, extensive construction and rehabilitation of affordable housing units, and a growing California State University campus.

Voters Show Pro-Growth Sentiment: But November Local Ballot Measure Results Are Mixed Overall–Again

Dec 1, 2002

Featured Articles, Paul Shigley, Vol. 17 No. 12 Dec 2002

In an election with the typical mix of results, the pro-growth side won 19 of 32 easily classifiable local land use ballot measures on November 5. However, in votes regarding large, well-defined projects, the slow-growth side prevailed most often.

Fresno Seeks Touch Of Paradise To Cure Ill Downtown

Dec 1, 2002

Morris Newman, Places, Vol. 17 No. 12 Dec 2002

Is it appropriate for designers to create objects that have no use beyond giving pleasure? In 1972, a French interviewer asked a similar question to the designer Charles Eames in the film "Design Q&A." His answer: "Who is to say pleasure is not useful?"

Land Shortage Forces Joint-Use Schools Planning In Los Angeles

Dec 1, 2002

Paul Shigley, Public Development, Vol. 17 No. 12 Dec 2002

The Los Angeles Unified School District has embarked on a huge land-purchase effort as part of a massive school construction program. But because the cost of real estate in the region is so high — and available land is scarce — the district and other agencies are beginning to emphasize joint use.

Local Speed Bumps Could Rattle Segway's Ride

Dec 1, 2002

Stephen Svete, Trends, Vol. 17 No. 12 Dec 2002

Urban transportation panacea or mobility-oriented snake oil? The Segway Human Transporter is either, depending upon whom you ask. The device either will change the way we get around in cities, or it will be the pedestrian-version of the Edsel. No matter, we should gird ourselves for statewide debates during coming months regarding regulation of the Segway HT (or simply "the Segway").

California Tries To Get 'Centered,' But State Remains Conflicted

Nov 1, 2002

Insight, Vol. 17 No. 11 Nov 2002, William Fulton

Can we Californians do a better job of getting centered? This is not a metaphysical question. Increasingly, it is a practical concern. As California moves into the post-suburban era, the question of how to grow is moving beyond a fight about growth and density as abstract statistics to a more fine-grained discussion about how to create more dense and compact places. This is not a metaphysical question. Increasingly, it is a practical concern. As California moves into the post-suburban era, the

In Brief

Nov 1, 2002

In Brief, other, Vol. 17 No. 11 Nov 2002

Don't forget to check out CP&DRs monthly installment of "In Brief," a summary look at the latest events in land use news across the Golden State.

Philanthropy Meets Redevelopment in City Heights

Nov 1, 2002

Deals, Morris Newman, Vol. 17 No. 11 Nov 2002

If something becomes famous, the painter Georges Braque once said, it is usually famous for the wrong reason. City Heights Urban Village in San Diego is famous for being the beneficiary of local businessman Sol Price, who has donated about $50 million in various forms through his charities and business affiliates.

Sutter County General Plan Finds Stiff Resistance

Nov 1, 2002

Economic Development, Paul Shigley, Vol. 17 No. 11 Nov 2002

Sutter County is once again pursing a major development near the Sacramento International Airport. A specific plan the county adopted earlier this year calls for a 3,500-acre industrial and commercial development that would be a job center for the region.