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Court Refuses To Order City To Certify EIR
Court Refuses To Order City To Certify EIR

by Paul Shigley on Dec 22, 2009

Environmental Quality Act, Sonoma County

An appellate court has refused a developer’s request to order the City of Sebastopol to approve an environmental impact report on which the city began work in 2001. >>read more

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New Stadium Craze Sweeps The State
New Stadium Craze Sweeps The State

by Paul Shigley on Dec 21, 2009

All of sudden, or so it seems, a stadium mania has overtaken California. The dreams, schemes and honest-to-goodness plans for football and baseball stadiums are coming so fast that it’s difficult to keep track of them. >>read more

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City Given Discretion To Grant Density Bonuses
City Given Discretion To Grant Density Bonuses

by Paul Shigley on Dec 15, 2009

Housing, Los Angeles County, Vol. 24 No. 17 Dec 2009 - 1

The City of Berkeley’s approval of density bonuses for a mixed-use project has been upheld by the First District Court of Appeal, which rejected a project opponent’s contention that the city had wrongly applied the state density bonus law. >>read more

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Governor Finalizes Climate Adaptation Plan
Governor Finalizes Climate Adaptation Plan

by Paul Shigley on Dec 14, 2009

Climate change, Vol. 24 No. 17 Dec 2009 - 1

Standing only a few feet above sea level on San Francisco Bay’s Treasure Island, Gov. Schwarzenegger released the California Climate Adaptation Strategy in early December. The final version of the 200-page strategy is not significantly different from the draft version that drew criticism from environmentalists for not going far enough, and from business and development interests for going way too far. >>read more

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Irvine, Newport Beach Settle Lawsuit Over Housing Plan
Irvine, Newport Beach Settle Lawsuit Over Housing Plan

by Paul Shigley on Dec 14, 2009

Mixed-use development, Orange County, Vol. 24 No. 17 Dec 2009 - 1

The City of Irvine has agreed to pay the neighboring City of Newport Beach $3.65 million to settle a lawsuit over Irvine’s approval of a mixed-use plan for 2,760 acres. The Irvine Business Complex plan seeks to bring as many as 15,000 housing units in mixed-use developments to an area near John Wayne Airport that is currently dominated by office buildings and industrial parks. >>read more

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Public Agencies Want OC Fairgrounds Property
Public Agencies Want OC Fairgrounds Property

by Paul Shigley on Dec 14, 2009

open space, Orange County, Parks, Vol. 24 No. 17 Dec 2009 - 1

With concern rising that a private entity may attempt to purchase the Orange County Fairgrounds for development purposes, public officials are hurrying to put together bids of their own for the 150-acre site just west of the Costa Mesa Freeway. >>read more

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San Jacinto Corruption Investigation Unfolding
San Jacinto Corruption Investigation Unfolding

by Paul Shigley on Dec 14, 2009

Corruption, Riverside County, Vol. 24 No. 17 Dec 2009 - 1

At the heart of things, according to county prosecutors, are Councilman Jim Ayers and developers Stephen Holgate and Robert Osborne. Prosecutors say the developers funneled a combined $200,000 in campaign contributions through a variety of intermediaries into Ayers’ unsuccessful 2006 campaign for Assembly and his successful 2008 council re-election bid. >>read more

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The Emergence Of 2 Californias
The Emergence Of 2 Californias

by Paul Shigley on Dec 14, 2009

Vol. 24 No. 17 Dec 2009 - 1

California is often considered to be two different states – north and south. But when it comes to planning and urban development patterns, the state is more properly divided east and west, or possibly inland and coastal. The real estate boom of earlier this decade only exacerbated the differences between coastal cities and inland suburbs. >>read more

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Stewardship Council Created To Manage Delta
Stewardship Council Created To Manage Delta

Nov 24, 2009

Featured Articles, Paul Shigley, Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, Vol. 24 No. 16 Nov 2009 - 2

The package of water legislation approved by state lawmakers and signed by Gov. Schwarzenegger earlier this month may be the most ambitious attempt yet to address the troubled Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. However, the legislation angers and worries many interests in and around the Delta, including local government leaders concerned about their ability to approve development.
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Proposed Quarry Is Unwelcome Neighbor In Temecula
Proposed Quarry Is Unwelcome Neighbor In Temecula

Nov 24, 2009

Larry Sokoloff, Local Watch, Parks and open space, Riverside County, Vol. 24 No. 16 Nov 2009 - 2

Residents of the Riverside County city of Temecula, which has been among the state's fastest growing cities for 20 years, have run into some growth they do not want. City leaders and local residents are opposing a proposed quarry located one mile south of the city limits near the San Diego County line.
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Grand Jury Indictments Name 4 San Jacinto Councilmen
Grand Jury Indictments Name 4 San Jacinto Councilmen

Nov 24, 2009

Corruption, CP&DR Staff, In Brief, Riverside County, Vol. 24 No. 16 Nov 2009 - 2

News from around the state: A Riverside County grand jury has indicted four San Jacinto councilmen and four people in the development business; San Marcos has adopted a specific plan for a new downtown; Yolo County has completed an ambitious general plan update; and Santa Clara County property owners are letting an open space district keep the proceeds of an illegal tax.
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CEQA Challenges To Revenue Measures Rejected
CEQA Challenges To Revenue Measures Rejected

Nov 24, 2009

California Environmental Quality Act, Legal Digest, Paul Shigley, Santa Barbara County, Vol. 24 No. 16 Nov 2009 - 2

Two separate California Environmental Quality Act lawsuits over unrelated measures that raised revenue for transportation purposes have been thrown out by the state Court of Appeal. One case involved a half-cent sales tax in Santa Barbara County. The other concerned a Los Angeles bus fare increase.
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Auditor Approves Of HCD Housing Grants
Auditor Approves Of HCD Housing Grants

Nov 23, 2009

California, CP&DR Staff, Housing, In Brief, Vol. 24 No. 16 Nov 2009 - 2

A report by the California state auditor gives the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) and the California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA) generally good marks for overseeing nearly $5 billion in bond funds approved by voters.
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Air District Rule Not Exempt From CEQA, Court Decides
Air District Rule Not Exempt From CEQA, Court Decides

Nov 23, 2009

California Environmental Quality Act, CP&DR Staff, Legal Digest, San Bernardino County, Vol. 24 No. 16 Nov 2009 - 2

A state appellate court has struck down a California Environmental Quality Act exemption for an air district rule permitting new power plants to offset emissions by paving roads. The court found that the Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District did not have adequate evidence to support its finding that the rule could not have a negative impact on the environment.
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