News Briefs

The Capitol Area Development Agency (CADA) was seemingly exempt from the dissolution of redevelopment agencies last year. However, in the face of state budget cuts, officials plan to cease the agency's development operations and sell off its properties to subsidize the state budget. CADA still hopes to retain its role in supporting development and managing affordable housing projects. 

Even if they disagree with each other sometimes, state and local officials are trying to make it easier to get development projects through the CEQA process. Jerry Brown recently used his 2011 CEQA reforms to get a solar project approved in Riverside County. Meanwhile, Fresno County streamlined its CEQA process even as Brown has attempted to intervene in disputes between Fresno city, the county, and Madera County over greenfield development. >>read more

Cordova Hills project approved by Sacramento County

Fanning fears that the Sacramento Region won't be able to meet SB 375 emissions reduction standards, Sacramento County supervisors have approved the sprawling South County Cordova Hills project. 

Lots going on in California planning and development this week ... 

Central Valley's Growth War Gets the Governor's Attention

Fresno Bee

Post-redevelopment plans for downtown San Diego

The San Diego Foundation is teaming up with the Downtown San Diego Partnership business group to frame a  new vision for San Diego's downtown. With the end of redevelopment agencies in the state, San Diego can no longer depend on the $125 million dollars a year to subsidize these types of projects. 

Monterey County General Plan faces voter approval, a controversial Carmel Valley subdivision is back in court after EIR rejection 6 years ago, flood control in Sacramento continues to evolve, and dry cleaners in San Francisco pay for brownfeild clean up. >>read more

Flood control affects development in both the City of Sacramento and San Bernardino County, the City of Lynwood gets an F on their audit by the state Department of Housing and Community Development, and water once again flows through the Lower Owens River. >>read more

Orange County has approved the "preliminary master plan" for Great Park and Gov. Schwarzenegger has renewed all 23 expiring Enterprise Zones. In El Dorado County, the revised EIR for a new Highway 50 freeway interchange has been upheld while the EIR for the Salton Sea offers 10 alternatives for the lake's future. >>read more

The Governor signs some land use legislation, the House passes bill in favor of property owners, and a Superior Court Judge throws out environmentalist's case against windmills. Glendora says no to new housing development and a golf course while El Dorado County reaches a compromise to allow the construction of an Indian casino. >>read more

The Bush administration brought its efforts to change environmental regulations to California in September, when high-ranking appointees conducted "listening sessions" in Redding and Colton - two of 24 informal hearings across the country intended to carry out a 2004 executive order calling for "cooperative conservation." >>read more

A Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rules that recall petitions need not be circulated in multiple languages, while a referendum in SF is declared invalid because it did not contain the entire redevelopment plan. An eminent domain action has been dropped by Yolo County to acquire farmland and open space while in Del mar, after fifteen years of planning, restoration of San Dieguito Lagoon has commenced. >>read more

Two San Bernardino County deals go public while a judge rules their flood control easements no longer exist. In Kern County, a federal court lawsuit stems from banned sewer sludge. Conflict of interest allegations result in the arrest of recalled Murrieta mayor and the firing of Siskiyou County Planning Director. In San Mateo, voters will not decide the fate of Bay Meadow's horsetrack, nor will Monterey County see a referendum of a proposed development in November. >>read more

The housing deficit continues to grow in the Bay Area, which produced only 83% of needed housing units from 1999 through 2005, according to a report by the Bay Area Council. The production of affordable units was even worse, as the nine-county region produced only 42% of the very low-, low- and moderate-income units prescribed in the Association of Bay Area Governments' regional housing needs determination (RHND). >>read more

Endangered species issue complicates development in Coachella Valley, a judge declares the inclusionary housing ordinance unconstitutional in the City of San Diego, and activists halt development in both Pebble Beach and Santa Monica. >>read more