Recent Articles in Insight

California Has Stopped Growing. Now What?

by William Fulton on Oct 25, 2020
Population

The population is going down for the first time ever. But California planning -- and its entire local government structure -- is based on the assumption of growth. >>read more

Close Call For SB 1120 May Mean More Focus On Duplexes

by William Fulton on Sep 20, 2020
ADUs, Duplexes, Housing, SB 1120 , SB 50, Single-Family Zoning

Housing experts say small projects will cost less and be easier to build than large multifamily projects weighted down by affordable housing and union labor requirements. >>read more

The Missing Middle Is Real

by William Fulton on Aug 9, 2020
HCD, Housing, RHNA

New HCD data shows California knows how to build for the top of the market -- and nobody else. >>read more

NEPA Changes Will Put More Pressure On CEQA

by William Fulton on Jul 19, 2020
Ambassador Hotel, CEQA, NEPA, Trump

State-federal transportation and infrastructure projects likely won't be analyzed under federal law. But new rule could be reversed if Biden wins. >>read more

The Revolution in CEQA Exemptions

by William Fulton on May 16, 2020
CEQA, EIRs, Mitigated Negative Declarations

In the last few years, exemptions have vastly outnumbered EIRs and mitigated negative declarations. Who needs CEQA reform? >>read more

California's Rubik's Cube Just Got More Complicated

by William Fulton on Apr 21, 2020
Climate, COVID, Housing

Can the Golden State balance public health objectives with its existing housing and climate goals? >>read more

What Does California Housing Look Like In A Post-COVID World?

by William Fulton on Mar 22, 2020
COVID-19, Housing , Insight

History suggests that construction coming out of the COVID recession will be slow. On the plus side, prices should stabilize. >>read more

Will Feds Tie Infrastructure Funds To Zoning Reform?

by William Fulton on Feb 24, 2020
Federal, Housing, Infrastructure, Transportation

It's been a non-starter for years. But all the Democratic candidates are calling for it -- and Trump might not be far behind. >>read more

California's Housing-Climate Rubik's Cube

by William Fulton on Jan 26, 2020
Climate, Housing

How can you reduce emissions, reduce risks from wildfire, sea-level rise, and other effects of climate change -- and still build enough housing so Californians will want to stay? >>read more

California's Population Growth Flatlines

by William Fulton on Dec 21, 2019
Bay Area, California, Inland Empire, Populatoin

Inland areas are still growing. But what does the trend mean for the state's long-term prosperity? >>read more