by William Fulton

It's no surprise that the inland areas are still growing. But the big shocker is that the Bay Area is hanging on -- and L.A. is not.

In a case from Santa Barbara, an appellate court ruled that such regulations are a "development" that must be dealt with in the Local Coastal Plan or through a Coastal Development Permit.

Court also concludes the requirement calling for all roads to be built before any private development is constructed runs afoul of the Nollan/Dolan doctrine.

Methodological differences are not CEQA issues, court rules.

First District says SB 35 doesn't interfere with local powers and trumps Berkeley's historic preservation law regarding the West Berkeley Shellmound.

Appellate court rejects all of a Malibu property owners arguments in dispute over a gate and structure located on a Coastal Conservancy easement.

Progressives who have long protected community power over developers are praising Biden's proposed new program, while Republicans are calling it a war on the suburbs.

Flat denial of blufftop house meant the "futility exception" was in play. Cost to the city: $3.4 million and counting.

For Sacramento and Berkeley, the hard part is still coming: How to create a development code that will encourage rather than block other small-scale housing products.

In the latest skirmish over Los Padres Del Mar -- 10 years after the city approved the project for the second time -- an appellate court has ruled that Pismo and the developer do not have to pay LAFCO's attorneys fees.

... There's no remedy in the law when a lead agency fails to notify an interested party, even though it's against the law. >>read more

In Marin City, a clever developer is building a project double the allowed size with very little parking and few other amenities -- and the county couldn't do anything to stop it. >>read more

A lifetime urban dweller, Donald Trump was an anti-city president. Biden is a lifelong Amtrak rider -- and California urban planning is likely to change with him at the helm.