Cities are moving aggressively to adopt objective design standards, now required in reviewing housing projects. But developers can use the Density Bonus Law to end-run some of the standards.
Most developers have been trying to get their projects approved for years. Some are adding multifamily affordable units to single-family projects in order to qualify.
Transportation bond fails in San Francisco, while Santa Cruz voters apparently favor rails over trails. Meanwhile, Chino voters approved a housing element update.
Court sides with developer in 48-year-old case from Tiburon but judge goes off on CEQA. Meanwhile, Marin County negotiates with developer to purchase the property for open space.
As with SCAG, Bay Area jurisdictions are appealing their housing targets in large numbers. Unsurprisingly, the most challengers are coming from Marin County.
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
The Sierra Club's Marin Group of chapters brought a court challenge July 10 seeking to reverse the Coastal Commission's May approval of the Marin County Land Use Plan Update.
