CP&DR

Bureaucratic Compliance With SB 375 May Not Reduce Driving

Jul 1, 2009

California, Climate change, Insight, Vol. 24 No. 07 Jul 2009 - 1, William Fulton

Now that the age of greenhouse gas emissions reduction is upon us, I think there's an important point worth making: Government agencies in California can try to comply with SB 375 – or they can focus on reducing driving. There is a lot of overlap between the two, but they are not exactly the same thing.

Planning, Development To Feel State Budget Cuts

Jul 1, 2009

California, Featured Articles, Paul Shigley, Vol. 24 No. 07 Jul 2009 - 1

While California's yawning budget gap remains wide open, the revenue and spending plan eventually approved by legislators will likely have significant ramifications for land use planning and development.

Clever Project Develops School, Housing Together

Jul 1, 2009

Los Angeles County, Morris Newman, Places, School and university planning, Vol. 24 No. 07 Jul 2009 - 1

A working-class neighborhood north of downtown L.A. is slated for a development project unlike any other previously built in the state: A combination of housing and a public school on a shared site. Set to start construction this winter, the Glassell Park project is being built jointly by Los Angeles Unified School District and Abode Communities, the nonprofit homebuilder formerly known as Los Angeles Design Center.

County Attorney Guidance Withheld From Project Opponents

Jul 1, 2009

California Environmental Quality Act, CP&DR Staff, Legal Digest, Tehama County, Vol. 24 No. 07 Jul 2009 - 1

Tehama County did not have to disclose publicly advice it received from an outside law firm on how to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act while dealing with a controversial development project, the Third District Court of Appeal has ruled. The unanimous three-judge panel ruled that the four documents were protected by attorney-client privilege or work product privilege, even though Tehama County shared the documents with the project's developer.

Ontario Seeks To Make Its General Plan An Everyday Tool

Jul 1, 2009

General plans, Local Watch, Paul Shigley, San Bernardino County, Vol. 24 No. 07 Jul 2009 - 1

The City of Ontario is on the verge of adopting a general plan unlike any in California. Its goal of transforming Ontario into a bustling urban place of 350,000 residents with the state's most elaborate transit hub is not what sets the plan apart. Instead, it is how the plan is being developed on the Internet and in conjunction with other city plans and policies.

Researchers Question Value Of Enterprise Zones

Jun 26, 2009

California, CP&DR Staff, Economic development, In Brief, Vol. 24 No. 07 Jul 2009 - 1

There is no evidence that California's enterprise zone program – the state's largest economic development effort – has increased jobs in program areas, according to a Public Policy Institute of California study. "Our main finding is that, on average, enterprise zones have no effect on business creation or job growth," PPIC researchers Jed Kolko and David Neumark wrote.

Prop 218 Challenge To Pomona BID Assessments Rejected

Jun 24, 2009

CP&DR Staff, Legal Digest, Local government finance, Los Angeles County, Vol. 24 No. 07 Jul 2009 - 1

Property assessments levied to fund the downtown Pomona Property and Business Improvement District did not violate Proposition 218, the Second District Court of Appeal has ruled for a second time.

No EIR Needed For Warehouse Covered By Specific Plan, Court Rules

Jun 24, 2009

California Environmental Quality Act, CP&DR Staff, Legal Digest, Riverside County, Vol. 24 No. 07 Jul 2009 - 1

Approval of an 88-acre warehouse distribution facility at March Air Reserve Base was exempt from environmental review because the project was included in a general plan and a specific plan, both of which received environmental analysis, the Fourth District Court of Appeal has ruled.

State High Court Clears Way For Proposition 218 Challenge

Jun 17, 2009

Legal Digest, Local government finance, Marin County, Paul Shigley, Vol. 24 No. 07 Jul 2009 - 1

For the second time in less than a year, the California Supreme Court has ruled for individual property owners contesting local government assessments, opening the door for future challenges based on Proposition 218.