CP&DR

Farmland Conservation Program Faces Uncertainty

Aug 20, 2009

California, Featured Articles, Paul Shigley, Vol. 24 No. 10 Aug 2009 - 2

Gov. Schwarzenegger's unilateral decision to eliminate payments to counties that offer Williamson Act tax breaks to owners of agricultural land has raised doubts about the future of the state's largest farmland-preservation program. Many representatives of the affected counties have said they would like to remain in the program. But the end of state subventions that help offset lost property tax revenue is causing many counties to re-evaluate their participation.

Court Rules L.A. Inclusionary Housing Mandate Violates State Law

Aug 20, 2009

Housing, Legal Digest, Los Angeles County, Paul Shigley, Vol. 24 No. 10 Aug 2009 - 2

A state appellate court ruling striking down an affordable housing mandate in the City of Los Angeles could have statewide implications. Affordable-housing advocates and municipal attorneys say the decision, if it stands, calls into question inclusionary housing ordinances that require developers to set aside and price a certain percentage of new rental units at below-market rates.

Water Legislation Stirs Old Concerns

Aug 19, 2009

California, Featured Articles, Paul Shigley, Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, Vol. 24 No. 10 Aug 2009 - 2

State lawmakers say that water and the Bay Delta should be the Legislature's top priorities until it recesses on September 11. Democratic lawmakers have introduced a five-bill package that they insist provides a framework for moving forward with the co-equal goals of Delta ecosystem restoration and increased water supply reliability. Republican lawmakers, however, said the package leans too heavily toward environmental considerations at the expense of water reliability.

Riverside County Approves New Freeway, But Abandons Half

Aug 19, 2009

Larry Sokoloff, Public Development, Riverside County, Transportation, Vol. 24 No. 10 Aug 2009 - 2

Although freeways have helped shape the development of California, very few new freeways have been built since the 1980s. The focus has instead been on widening existing freeways, and adding carpool and transit lanes. But in Riverside County, where construction and development are major economic drivers, county officials are trying to add a new east-west freeway.

In Brief: OC Planning Department Crisis Continues

Aug 19, 2009

CP&DR Staff, In Brief, Orange County, Vol. 24 No. 10 Aug 2009 - 2

In this roundup of news: The Orange County planning director resigns only days after the Board of Supervisors ordered a task force to overhaul the department; Irvine amends its agreement with developers of the old El Toro base; Stockton's downtown redevelopment takes a hit; Santee sues San Diego County over jail expansion; Palo Alto adopts a private street ballot initiative.

Bush Administration Forest Management Rules Rejected

Aug 19, 2009

CP&DR Staff, Legal Digest, National Environmental Policy Act, Vol. 24 No. 10 Aug 2009 - 2

Two Bush administration policies for managing national forests were invalidated by the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in early August. One three-judge panel blocked implementation of a 2004 amendment to the Sierra Nevada Framework that governs all 11 national forests in the mountain range. A second panel rejected the Forest Service's attempt to eliminate a Clinton-era rule prohibiting development in designated roadless areas of national forests.

Court Reinstates SLO Developer's Ballot Initiative

Aug 18, 2009

CP&DR Staff, Initiatives and referendums, Legal Digest, San Luis Obispo County, Vol. 24 No. 10 Aug 2009 - 2

A state appellate court has reinstated the results of a local ballot initiative that authorize a large development near the San Luis Obispo County airport. A trial court judge had thrown out the initiative on the grounds that it was superceded by the State Aeronautics Act and that the ballot measure amounted to an "adjudicative" rather than a legislative act. The Second District Court of Appeal disagreed, ruling that the aeronautics law did not preclude the initiative and that it was appropriately legislative in nature.

Climate Adaptation Plan Urges Development Changes

Aug 18, 2009

California, Climate change, CP&DR Staff, Featured Articles, Vol. 24 No. 10 Aug 2009 - 2

A draft "California Climate Adaptation Strategy" recommends that development projects and locations be reconsidered in light of rising sea levels, greater potential flooding and higher temperatures.