Articles

Court Refuses To Consider RHNA Lawsuit
Court Refuses To Consider RHNA Lawsuit

by Paul Shigley on Jul 15, 2009

Housing, Orange County, Paul Shigley, SCAG, Vol. 24 No. 08 Jul 2009 - 2

A courtroom is not the location to settle disputes over regional fair-share housing allocations. So ruled the Fourth District Court of Appeal on June 30 in a closely watched case involving the City of Irvine. As a result of the ruling, the city apparently is stuck with having to plan for development of 35,000 additional housing units � equal to about half of its existing inventory � over the next five years.

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Suisun City Redevelopment Advances Into Second Phase
Suisun City Redevelopment Advances Into Second Phase

Jul 15, 2009

Downtown planning, Local Watch, Paul Shigley, Solano County, Vol. 24 No. 08 Jul 2009 - 2

Ten years ago, Suisun City was one of the nation's great redevelopment success stories. Plagued by violent, drug-dealing gangs, it literally bulldozed their strongholds to make room for a fancy civic center. The city reclaimed its neglected waterfront and approved the construction of hundreds of homes in a traditional neighborhood development.

The Solano County city became a case study for planners, new urbanists and journalists. But all the success and awards have not lessened a feeling that Suisun City's redevelopment still has a long ways to go.
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SD County's Creeks, Farmland Key To New Habitat Plan
SD County's Creeks, Farmland Key To New Habitat Plan

Jul 15, 2009

Environment Watch, Habitat conservation planning, Larry Sokoloff, San Diego County, Vol. 24 No. 08 Jul 2009 - 2

San Diego County has been a national leader in habitat conservation planning, setting aside areas where rare and endangered species can thrive in the midst of ongoing development. Now, 12 years after a plan for the southern, inland part of the county was adopted, a second habitat plan has been released, this time for the inland North County.
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In Brief: AG Challenges Pleasanton Growth Management
In Brief: AG Challenges Pleasanton Growth Management

Jul 15, 2009

Alameda County, CP&DR Staff, In Brief, Vol. 24 No. 08 Jul 2009 - 2

This collection of news briefs from around the state includes Attorney General Jerry Brown's decision to join a lawsuit over Pleasanton's growth management ordinance; a court's rejection of the state's diversion of transit revenues to balance the general fund; approval of the Hollywood Park reuse plan; and the introduction of a new groundwater study and modeling tool for the Central Valley.

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Government Property Acquisition Costs May Rise
Government Property Acquisition Costs May Rise

Jul 13, 2009

CP&DR Staff, Eminent domain, Legal Digest, Los Angeles County, Vol. 24 No. 08 Jul 2009 - 2

A state appellate court has issued a ruling in an eminent domain case that could have expensive ramifications for government agencies. The court ruled that a business owner isn't required to have a written lease in order to seek compensation for lost goodwill resulting from a government taking of property.
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Court Exempts Church From Historic Landmark Process
Court Exempts Church From Historic Landmark Process

Jul 9, 2009

CP&DR Staff, Historic preservation, Legal Digest, San Francisco, Vol. 24 No. 08 Jul 2009 - 2

A state appellate court has blocked San Francisco from considering an historical landmark designation for a 98-year-old church building. The court ruled that, under state law, the building is exempt from local regulations to protection historic landmarks. >>read more

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