This year’s bills, though, exhibit pragmatic approaches. Rather than seek headlines (and draw ire of slow-growth advocates), this year’s bills largely address nuances that, perhaps, only developers could love. At least, that’s the hope of many legislators.
Inland Empire, High Desert Anticipate Brightline West Rail Line
Rancho Cucamonga and Apple Valley are eager to capitalize on the country’s first true high speed rail line.
Smart Growth and Sagebrush: Bishop Reimagines the Small-Town Downtown
The high-desert outpost of Bishop, California, seeks to redefine the small-town downtown
Long Beach Aims For Commercial Strip Redevelopment
Despite the region’s demand for housing, Long Beach’s planners are not assuming that development will naturally follow up-zoning. Even with their statutory work done, they are engaging in an unusually aggressive campaign to actually promote development.
Cities Rethink Downtown Strategies Post-Pandemic
Post-pandemic, some California downtowns are up. Some are way down…
New Rail Line Opens to Cautious Optimism in South Los Angeles
Crenshaw Line brings mass transit to the center of LA’s Black community.
Legislature Considers Diverse Range of Housing Bills
Even as cities strain under the weight of new housing regulations, legislators are trying new ideas and resurrecting old ones.
Litigation Over Housing Elements Focuses on Peninsula
Housing advocates are lawyering up to force Bay Area cities to produce more housing.
YIMBY Lawyers Sue 12 Bay Area Cities
Coming just days after the region’s RHNA deadline the lawsuits suggest pitched battle ahead over the Bay Area’s housing targets — and maybe even a Builder’s Remedy battle or two.
State Rewards Housing-Friendly Cities with “Prohousing” Designation
Attempting to ease tensions between cities and the state, HCD is given out the planning equivalent of gold stars.
Economic Headwinds Push Back on State Housing Goals
California desperately needs housing, but inflation and interest rates may hinder production.
Housing (Mostly) Wins on Local Ballots
But measures calling for increased housing development potential met decidedly mixed results.
Emeryville Emerges As Bay Area Pro-Housing Leader
Emeryville has embraced housing on a scale that no other Bay Area city has even considered. In particular, the city hopes to not only meet its Regional Housing Needs Allocation goals, but to exceed it — by as much as 50%.
Cities, Counties Get Ready To Deal With Sea Level Rise
Sea level rise is becoming increasingly unavoidable for planners in coastal California.