Residential Growth Cap Overruling Could Reshape California

The city of Pleasanton's voters had approved a cap on further residential development, but a state judge recently overruled that plan, stating that city's could not opt-out of accommodating regional growth.

"If the Alameda decision stands, and if other cities face legal challenges, the result could reshape the landscape of California suburbs and small cities - conceivably forcing them to reconsider height limits or increasing the density in their downtowns.

'The next few weeks, everyone is going to take a look at this and see what it might mean,' said Cathy Cresswell, the deputy director for housing policy development at the state's Department of Housing and Community Development. 'Some might want to take another look at how they've addressed this very important state requirement.'"