A long-running legal battle over proposed hotel developments in San Diego appears to have come to an end.
Lori Weisberg reports on a recent appellate court decision on a case involving the California Coastal Commission and the Port of San Diego. “In a ruling issued [earlier this month], a state appeals court reversed an earlier Superior Court decision that the Coastal Commission had wrongly rejected plans to develop up to 500 hotel rooms on East Harbor Island, including a 175-room hotel sought by Sunroad Enterprises,” says Weisberg.
The Coastal Commission had first denied the amendment to the port master plan in 2015 because it did not include the provision of lower-cost overnight accommodations on Harbor Island. The port fought this decision, and the Superior Court ultimately ruled in the port’s favor. However, the more recent appeals ruling overturns this lower court decision.
The fate of another Sunroad Enterprises project, a 500-room hotel on East Harbor Island, is now unclear. In addition, a separate court case related to the commission’s second denial of the amendment last year is set to be heard later this month.
FULL STORY: Coastal Commission scores victory in legal battle with San Diego Port over Harbor Island hotels
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Google Maps Introduces New Transit, EV Features
It will now be easier to find electric car charging stations and transit options.
Ohio Lawmakers Propose Incentivizing Housing Production
A proposed bill would take a carrot approach to stimulating housing production through a grant program that would reward cities that implement pro-housing policies.
Chicago Awarded $2M Reconnecting Communities Grant
Community advocates say the city’s plan may not do enough to reverse the negative impacts of a major expressway.
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