A new report details the reach of California’s controversial environmental regulation, and warns of more consequences to come.
The Center for Jobs & the Economy recently published a report [pdf] quantifying the effect of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) on development proposals around the state.
The report—authored by Jennifer Hernandez, a land use and environment law attorney at the Holland & Knight law firm—finds that CEQA lawsuits challenged almost half of all development projects in the state in 2020.
“In 2020 alone, there were 47,999 housing units targeted in CEQA lawsuits,” according to the center’s website. In addition to housing, the report finds a “explosion” of CEQA lawsuits challenging renewable energy development projects in 2020.
Among the key points of the report is concern that the 2022 Scoping Plan underway at the California Air Resources Board, required by the state’s landmark climate change law, AB 32, is only likely to encourage more anti-development lawsuits under CEQA.
“The CARB 2022 Scoping Plan, by implication and omission, invites more CEQA lawsuits against any type of housing that falls outside a limited number of housing types, all of which are infeasible, expensive, and frequently the target of CEQA lawsuits,” according to the website. “The CARB 2022 Scoping Plan ‘Natural and Working Lands’ chapter calls for the immediate cessation of new housing and other development on lands not previously developed–not even the buildout of existing cities and projects.”
FULL STORY: Anti-Housing CEQA Lawsuits Filed in 2020 Challenge Nearly 50% of California’s Annual Housing Production
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Planning for Accessibility: Proximity is More Important than Mobility
Accessibility-based planning minimizes the distance that people must travel to reach desired services and activities. Measured this way, increased density can provide more total benefits than increased speeds.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
Eviction Looms for Low-Income Tenants as Rent Debt Rises
Nonprofit housing operators across the country face almost $10 billion in rent debt.
Brightline West Breaks Ground
The high-speed rail line will link Las Vegas and the Los Angeles area.
Colorado Bans No-Fault Evictions
In most cases, landlords must provide a just cause for evicting tenants.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.