Will Housing Trump CEQA?

As housing prices continue to increase, California legislators are considering easing CEQA laws to make housing easier to build.

1 minute read

April 5, 2005, 9:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


"The growing momentum to change the California Environmental Quality Act sets up a clash between business and environmental interests in a state with some of the nation's highest priced homes and lowest rates of homeownership. A majority of Californians can no longer afford to buy homes, prompting some lawmakers to lament their generation may be the state's first unable to provide a better life for its children.

...Although environmental groups have given Schwarzenegger's early moves high marks, the governor is expected to unveil proposals to ease current CEQA rules and make it harder to use the law to stop residential construction projects. A draft version of the bill would limit the ability of opponents to file some lawsuits and would streamline the regulatory process for developers in areas already planned and zoned for housing."

Thanks to Chris Steins

Monday, April 4, 2005 in San Jose Mercury News

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