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Berkeley Finalizes Citywide Multiunit Ordinance
The Berkeley City Council unanimously adopted a landmark Middle Housing ordinance ending a century-old single-family zoning policy, allowing small apartment buildings across most of the city. The policy permits up to eight units on standard lots, aiming to increase housing options for middle-income residents, young families and people of color, while excluding the fire-prone hillside areas for now. The move follows years of advocacy for more inclusive housing and is rooted in Berkeley's historical role in establishing exclusionary zoning. Supporters say the ordinance addresses racial and economic inequality, while opponents argue it lacks affordability guarantees and could lead to displacement and speculation. A follow-up report will evaluate the ordinance's equity and effectiveness after it takes effect in November. (See related CP&DR coverage.)
SACOG Releases Draft Regional Plan
The Draft 2025 Blueprint from Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG) outlines a long-range plan to guide land use and transportation investments across the Sacramento region through 2050. It aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and vehicle miles traveled by promoting compact, mixed-use development and expanding options for walking, biking and transit. The plan reflects input from over 6,000 community members and offers local governments tools and data to align development with regional goals and streamline environmental review. SACOG will continue monitoring implementation through monthly updates and provide technical assistance to ensure ongoing progress. (See related CP&DR coverage.)
Senate to Consider 118,000-Acre Addition to Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
A U.S. Senate bill introduced by Sen. Adam Schiff calls for the addition of over 118,000 acres of the Rim of the Valley corridor to the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. The corridor is a non-contiguous “green belt” surrounding the San Fernando Valley and enclosing existing parks and historic sites such as Griffith Park and Olvera Street. Such an addition to the 154,000-acre Recreation Area would bring consolidated management and federal funding and expertise to the new areas. Efforts to protect the Rim of the Valley date back to the mid-1970s. The latest bill comes as the Trump administration is proposing cutting $1.2 billion dollars in funding for the National Park Service, around 30% of its operating budget. Activists say the funding cuts would leave the Santa Monica Mountains vulnerable to cession to state control. Rep. Laura Friedman is expected to introduce a version in the House.
Proposal to Sell Federal Lands Removed from Budget Bill
The Senate Parlimentarian ruled out the sale of more than 3,200 square miles of public land from the GOP's spending bill after determining the proposal violated Senate rules. The plan, proposed by Utah Senator Mike Lee, would have opened millions of acres in western states to sale to states or other entities for use building housing or infrastructure. The Parlimentarian also ruled against other GOP proposals such as changes to oil and gas lease permitting on federal lands and the construction of a new mining road in Alaska. Lee said he plans on submitting a revised plan which excludes the sale of U.S. Forest Service Land and only allows the sale of Bureau of Land Management land within five miles of population centers.
CP&DR Coverage: How Hollywood Contributed to, and Suffers from, L.A.'s Housing Crisis
Moviemaking in Los Angeles County is flickering out, with 31% fewer filming days in 2024 compared to 2020. This year is shaping up to be worse. One of the reasons production "ran away" in the first place is that the cost of labor in Southern California is exorbitant. It's cheaper to pay gaffers in Atlanta and extras in Vancouver than to pay them for the same work in Hollywood. Ideally, Hollywood should promote exactly the type of neighborhoods that it likes to shoot. Movies and TV shows disproportionately portray busy, walkable, attractive urban neighborhoods that are easy to create on a studio lot but almost impossible with conventional zoning, financing, and infrastructure.The entertainment industry needs to understand that a cheaper city will also be a more creative city, where artists can thrive without worrying so much about eviction or starvation. A more creative city means better (and maybe more profitable) shows, movies, music, and art.
Quick Hits & Updates
The Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation is kicking off a comprehensive update of the state’s General Plan, Specific Plan, and Tribal Consultation Guidelines (collectively known as LCI’s Planning Guidelines). This update process will engage diverse partners—planners, local staff and officials, and other community members involved in planning processes—to help shape guidance and resources that support local planning efforts and foster the growth of vibrant, resilient and inclusive cities and counties across California. Planners can attend the project launch workshop virtually, July 15, at 10 a.m. For questions email: planningupdate@lci.ca.gov.
A federal judge ruled that LA officials failed to follow a settlement agreement to provide more housing for homeless people. The ruling found that the city breached its settlement agreement with L.A. Alliance for Human Rights by not providing a plan for creating a promised 13,000 new shelter beds by June 2027, missing milestones for those beds, and failing to provide accurate data about homelessness. Quarterly progress hearings have been ordered for the city and L.A. alliance. The judge characterized the ruling as progress, not punishment, saying he wanted the city to succeed.
Six Flags, the parent company of California's Great America in Santa Clara, announced the amusement park's likely closure after the 2027 season. The company's lease on the park's land ends in 2028 with a 5-year renewal option, and no final decision has been made. In 2022, San Francisco real estate firm Prologis bought the park's land from then-owner Cedar Fair for $310 million, with Cedar Fair agreeing to lease back the land for 6-11 years, ending park operations afterwards.
Developers behind a proposed eight-story building near the Santa Barbara Mission filed a legal petition against the city, arguing that its repeated rejection of their application violates Builder’s Remedy provisions. The city has deemed the application incomplete multiple times, most recently citing inconsistent floor area details, prompting the developers to seek court intervention after a similar case was previously dismissed.
Solano County officials are urging Suisun City to pause annexation plans tied to the California Forever project until the county completes a multi-year General Plan update, citing concerns about scale, land use and lack of coordination. Suisun City, which has already signed a reimbursement agreement with the developer, defends its actions as transparent and collaborative, while critics warn the move could undermine regional planning and bypass voter input. (See related CP&DR coverage.)
The Department of the Interior under the Trump administration is supporting a controversial plan to utilize the Mojave Desert as a source of water for parts of Arizona, as strain on the Colorado River increases. The project is led by Cadiz Inc., a Los Angeles-based water company that has faced decades of opposition over environmental concerns and regulatory hurdles in California. The current rules governing water usage from the river expire in 2026, and Arizona has already committed to cutting over a quarter of it's river water use. Taking water from the Mojave desert has faced stiff opposition in California in the past.
A report identifies 49 commercial properties in downtown San Francisco suited for housing conversion, with the potential to create 4,400 new homes and $15.5 million annually in tax revenue. New proposed legislation would designate an "Downtown Revitalization District" which would financially incentivize developers converting buildings to housing. Until now, developers have been discouraged by high conversion costs, despite historic office vacancy rates.
The California Attorney General's Office warned Stanislaus County that its General Plan and Housing Plan fail to meet state requirements on environmental justice, climate adaptation, and identifying disadvantaged communities, specifically under SB 1000, a 2018 law requiring local governments to identify disadvantaged communities and include environmental justice in their land use planning.
The California Legislative Analyst's Office recommends closing five more state prisons due to an anticipated surplus of 15,000 prison beds by 2024-25, potentially saving the state over $1 billion annually. Despite financial incentives, Governor Gavin Newsom has not committed to these reductions, prompting calls from organizations like Californians United for a Responsible Budget to redirect funds to community-based resources and reentry programs.
The U.S. Social Progress Map evaluates quality of life across U.S. cities using 50 indicators covering basic needs, wellbeing and opportunity, revealing that six of the top ten cities for social progress are in California. Leading the rankings are San Ramon (#1) and Pleasanton (#2) in the Bay Area, followed by Folsom (#5), Carlsbad (#7), Irvine (#8) and Fremont (#10). This comprehensive tool helps policymakers and communities make data-driven decisions to promote equity and wellbeing beyond traditional economic measures.
San Francisco is reconsidering the implementation of congestion pricing, inspired by the success of New York's recently implemented program, which has significantly reduced traffic, commute times and increased transit use. Despite slow downtown recovery and political resistance, officials are exploring the idea, particularly as a potential solution to the city's transit funding challenges amid a projected budget deficit for BART and Muni.
