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Sacramento Soccer Stadium and Entertainment District Advances
After eight years of negotiation and false starts, the Sacramento City Council has approved a preliminary term sheet for a new 12,000-seat soccer stadium in the downtown Railyards, marking a significant step toward the construction of the venue for Sacramento Republic FC. The project will span 31 acres, with 14 acres dedicated to the stadium and the rest reserved for mixed-use developments such as a hotel, housing and commercial spaces. Wilton Rancheria, which recently acquired a majority stake in Republic FC, will finance the $217 million stadium, part of a broader $321 million development. The stadium is planned to open by 2027, with the surrounding entertainment district potentially ready by 2026 and may eventually expand to 20,000 seats for a potential MLS team. The approval includes provisions for public infrastructure funding and community benefits, with further discussions planned for 2025 to finalize agreements on details like environmental impact and community outreach.
Approvals for Battery Plant in Morro Bay to Test New State Clean Energy Regulations
The California Energy Commission and the California Coastal Commission will decide the fate of a proposed battery plant project in Morro Bay under a new state process that allows developers to bypass local governments for large renewable energy projects. This change follows delays in the city's approval process, which could have extended the timeline for a decision until 2025. Under the state process, the Energy Commission must make a decision within 270 days, with the California Coastal Commission then weighing in. Although the city will lose its ability to set conditions on the project, such as requiring the removal of the smoke stacks of a former power plant on the site, it will still have chances to participate in the process, including public hearings and potential agreements for community benefits. Even if local opposition—like the local ballot Measure A-24 requiring a popular vote to rezone the parecel—is successful, state agencies can override local zoning if they determine the project is necessary for public good.
Study Assesses Proximity of High-Density Zones Pollution in Los Angeles
A new study by the Urban Institute finds that zoning policies in Los Angeles disproportionately locate high-density housing, including affordable units, near high-traffic roads, exposing residents to harmful levels of air and noise pollution. While 20% of land zoned for dense housing is within 300 meters of high-traffic roads, only 12% of land zoned for lower-density housing is similarly situated. The city's Transit-Oriented Communities (TOC) program, which encourages building near transit stations, inadvertently concentrates development near polluted areas, as 19% of TOC zones are within 300 meters of high-traffic roads. Additionally, multifamily housing, especially in large buildings and federally subsidized low-income housing, is more likely to be built near such roadways, worsening pollution exposure for those already vulnerable. The study suggests cities can mitigate these disparities by zoning housing away from highways, improving transit infrastructure and implementing strategies to reduce pollution exposure.
CP&DR Coverage: Ballot Measure Bonanza
At the final tally, California's cities and counties put twenty-odd measures related to land use on their local ballots, ranging in magnitude from a multibillion-dollar transportation measure (San Diego County) to the lifting of a prohibition on roundabouts (Cotati). There were contentious, high-profile battles to open San Francisco's Great Highway and to enable Huntington Beach to assert power over the state, and a slew of measures to preserve open space. Notably scarce were traditional ballot-box approvals to ask voters to decide on proposed developments. CP&DR has all of the results, plus a preview, and a deep dive into a quizzical measure to preserve parking in downtown Eureka.
Quick Hits & Updates
San Jose city leaders are proposing an "Innovative Project Pathway Program" to streamline development in the downtown area, aiming to expedite the approval of large residential and commercial projects. The program would simplify the development process, potentially allowing for faster rezoning and modifications to the city’s general plan, with the goal of attracting more investment to reduce the city's high office vacancy rate. While supporters argue the initiative could revitalize downtown and encourage innovative projects, critics emphasize the need for a citywide residential incentive program and improved environmental review processes to address ongoing delays in housing development.
Last week, a Los Angeles judge ordered the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to expedite contracts for 750 units of temporary housing for disabled veterans on the West L.A. campus, warning of contempt if the deadline was missed. However, on Friday, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily paused the judge’s order, granting the VA relief from the pressure to fast-track the housing. The VA argued that its $407 billion budget is already stretched to cover multiple competing needs.
The City of Palm Springs has proposed a nearly $6 million reparations settlement for former residents of Section 14, a Black and Latino neighborhood demolished in the 1960s to make way for commercial development. The settlement includes cash payments, housing initiatives and small business support, as well as a monument to honor the community, in recognition of the city's past role in displacing residents, which has long been seen as racially motivated.
The Port of Oakland has received over 100 inquiries for the redevelopment of the 50-acre Howard Terminal site, which was originally slated for a new ballpark for the Oakland A’s before the team's departure to Las Vegas. Interested parties include developers, real estate firms and other organizations, with the Port seeking innovative proposals that integrate with the site's industrial and mixed-use surroundings, although significant environmental remediation and approvals are needed before development can proceed.
San Francisco Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin introduced legislation aimed at increasing housing density by modifying building codes, particularly by easing requirements for multiple staircases in buildings over three stories. The proposed changes, which would allow for single-stair buildings, are designed to make medium-density residential projects more feasible on smaller lots, supporting the city’s broader goal of meeting housing needs without sacrificing affordability or tenant protections.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved the purchase of the Gas Company Tower for $200 million, which will facilitate the relocation of county offices from the city’s civic center. The tower, located at 555 W. 5th St., will provide a more seismically-safe alternative to the aging Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration, which is considered vulnerable to earthquakes. The county expects the purchase to save millions of dollars compared to renovating old buildings, and the deal includes assuming existing tenant leases.
The City of Stockton is set to redevelop a nine-acre waterfront site into the South Pointe project, featuring 500 residential units, commercial space and community amenities as part of its plan to revitalize the downtown area. The project follows a government-funded cleanup of the site and aims to create a vibrant, walkable space that fosters community engagement and supports local commerce.
