At the California Land Use Law and Planning conferences, lawyers for cities and developers alike agreed that the big "shot clock" reforms in AB 130 and SB 131 will change the landscape dramatically for both sides.
A Berkeley citizen group lost its challenge to People's Park in the legislature and the California Supreme Court. But that didn't stop the group from claiming enough of a victory to seek $1 million in attorney's fees. An appellate court shot the idea down.
Venerable conference covering legal cases and legislation crucial to California planning reconvenes in downtown Los Angeles Friday, January 23, under sponsorship of CP&DR and Arizona State University
The L.A. wildfires last January accounted for two of our four most-read stories last year. The passage of SB 79 and other housing legislation, along with the passing of parking guru Donald Shoup, were also high on the list.
In a battle over $1.2 million in attorney's fees in a case involving eight townhomes, court says Housing Accountability Act does not dominate. But it's not clear how the case will turn out.
SB 158, which lifts the CEQA exemption for some projects, apparently applies only to one project in the entire state: a proposed eight-story apartment building behind the iconic Santa Barbara Mission.
Proposed 2026 ballot measure would create two categories of projects: "essential projects" subject to tighter timelines and other projects subject to current law.
