CP&DR

Coastal Commission Appointments Deemed Unconstitutional

Feb 1, 2003

Legal Digest, Paul Shigley, Vol. 18 No. 02 Feb 2003

The method of appointing members to the California Coastal Commission has been declared unconstitutional by the Third District Court of Appeal. The ability of the speaker of the Assembly and the Senate Rules Committee to appoint eight of twelve commissioners and remove them at will violates the separation of powers doctrine, the court held.

Planning Resumes On Connections Between Riverside, Orange Counties

Feb 1, 2003

Paul Shigley, Public Development, Vol. 18 No. 02 Feb 2003

During the next 12 months, the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) plans to build a an additional westbound lane on the 91 Freeway for a few miles just west of Riverside County. Such minor highway work might seem unremarkable — except for the fact that the agency spent $207 million simply for the right to pursue the project.

CEQA Ruling Confounds Planners

Jan 1, 2003

Featured Articles, Paul Shigley, Vol. 18 No. 01 Jan 2003

Planning practitioners who are perplexed about how to handle certain projects in light of a recent court decision regarding the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines should not feel alone.

New Freeway Lets L.A. Suburbs Reconsider Shared Boulevard

Jan 1, 2003

Local Watch, Paul Shigley, Vol. 18 No. 01 Jan 2003

California does not build many freeways. So as Caltrans has opened segments of the Interstate 210 freeway in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties, the road has received an unusual amount of attention — especially regarding how the state actually built the freeway and what impact it will have on traffic congestion. But the most interesting, and easiest to overlook, aspect of the 210 Freeway's construction is the fact that it has altered the role of a major arterial street through a series of suburbs.

Fresno State, Businesses Make A Home For Water Technology

Jan 1, 2003

Economic Development, Paul Shigley, Vol. 18 No. 01 Jan 2003

A collection of San Joaquin Valley water technology companies is attempting to make Fresno the center of the "flow technology" world. Representatives of dozens of companies have been meeting regularly for nearly two years as part of the Water Technology Industry Cluster in hopes of boosting business and improving the San Joaquin Valley's economic status.

UC Merced Planner Cliff Graves

Jan 1, 2003

Paul Shigley, Q&A, Vol. 18 No. 01 Jan 2003

Cliff Graves is special advisor to the chancellor at University of California, Merced. Graves has overseen many aspects of planning the Merced campus, which is the University of California's first new campus since the mid-1960s. He spoke with CP&DR Managing Editor Paul Shigley in mid-December.

Major CEQA Guideline Revisions Remain Invalid

Dec 1, 2002

Legal Digest, Paul Shigley, Vol. 17 No. 12 Dec 2002

A superior court's decision that invalidated several changes the state made to the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines in 1998 has been upheld almost entirely by a state appellate court.

San Marcos Feels The Good And The Bad Of Rapid Growth

Dec 1, 2002

Local Watch, Paul Shigley, Vol. 17 No. 12 Dec 2002

By any measure, a great deal has happened in San Marcos lately, and the city is feeling both the benefits and pressures of the growth and change. A city of 58,000 in northern San Diego County, San Marcos is the scene of a new 3,400-unit housing development, aggressive redevelopment by the city, extensive construction and rehabilitation of affordable housing units, and a growing California State University campus.

Voters Show Pro-Growth Sentiment: But November Local Ballot Measure Results Are Mixed Overall–Again

Dec 1, 2002

Featured Articles, Paul Shigley, Vol. 17 No. 12 Dec 2002

In an election with the typical mix of results, the pro-growth side won 19 of 32 easily classifiable local land use ballot measures on November 5. However, in votes regarding large, well-defined projects, the slow-growth side prevailed most often.

Land Shortage Forces Joint-Use Schools Planning In Los Angeles

Dec 1, 2002

Paul Shigley, Public Development, Vol. 17 No. 12 Dec 2002

The Los Angeles Unified School District has embarked on a huge land-purchase effort as part of a massive school construction program. But because the cost of real estate in the region is so high — and available land is scarce — the district and other agencies are beginning to emphasize joint use.