CP&DR

Governor's Opportunity To Shape Growth Is Available Despite Red Ink

Jan 1, 2003

Insight, Vol. 18 No. 01 Jan 2003, William Fulton

Following a meager five-point victory against a bumbling opponent and facing an 18-month budget deficit estimated at $35 billion, Gray Davis will be sworn in this month for his second term as governor. He will govern a state whose voters are perfectly happy with a suburban lifestyle, at least according to the polls. So it would not seem likely that Davis is in a position to do anything innovative or trailblazing in the area of land use planning and growth policy during his second term. Yet there is proba

State's Longest-Running Project Battle Continues To Rage

Dec 1, 2002

Housing, Insight, Ventura County, Vol. 17 No. 12 Dec 2002, William Fulton

Later this month, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors will meet to consider an appeal of the approval of Tentative Tract Map No. TT-5206 and certification of the accompanying Supplemental Environmental Impact Report. At first glance, this tract map approval might seem routine. It is the first of four tract maps that the developer anticipates bringing forward, allowing the developer to build 628 homes, a golf course, and other facilities on 846 acres of unincorporated land. It's a follow-on to a gener

California Tries To Get 'Centered,' But State Remains Conflicted

Nov 1, 2002

Insight, Vol. 17 No. 11 Nov 2002, William Fulton

Can we Californians do a better job of getting centered? This is not a metaphysical question. Increasingly, it is a practical concern. As California moves into the post-suburban era, the question of how to grow is moving beyond a fight about growth and density as abstract statistics to a more fine-grained discussion about how to create more dense and compact places. This is not a metaphysical question. Increasingly, it is a practical concern. As California moves into the post-suburban era, the

Land Use Election Activity Evinces State's East-West Division

Oct 1, 2002

Insight, Vol. 17 No. 10 Oct 2002, William Fulton

Over the years, there has been quite a bit of talk about splitting California into two states. The idea is that Northern California and Southern California do not have a lot in common and should not have much to do with each other. The idea has not gotten much of anywhere. But maybe that's because the reality is somewhat different than people's perception. Maybe California is divided into West and East.

Don't Count On Growth Debate During This Year's Race For Governor

Sep 1, 2002

Insight, Vol. 17 No. 09 Sep 2002, William Fulton

Twelve years ago while running for governor against a knowledgeable growth management ex-mayor, Democrat Dianne Feinstein scribbled the word "growth" on her hand so she would not forget to bring it up in her debate with Republican Pete Wilson.

San Diego Finds The Easy Route Does Not Lead To ‘Smart Growth'

Aug 1, 2002

Insight, Vol. 17 No. 08 Aug 2002, William Fulton

In September, the San Diego City Council is scheduled to vote on "City of Villages," the new "strategic framework element" of the city's general plan. Designed to provide a foundation for revising the city's 1970s general plan, City of Villages makes all the usual politically correct statements about promoting smart-growth ideas.

L.A. Commercial Sites Attract Residential Builders

Aug 1, 2002

Research Reports, Vol. 17 No. 08 Aug 2002, William Fulton

As suburban-era cities have become "land poor," both planners and developers have advocated the recycling of underutilized commercial property for high-density housing. In particular, this solution has been under discussion throughout California and especially in Los Angeles, where housing production has been low and the supply of available raw land is dwindling.

New Cities Raise Taxes, Pay Alimony To Get Past ‘Revenue Neutrality' Mandate

Jul 1, 2002

Insight, Vol. 17 No. 07 Jul 2002, William Fulton

A decade after the passage of the "revenue neutrality" law, the incorporation of new cities appears to be back as a major planning issue in California. Now, however, there is a somewhat different twist.

Advocates of Poor, Minorities Seek Equal Footing in Growth Debates

Jun 1, 2002

Insight, Vol. 17 No. 06 Jun 2002, William Fulton

"Environmental justice" is becoming the biggest buzzword in planning since "smart growth." There is an irony here, because, at least in California, the two appear to be on something of a collision course.

One County Proves Ballot-Box Zoning Begets More Ballot-Box Zoning

May 1, 2002

Insight, Vol. 17 No. 05 May 2002, William Fulton

One of the cardinal rules of ballot-box zoning in California is that ballot measures beget ballot measures. That is, once the concept of making land-use decisions gets embedded in the local political culture, there is no getting rid of it — it only burrows deeper and deeper into the political landscape.

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