The Assembly Select Committee on Permitting Reform held its first hearing on June 18, 2024, commencing its efforts to address California’s housing and climate crises by reforming the state’s land use permitting regime....more
Senate Bill (SB) 1227, introduced by Senator Scott Wiener on February 15, 2024, would help speed the recovery of downtown San Francisco by creating a new CEQA exemption for qualifying commercial, institutional, student...more
3/7/2024
/ Affordable Housing ,
California ,
CEQA ,
Community Development ,
County Planning Commissions ,
Environmental Impact Report (EIR) ,
Homeless Issues ,
Mobile Homes ,
Natural Gas ,
Office Space ,
State Bans ,
Tax Exemptions
We previously published a legal alert on October 12, 2023, about the extensive housing package that Governor Gavin Newsom signed on October 11, 2023, consisting of 56 bills to help address California’s decades-in-the-making...more
The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) approved housing streamlining legislation voted in last week by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, thus allowing the city to avoid a series of...more
The Berkeley City Council opened the door to high-rise apartment buildings in the Southside neighborhood by signing off on new zoning regulations that could allow for thousands more homes at UC Berkeley’s doorstep....more
12/5/2023
/ Affordable Housing ,
California Coastal Commission ,
Community Development ,
Eviction ,
Housing Developers ,
Office Space ,
Public Health ,
Renter's Rights ,
Student Housing ,
Sustainability ,
Zoning Laws
The much-discussed push to revive downtown San Francisco by converting empty office buildings to housing is starting to gather momentum. Eight office building owners have responded to the city’s “request for information”...more
With the state facing a severe housing crisis, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill into law that will make it easier for universities and other housing developers to build housing and overcome lawsuits from local residents...more
9/21/2023
/ Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) ,
Affordable Housing ,
California ,
CEQA ,
Community Development ,
Governor Newsom ,
Housing Developers ,
Real Estate Development ,
Rental Property ,
State and Local Government ,
State Bans
Governor Gavin Newsom said he will work this year to reform a landmark state environmental law that he says has been weaponized by wealthy homeowners to block badly-needed housing for students at UC Berkeley....more
In response to rent payments soaring across the country in recent years, the Biden administration unveiled new actions last Wednesday to protect tenants, make renting more affordable, and improve fairness in the rental...more
The Mercury News – December 6-
Just one day after the start of the new legislative session, Senator Scott Wiener announced Senate Bill 4 — the “Affordable Housing on Faith Lands Act.” The bill would remove red tape for...more
12/14/2022
/ Affordable Housing ,
California ,
Churches ,
Community Development ,
Eviction ,
Housing Developers ,
Landlords ,
Moratorium ,
Stanford University ,
Wildfires ,
Wildlife Protection
A developer's guide to the Builder's Remedy - Allen Matkins – November 4 -
The so-called "Builder's Remedy" under the Housing Accountability Act (HAA) is disciplinary and applies when a local jurisdiction has not adopted a...more
State launches review of San Francisco’s housing approval practices Bullet SFGate – August 9 The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) is launching an unprecedented review of San Francisco's housing...more
State gives San Francisco 30 days to explain why it blocked 800 housing units in recent months -
San Francisco Chronicle – November 23 -
The state Department of Housing and Community Development is giving San Francisco...more
Outcry against ADU construction in San Diego prompts rule change proposals -
The San Diego Union-Tribune – September 26 -
Growing outcry over the construction of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in some San Diego...more
Governor Newsom signs State Density Bonus Law clean up legislation -
Allen Matkins – September 29 -
On September 28, Governor Newsom signed SB 290, which amends certain provisions of the Density Bonus Law (Gov. Code §...more
10/1/2021
/ Affordable Housing ,
Commercial Tenants ,
Community Development ,
Density Bonus ,
Environmental Review ,
Eviction ,
Governor Newsom ,
Housing Developers ,
Natural Gas ,
Rising Sea Levels ,
Urban Planning & Development
Governor Newsom and California lawmakers hit an impasse on financing bullet train -
Los Angeles Times – September 3 -
A battle to secure an additional $4.2 billion for the California bullet train has hit an impasse,...more
Biden has a plan to remove some freeways. Will it make cities more healthy?
Los Angeles Times – July 12 -
The Mandela Parkway in West Oakland has changed in many ways, including demographically, since the nearby...more
Biden’s climate pledge for first time pushes U.S. beyond California goals -
KQED – April 27 -
Phasing out all new sales of gas-powered cars by 2035 and achieving carbon neutrality 10 years later are just a few of...more
Federal bill would give $1.5B to pro-housing localities -
The Real Deal – March 24 -
Three U.S. senators have introduced the bipartisan Housing Supply and Affordability Act, which would provide $1.5 billion for...more
Huntington Beach loses housing case against the state of California -
Los Angeles Times – February 2 -
The city of Huntington Beach lost a lawsuit against the state of California, in which the city sought exemption...more
Back rent in California nearing $1.7 billion, Federal Reserve study finds -
Orange County Register – November 12 -
California’s back rent is projected to reach nearly $1.7 billion by the end of the year, or almost a...more
11/20/2020
/ Commercial Property Owners ,
Community Development ,
Commuting ,
Electricity ,
Eviction ,
Green Buildings ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Mixed-Use Zoning ,
Rental Property ,
Sustainability ,
Telecommuting ,
Urban Planning & Development
Proposed California law would fast-track environmentally sustainable transit -
San Francisco Chronicle – June 15 -
Transportation projects focused on public transit, bikes, and pedestrians would get fast-tracked for...more
6/19/2020
/ CEQA ,
Clean Energy ,
Community Development ,
CPUC ,
Energy Policy ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Property Tax ,
Public Transit ,
Renewable Energy ,
State Pilot Programs ,
Sustainability ,
Vacant Properties ,
Zero-Emission Vehicles
To cut carbon emissions, a movement grows to ‘electrify everything’ -
Yale Environment 360 – April 14 -
On March 24, just before the city council of Santa Cruz passed an emergency measure to prevent evictions of...more
After SB 50’s defeat, California lawmaker unveils ‘light touch’ housing density bill -
Los Angeles Times – March 9 -
Six weeks after his high-profile effort to force California cities to increase housing density...more
Poor grades for California cities on ADUs -
East Bay Times – March 3 -
California cities are doing a poor job of encouraging homeowners to build accessory dwelling units (ADUs) amid the housing crisis, despite several...more