News
Newport officials push against open-space plans for Banning Ranch
The Orange County Register – August 9
Faced with what they consider an unreasonable requirement to build 4,845 new homes in Newport Beach over the next decade, city officials are eyeing part of Banning Ranch’s undeveloped land as a site for possible building. The problem for those officials is that conservationists have a contract to buy most of the 410-acre coastal parcel for permanent open space and recreational use. It is the largest privately-owned, undeveloped coastal property in Southern California. So far, $66 million has been raised toward the $97 million price tag, with the purchase expected to include deed restrictions that would block future housing development.
Underserved San Diego neighborhoods will get more money for parks
The San Diego Union-Tribune – August 3
The San Diego City Council last Tuesday replaced its 65-year-old parks master plan with a new funding formula, also committing to creating 100 more acres of parks over the next 10 years and establishing a regional park in Barrio Logan. The new plan is meant to address the city’s long-standing inequities in parks funding, which over the years has resulted in some neighborhoods having plenty of funds to build more and higher-quality parks while other neighborhoods have made do with fewer, sparser parks. The crux of the new master plan is an overhaul of how developer fees will be used to help fund parks.
Encinitas City Council to vote on new green building ordinance
The Coast News Group – August 4
Later this month the Encinitas City Council will vote on a final draft ordinance to become the first city in the San Diego region with a major building electrification ordinance. However, some exceptions included in the ordinance have advocates concerned the draft may not go far enough to achieve its long-term climate goals. One such exception is for both attached and detached accessory dwelling units or ADUs. According to Ann Feeney of the San Diego Building Electrification Coalition, the climate action plan administrator for the city of Encinitas said they did not want to put any impediments to the construction of ADUs due to the city’s Housing Element.
California State University Long Beach’s new dormitory is one of California’s most sustainable
Building Design and Construction – August 9
California State University Long Beach has completed the first student housing project on the campus in 34 years. The entire project, dubbed the Hillside Gateway building, is LEED Platinum with the housing portion obtaining a partial Petal Certification for Living Building Challenge project certification. An administration building included in the project will receive certification for the FULL Living Building Challenge. It is reportedly only the third project in California to receive this level of sustainability.
120 EV charging stations to be installed at California apartment complexes through state partnership
Smart Cities Dive – August 6
Backed by state funding, a tech company is installing 120 electric vehicle chargers at apartment complexes throughout California in an effort to remove obstacles that prevent lower-income renters and residents from owning EVs. The company, EVmatch, received a more than $700,000 grant from the California Energy Commission to deploy the charging stations in the parking lots and garages of apartment buildings in Santa Clara, Los Angeles, and San Diego counties. The company plans to target properties where residents face major barriers to owning and charging EVs, said founder and CEO Heather Hochrein.
UN climate report increases urgency for green investment funds
Reuters – August 10
Dire warnings about climate change are a call to action for investors who put their money into helping the environment. But the news also heightens a debate about how to make these strategies effective, financial executives said. A U.N climate report on Monday found that global warming is dangerously close to spiraling out of control. Even the most severe carbon emission cuts are unlikely to prevent global warming of 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial temperatures by 2040, a level that many scientists believe must be achieved to avert catastrophic climate change.
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