New law aims to increase individual home ownership in California -
Bullet SFGate – September 29 -
A bill prompted by the Moms 4 Housing occupation of a vacant West Oakland home late last year and signed by Governor...more
10/2/2020
/ AirBnB ,
Climate Action Plan ,
Environmental Impact Report (EIR) ,
Governor Newsom ,
Housing Developers ,
Land Use Restrictions ,
Public Projects ,
Public Transit ,
Public Transportation ,
Renewable Energy ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Communities Strategy
S.F.’s Embarcadero could be devastated by earthquakes and rising seas, study warns -
SFGate – September 19 -
The Embarcadero in San Francisco faces severe threats from both earthquakes that could undermine the city’s...more
9/28/2020
/ Carbon Emissions ,
Conditional Use Permit ,
Earthquakes ,
Environmental Policies ,
Flood Management ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Natural Disasters ,
Sustainability ,
Urban Planning & Development ,
Waste Treatment Facilities ,
Wastewater
California commercial real estate ramps up use of alternative energy sources -
Bullet Bisnow – September 13 -
Stem is one of a number of alternative energy companies seeing an increase in demand from commercial real...more
9/21/2020
/ American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) ,
Climate Change ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Energy Efficiency ,
Energy Projects ,
Homeless Issues ,
Housing Developers ,
Housing Discrimination ,
Microgrids ,
Renewable Energy ,
Solar Energy ,
Sustainability ,
Wildfires
When roads heat up during the summer, the asphalt poisons urban air -
Fast Company – September 8 -
In the summer, dark asphalt roads and roofs absorb heat from the sun and then put it back into the air, which is...more
California bill would allow a duplex on most single-family parcels -
Los Angeles Times – August 26 -
The California Assembly is considering a bill, authored by state Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins (D-San Diego),...more
9/1/2020
/ Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) ,
Affordable Housing ,
Air Pollution ,
City Planning Departments ,
Climate Change ,
High-Speed Rail ,
Landfills ,
Local Ordinance ,
Single Family Housing ,
Sustainability ,
Urban Planning & Development ,
Waste Management ,
Zoning Laws
Sea level rise could bring flooding to inland California -
Bullet Los Angeles Times – August 17 -
Sea level rise is more complicated than just waves breaking over seawalls and beaches disappearing. As the ocean moves...more
8/24/2020
/ Affordable Housing ,
Climate Change ,
Environmental Policies ,
Flood Control ,
Flood Management ,
Flooding ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Highways ,
Land Use Restrictions ,
Real Estate Development ,
Sustainability ,
US Geological Survey ,
Wetlands
L.A. aims to increase affordable housing with proposed zoning changes -
Daily Breeze – August 6 -
The Los Angeles Department of City Planning last Thursday released plans for an incentive-based zoning system for...more
8/17/2020
/ Affordable Housing ,
City Planning Departments ,
Construction Project ,
Department of Energy (DOE) ,
Department of Transportation (DOT) ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Public Transit ,
Real Estate Development ,
State and Local Government ,
Sustainability ,
Urban Planning & Development ,
Zoning Laws
Manhattan Beach’s short-term rental ban voided until state Coastal Commission approves -
The Beach Reporter – July 30 -
The Los Angeles Superior Court late last month voided Manhattan Beach’s short term rental law,...more
8/10/2020
/ Beach Access ,
Beachfront Properties ,
California Coastal Commission ,
Climate Change ,
Coastal Real Estate ,
Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) ,
Land Developers ,
National Parks ,
Public Land ,
Right of Access ,
State and Local Government ,
Sustainability ,
Trump Administration ,
Waterfront Properties
ACEEE highlights 10 building energy performance standards to help meet climate goals -
Bullet Utility Dive – June 24 -
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) released a white paper this Monday...more
7/2/2020
/ Affordable Housing ,
California Air Resources Board ,
Cap-and-Trade ,
CEQA ,
Climate Change ,
Energy Efficiency ,
Environmental Impact Report (EIR) ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Homeless Issues ,
Land Use Restrictions ,
Natural Gas ,
Oil & Gas ,
PG&E ,
Sustainability
San Diego approves new housing blueprint that calls for tripling yearly construction through 2029 -
Bullet The San Diego Union-Tribune – June 17 -
The San Diego City Council last week unanimously approved a...more
6/25/2020
/ Affordable Housing ,
Charging Stations ,
Climate Change ,
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ,
Homeless Issues ,
Housing Developers ,
Public Transit ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Projects ,
Uber ,
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
Better Buildings Initiative partners save $11B In energy costs -
Bullet Facility Executive – June 9 -
The more than 950 public and private sector organizations participating in the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Better...more
6/12/2020
/ Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Department of Energy (DOE) ,
Electricity ,
Elon Musk ,
Energy Projects ,
Governor Newsom ,
High-Speed Rail ,
Land Use Restrictions ,
Multi-Family Development ,
Social Distancing ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Communities Strategy ,
Zoning Laws
California lawmakers wrestle with coronavirus on top of housing shortages -
Bullet San Francisco Chronicle – May 9 -
As the Legislature returns for a session redefined by the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic,...more
More changes to CEQA timelines due to the COVID-19 pandemic -
Bullet Allen Matkins – April 30 -
In response to public-health concerns associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, California Governor Gavin Newsom issued...more
Looking to escape ‘endless’ litigation, L.A. is open to federal oversight for homelessness -
Bullet Los Angeles Times – April 25 -
The Los Angeles City Council has authorized City Attorney Mike Feuer to begin discussions...more
Thirteen states and several environmental groups sue over energy efficiency rollback -
The Hill – April 14 -
Thirteen states, including California, and several environmental groups filed separate lawsuits against the...more
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
Coronavirus means building owners and companies need to look at new health standards -
Bisnow – March 31 -
The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), an organization focused on the health and wellness 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
California lawmakers eye limits on housing project fees -
Associated Press – February 25 -
In their latest bid to combat California’s affordable housing crisis, state lawmakers this Monday announced a package of bills...more
2/27/2020
/ Affordable Housing ,
Community Shared Solar ,
Department of Energy (DOE) ,
Energy Efficiency ,
Housing Developers ,
Land Developers ,
Public Transit ,
Rising Sea Levels ,
State and Local Government ,
Sustainability ,
Sustainable Projects ,
Urban Planning & Development
‘All-electric’ movement picks up speed, catching some off guard -
When Berkeley became the first city in the country to ban natural gas hookups in new construction last July, no one knew the effects would ripple out so...more
2/7/2020
/ Affordable Housing ,
Eminent Domain ,
Housing Developers ,
Landlords ,
Low Income Housing ,
Municipalities ,
Planned Communities ,
Rent Control ,
Residential Real Estate Market ,
Sustainability ,
Urban Planning & Development ,
Zoning Laws
Focus -
California Senate rejects controversial housing bill -
San Francisco Chronicle – January 29 -
A contentious bill to increase the housing supply in California by boosting dense construction around public...more
Focus -
Hollister Ranch sues California, calling new public access law unconstitutional -
Los Angeles Times – January 16 -
In a new twist to one of the most high-profile — and longest — beach access battles in...more
Focus -
California tries to save law it calls crucial tool in housing crisis -
San Francisco Chronicle – January 14 -
California is stepping into the legal battle over a proposed condominium project in San Mateo to...more