2025 saw a number of Growth Management Act (GMA) and housing related bills in Washington, which are particularly relevant as planning counties and cities are in the middle of preparing their comprehensive plan updates and as...more
Earlier this year, Gaithersburg commenced an initiative called “Build Gaithersburg 2040” to update the city’s master plan. The update focuses on two key master plan elements – land use and transportation....more
After securing the approval of the Zoning and Franchises Subcommittee, as well as the Land Use Committee of the New York City (NYC) Council on August 6, 2025, the full NYC Council voted on August 14, 2025, to approve the...more
CHICAGO — Data Shows City’s Labor Market Stabilizing - Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago President Austan Goolsbee said the latest jobs report suggests the labor market is stabilizing at full employment and is not a sign of an...more
The Adams administration has officially announced the formation of a 14-member commission to rewrite the City Charter in 2025, continuing its focus on expanding housing opportunities. This commission aims to propose...more
New York City has taken what it intends to be a significant step toward addressing its housing crisis with the City Council’s December 5, 2024, approval of the third, and final, element of Mayor Adams’ City of Yes housing and...more
City of Yes for Housing Opportunity Approved by the Council - On December 5, 2024, the New York City Council approved with modifications the NYC Department of City Planning’s (DCP) City of Yes for Housing Opportunity, the...more
On December 5, 2024, the New York City Council approved with modifications the NYC Department of City Planning’s (DCP) City of Yes for Housing Opportunity, the third and final of Mayor Adams’ City of Yes initiatives. The new...more
The Michigan Court of Appeals recently provided clarification related to a municipality’s grant or denial of special land use permit applications. The case highlights the care municipal bodies must take to document their...more
On October 21-22, 2024, the NYC Council Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises held two hearings to discuss the third of three City of Yes zoning initiatives, the "City of Yes for Housing Opportunity” proposal, aimed at...more
After an 18-month study process, the Boston Planning Department has released an Action Plan proposing strategies to modernize Boston’s development review process. The Planning Department is accepting comments on the plan...more
City of Los Angeles - Increase to Planning Applications and Affordable Housing Linkage Fees - On July 1, 2024, the fee for planning and land use applications increased by 3.5% based on the Consumer Price Index for All Urban...more
Mayor Eric Adams’ “Green Fast Track for Housing” initiative went into effect June 3, 2024, with the aim of shortening the lengthy environmental review process for certain residential developments reviewed by the City Planning...more
Fauquier County and Fairfax County are tightening zoning regulations for data center developments. In March, the Fauquier County Board of Supervisors approved zoning changes for the Vint Hill area's Planned Commercial...more
Mayor Adams announced Lynelle Maginley-Liddie as the new Commissioner of the NYC Department of Correction (DOC). Maginley-Liddie currently serves as First Deputy Commissioner and Chief Diversity Officer of DOC, and will...more
In an effort to “fundamentally change [the State’s] approach to housing development, particularly for the moderate and affordable development we need most,” the Rhode Island General Assembly recently passed a slew of...more
Bill extends exemption from CEQA and discretionary entitlements for housing projects while adding the Coastal Zone to the mix - If you are having trouble keeping track of all the housing bills in California this year,...more
Recent Legislation Amending the Surplus Lands Act Provides Clarity and Additional Flexibility to Public Agencies - Recently, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 747 and Assembly Bill 480 into law to make common-sense...more
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Department of City Planning Director Dan Garodnick, along with other public officials, have announced three initiatives to spur the conversion of vacant office buildings into housing....more
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law Senate Bill 102 on March 28, 2023, with an effective date of July 1, 2023. Commonly referred to as the Live Local Act (the Act), it has significant land use, zoning and tax benefits...more
Kramer Levin recently hosted a seminar titled “Emerging Issues in Land Use: The Year in Review and What’s Ahead,” where experts discussed New York City planning initiatives and land use trends. Among the speakers were Jessica...more
Picture this scenario: You have a residential development project that had conceptual approval from the local Planning Board two years ago. Under the local laws that existed when you applied for your approval, you were...more
State Budget “Conceptual Agreement” - Governor Hochul has announced a “conceptual agreement” on the state budget at an expected $229 billion. State Sen. Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl...more
Last week the Office of the Attorney General demonstrated the State of California’s unwillingness to cede its enforcement of state housing laws even in the face of defiance from local governments. On April 10, in People of...more
Noisy college students, the new CEQA impact? Would you be surprised to learn that college students can throw noisy parties? Uh, no, but it may be a surprise that they constitute a potentially significant environmental impact...more