Gov. Schwarzenegger wants the California Environmental Quality Act- a requirement for major transportation projects- waived if he is to sign the $18 billion Democratic package that balances the budget and is crafted to circumvent Republican approval.
"The Republican governor last week rejected an $18 billion Democratic plan that would have partially solved the state's anticipated $40 billion shortfall through June 2010." [See "Governor vows to veto lawmakers' budget"]
On Dec. 17, the California Pooled Money Investment Board stopped all state construction projects funded by bonds because the state may soon run out of cash.
"Schwarzenegger says that if he is to approve new taxes – something just two years ago he said he would never do – then he must also relax regulations" so as to make these projects qualify as 'shovel-ready' for the Obama stimulus plan.
"It's come down to three key issues that pit business interests against labor unions and environmentalists:
• rollback of environmental review for construction projects,
• greater use of private investment and contractors,
• and deeper spending cuts, including those affecting the state work force.
While Democrats exempted eight projects from California Environmental Quality Act review, their bill requires Caltrans to conduct its own environmental assessments in those cases. Schwarzenegger said those assessments leave projects at risk for CEQA-like lawsuits and do nothing to expedite construction."
Thanks to Roundup
FULL STORY: Governor presses to expedite transportation projects
CEQA Waived for Stadium
The California State Senate has approved a bill that grants a proposed stadium project in the City of Industry an exemption from the CEQA process.
California Adopts CEQA Reforms for Infrastructure, Leaves Out Residential
The state of California adopted reforms to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pertaining to climate-friendly infrastructure projects, but residential development interests hoping for relief from CEQA will have to wait.
California Governor's Proposal Would Streamline Infrastructure Projects
Governor Newsom hopes his proposed changes to state laws would help speed up infrastructure projects before federal funding is put in jeopardy.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Google Maps Introduces New Transit, EV Features
It will now be easier to find electric car charging stations and transit options.
Ohio Lawmakers Propose Incentivizing Housing Production
A proposed bill would take a carrot approach to stimulating housing production through a grant program that would reward cities that implement pro-housing policies.
Chicago Awarded $2M Reconnecting Communities Grant
Community advocates say the city’s plan may not do enough to reverse the negative impacts of a major expressway.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Town of Zionsville
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
