California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)

Held Up by Environmental Litigation, Playa Vista Finally Gets Its Own Downtown

After a hard-won legal battle, Los Angeles' youngest coastal community can finally begin construction on its mixed-use downtown, report Roger Vincent and Martha Groves.

April 8, 2012 - Los Angeles Times

Should states have environmental review statutes for rezonings?

After reading an article on the misuse of CEQA in California,* I took a short look at New York law.  In New York, city planners must prepare an environmental assessment when property is rezoned, and must prepare a more detailed environmental impact statement (EIS) if property has a significant effect on the environment.  

November 14, 2011 - Michael Lewyn

Companies Use CEQA as a Weapon

When a student housing firm faced competition in the form of a proposed new building at USC, it filed a lawsuit against them using CEQA (the California Environmental Quality Act). Then they sued the developer's other projects too.

November 14, 2011 - The Los Angeles Times

Moving Infill from Policy to Reality

A new organization in California is advocating for reforms to make infill a more viable option for communities around the state of California. Their three talking points: redevelopment, CEQA reform, and parking requirements.

May 3, 2011 - The Planning Report

HSR Too Slow? Blame CEQA

The California High Speed Rail Blog says that the biggest obstacle to building HSR in California isn't the cost, but a number of problems with the planning process, especially the California Environmental Quality Act.

November 19, 2009 - California High Speed Rail Blog

Environmental Laws Bypassed for California Stadium Project

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed a bill that allows developers of a planned football stadium in Southern California to bypass environmental laws and speed up the planning process.

October 22, 2009 - Los Angeles Times

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.

October 15, 2009 - Pasadena Star-News

Climate Change Stumps California Planners

Although climate change is a predominant issue for California's land use planners, they concede they are just making up new practices and lack the tools they really need. Paul Shigley reports from the CAL APA Conference.

September 22, 2009 - California Planning & Development Report

Concerns Over Sidelining CEQA

The California Environmental Quality Act is being set aside for a handful of stimulus projects, but even when the project is to the benefit of the community many see the sidelining as silencing much-needed input.

March 17, 2009 - California Planning & Development Report

CEQA–Exemption: Schwarzenegger’s Bargaining Chip

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.

December 29, 2008 - Sacramento Bee

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