Archive for the ‘Development’ Category
Laer to start second year as Builder News columnist
The national homebuilding magazine Builder News has again picked up Laer as a columnist for 2011, following the successful debut of his business column in 2010. His columns will appear in the February, April, June, August, October and December issues and cover regulation, communications and public affairs topics that affect the building and development industries.
Laer’s more than 25 years of experience helping home builders navigate the entitlement process in California has made him an expert on how to get projects approved in California. His column aims to help home builders across the nation better understand the regulatory environment.
“California is the master of over-regulating industry, and there is no industry they like to regulate more than the building industry. The news we share with Builder News about what happens here is a warning sign to the rest of the nation, so they can prepare.”
Laer’s Builder News articles from 2010 are linked below. We will share the new articles with you as they are published, or you can subscribe to receive Builder News personally. Click on the images below for full-size views.
Prop 26 – A New Way To Stop Projects?
Given how deft Sacramento is at hiding taxes as fees in order to avoid the mandatory two-thirds vote for taxes, who didn’t vote for Prop 26, so fees will also be subject to a two-thirds vote? Well, actually 4.3 million Californians didn’t, by current count. Fortunately for wallet-watchers, 4.7 million voted yes.
But California is nothing if not the Land of Unintended Consequences. Now it looks like Prop 26 could be a nifty new way for state regulatory boards like the California Coastal Commission or a Regional Water Quality Control Board, which are subject to its provisions, to delay new development projects.
Development fees are not subject to Prop 26, so if a new project is dinged a nice little bucket of cash to improve signals at some intersections it’s impacting, no special vote is required. That’s fine – the authors of the California Chamber-sponsored proposition anticipated that, and wrote the measure to protect developers.
Land Weekly 3: Friendlier or Snippier Times Ahead?
What were the three biggest California water stories of the past seven days? Well, the news-heads and policy wonks here at Laer Pearce & Associates have compiled them for you here. You’ll find the Big Three here every Thursday, or you can follow LPALand on Twitter for up-to-the-minute news and analysis. You can also sign up to receive the Weekly 3 via email here. This week:
Friendlier Feds, Snippier State Regulators?
According to political insiders – and pretty much anybody who’s ever dealt with an appointed regulatory body – having more Republicans in office generally is good news for permit-seekers in the housing industry. So the outcome of last week’s election should bring some hopey, changey prospects in the short-term nationwide, as the GOP takes over key committee posts in the House and a slew of new Republican governors take office. Here in California, it’s a whole different story. Tuesday meant at least four more years of Jerry Brown, whose agenda will be topped, said CalWatchdog’s Steven Greenhut at a recent luncheon, by environmental issues and slowing (or stopping!) new development. That’s not exactly change we can believe in.
Local Land-Use Matters Split November Ballot
The San Diego Union Tribune identified 17 key local land-use matters before California voters on Tuesday. After all the votes were cast, nine resulted in positive news for the building industry, while eight weren’t so great. See the rundown below.
Merced County Measure C: Voter Confirmation of Zoning Changes - Failed
Considered a slow growth initiative and known originally as the “Save Farmland Initiative,” Measure C would amend the county’s general plan to require voter approval whenever ten or more acres would be converted from agricultural or open space to residential use.
Yes 43.84%
No 56.16%
Land Weekly 3: New Lawns, New Species, New Priorities
What were the three biggest California land development stories of the past seven days? Well, the news-heads and policy wonks here at Laer Pearce & Associates have compiled them for you here. You’ll find the Big Three here, or you can follow LPALand on Twitter for up-to-the-minute news and analysis. You can also sign up to receive the Weekly 3 via email here. This week:
Raking of Muck Slows Raking of New Lawns
Political wonks like the crew at LP&A love the craziness and drama that comes with election season. But it turns out that homebuyers just might not be so keen on it. According to Shea Homes CEO Bert Silva, political attack ads “just don’t put people in the mood to buy a new home.” Our fingers are cautiously crossed that today’s political battles will bring the beginnings of a path toward less regulation and greater economic certainty come November 3, and that should surely put those weary homebuyers – and homebuilders – in better spirits.
LP&A Land Weekly 3: Reaching, Reaching, Reaching
What were the three biggest California land development stories of the past seven days? Well, the news-heads and policy wonks here at Laer Pearce & Associates have compiled them for you here. You’ll find the Big Three here, or you can follow LPALand on Twitter for up-to-the-minute news and analysis. You can also sign up to receive the Weekly 3 via email here. This week:
CARB Officials Reach for Their Sunglasses
It may not exactly be “Morning in America” just yet, but the sun is beginning to shine through the obfuscating clouds in Sacramento. A new law signed this week by Governor Schwarzenegger requires the California Air Resources Control Board to – get this – actually explain to businesses why they’re being fined. According to the bill’s author, “there was nothing that held CARB accountable in how the penalties were determined or the reason for the violation.” That was a necessary first step. Now it’s time to address the burdensome laws CARB will be more transparently enforcing.
The Weekly 3 Land: Red tape and NIMBYs galore
What were the three biggest California land development stories of the past seven days? Well, the news-heads and policy wonks here at Laer Pearce & Associates have compiled them for you here. You’ll find the Big Three here, or you can follow LPALand on Twitter for up-to-the-minute news and analysis. You can also sign up to receive the Weekly 3 via email here. This week:
Red Tape…Fuggedaboudit
It’s a rare day when California can learn something from the state of New Jersey. We’ll take the California shore over Jersey’s version any day, but Californians should be paying attention to what New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is up to. The state’s newly elected leader is proposing the merger or elimination of nearly 300 boards and commissions – including many inactive or defunct groups created years ago, and some that have never met at all. Sacramento, are you listening?
Weekly 3 Land Development: half full glasses and water retention basins
What are the three biggest stories each week in the world of California land development? You’ll find them right here, or follow LP&A all week long on Twitter at @LPALand for up-to-the-minute news and analysis. You can also sign up to receive the Weekly 3 via email here. This week:
Someone’s glass is half full. Of what, we’re not sure.
If you’re like us, you’ve seen so many conflicting homebuilding forecasts in recent months that your head is spinning. We know there are still many bears out there, but we wanted to share a recent report from CalPoly Pomona’s Real Estate Research Council, which gives us at least a glimmer of hope. The report anticipates that because of current dreary numbers, California homebuilding could rise as much as 246 percent in the next 18 months. In an accompanying reader poll, 80 percent responded “What are they smoking?”
Weekly 3 Land: Spited noses, golden gambles and more
What are the three biggest stories each week in the world of California land development? You’ll find them right here, or follow LP&A all week long on Twitter at @LPALand for up-to-the-minute news and analysis. You can also sign up to receive the Weekly 3 via email here. This week:
1. What’s That About Noses and Faces and Spite?
There’s AB32, SB375 and a whole host of other regulations designed to coerce developers onto the green bandwagon. Some moves in that direction are wholly embraced by the building community, primarily because they’re market-driven solutions that provide tangible benefits. Like smart energy and water meters that help homeowners better manage their consumption and reduce utility bills. So why is the evergreen County of Santa Cruz moving to ban the technology? It’s afraid the wireless signal the boxes transmit – similar to cell phones – poses health risks. Builders beware.
The Weekly 3: Land Development
What are the three biggest stories each week in the world of California land development? You’ll find them right here, or follow LP&A all week long on Twitter at @LPALand for up-to-the-minute news and analysis. You can also subscribe to our e-blast to receive our Weekly Three directly. This week:
1. It depends what your definition of “is” is
Either a plant or animal species is threatened with extinction or it’s not. Seems pretty black and white … or green. So why is the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service trying to list some populations of the Preble’s Meadow jumping mouse and other species as threatened, even though the species itself is abundant? The Service’s motives are up for debate, but the consequences are as clear a new double-paned Energy Star window: lots of land could soon fall unnecessarily under tough federal permitting requirements, and that’s no bueno for homebuilders and the successful habitat conservation planning efforts they’ve spearheaded.
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