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.
2. CARB Tells Developers to Take a Hike
The California Air Resources Board’s just-released staff recommendations for greenhouse gas reductions are a clear signal to developers that the value of your projects’ trail systems has never been greater. Trails are no longer just a recreational sweetener for potential homebuyers; they’re now something that makes grumpy regulators smile and think nice thoughts about your project. Make sure trails take center stage as you entitle and communicate about your project.
Read the Fresno Bee article here
3. Coastal Commission Chronicles Continue
When does development become development? The California Coastal Commission is having a hard time making up its mind. Earlier this year it called drawing in the sand “development,” requiring a permit. It’s called 4th of July fireworks “development,” too. But now it’s saying that an informal RV park housing homeless and beachgoers along streets in Venice Beach isn’t development, and Venicians are stuck with them. If your project goes before this body, make sure you have someone in your corner who has successfully navigated these treacherous waters before.
This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 17th, 2010 at 11:10 am and is filed under Coastal Commission, Development, Environment, Global Warming, Government, Uncategorized, Weekly 3. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
