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See the top 15 planning bills that planners should be watching

List of State agency resources and reference documents compled by OPR

View the list of important planning legislation.

A Primer for Policymakers, the Public, and the Press

The California Department of Housing and Community Development has released its final Guidelines for the Infill Infrastructure Grant Program (IIG).

The APA California Floodplain Planning Guidance document provides city and county planners with information about the new state requirements for floodplain planning

Prop 98 would be a planning and zoning nightmare and would be devasting to the environment and natural resource protection

NO ON PROP 98, the Hidden Agenda Scheme. YES ON PROP 99, The Homeowners Protection Act.

Larry Livingston passed away in December 2007 at the age of 89. He received APA's Distinguished Leadership Award in 1987, but is best known for his 1980 essay in Planning magazine: "Confessions of a Planner".

Read about the status of current legislation that impacts planning.

The following is an article by Vivian Kahn, FAICP: The folks who brought us Prop. 13 are at it again. Having made a mess of California's fiscal structure, they're now out to undermine the ability of California's communities to make decisions about how they're going to grow, preserve natural resources, and maintain and provide affordable housing. Prop. 90 was defeated last year in part because voters weren't fooled by the sponsors' attempt to deceive them by hiding damaging... [More Info]

A new on-line tool is available to analyze both the positive and negative impacts that big box retail stores can have on the economy, environment, and community. This free resource can be accessed at http://www.bigboxevaluator.org/ .

UCLA Extension's annual Land Use Law & Planning Conference will be held on Friday, January 25, 2008 at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles. For more information on this important event, please see the conference announcement and the draft program.

What can homeowners, tenants, business owners, and local officials expect after disasters? State law offers several exceptions from the standard requirements for land use and taxation decisions. The Senate Local Government Committee has compiled a list of related laws in their document: Development After Disasters

The State Department of Housing and Community Development will issue a technical assistance memo by December 31, 2007, to assist jurisdictions in meeting the requirements of SB 2. This measure by Senator Gilbert Cedillo was signed into law on October 15, 2007, and amends the State Housing Element Law to strengthen provisions that address housing needs for the homeless.

Read the Legislative Update for October/November 2007 to find out what bills the Governor signed, and more . . .

CCAPA has sent a letter to Governor Schwarzenegger urging him to veto AB 414 (Jones), a bill that would put counter-productive restrictions on local zoning options for housing. Click here to view the letter.

CCAPA supports SB 5, a bill that would provide clear direction for the State, flood agencies, and cities and counties of their responsibilities for flood management and development in flood hazard areas. CCAPA continues to oppose AB 414, which would impose restrictions on local zoning. Please see the article "AB 414 - Write your Senator"

The California Planning Foundation (CPF) is requesting donations for the 2007 Scholarship Auction to be held at the CCAPA Conference in San Jose on Monday, October 1st. Items such as artwork, gift baskets, and planning-related books for both the live and silent auction, as well as raffle prizes, would be greatly appreciated. To make a donation, submit a completed donation form to Virginia Viado or Larry Mintier by Wednesday, September 26th. Donations received by this date will be... [More Info]

HCD has drafted changes to the regulations governing the annual report on the status of implementing the housing element of the general plan. To see the proposed legislation and current status, please visit HCD's website at http://www.hcd.ca.gov/regulations.