California Governor Gavin Newsom recently endorsed two significant bills aimed at expediting urban housing development to combat the ongoing housing crisis. His revised budget proposal intends to amend the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to facilitate quicker permitting for infill projects and remove barriers that have historically delayed construction. Noteworthy elements include imposing permit deadlines and allowing larger projects to benefit from previously reserved streamlining processes. By addressing ambiguities within CEQA, Newsom believes that transformative housing solutions can be implemented effectively, affirming the need for decisive action from state leaders.
"It's time to accelerate urban infill. It's time to exempt them from CEQA, it's time to focus on judicial streamlining. It's time to get serious about this issue. Period, full stop," Newsom said.
Newsom praised Assemblymember Buffy Wicks and state Sen. Scott Wiener for sponsoring bills designed to ease the permitting process for infill projects in urban areas.
CEQA has long been used by opponents to impede or delay construction, often locking developers into years-long court battles, with its vagueness allowing challenges from anyone with resources.
Newsom's housing proposal looks to force permit deadlines on the Coastal Commission and allow larger projects to use CEQA streamlining usually reserved for smaller developments.
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