To Save San Francisco, a Democrat Wants to Scrap Environmental Reviews
State Senator Scott Wiener is proposing a rollback of the California Environmental Quality Act in order to address the housing crisis in San Francisco.
The proposed rollback would allow most projects in downtown San Francisco to bypass environmental review for the next decade. [ more ]
Fresh details on Austin's light-rail plans emerge as officials chase federal cash - Austin Monitor
The Austin Transit Partnership (ATP) is launching an environmental review to qualify for federal funding for a light-rail system in Austin.
ATP is considering various decisions, such as shifting train stations, constructing a light-rail bridge, and creating a tree-lined hike-and-bike trail. [ more ]
See the new California laws looking to boost affordable home construction
California has passed several state bills aimed at increasing the construction of affordable housing by bypassing environmental reviews and curbing discretionary hearings.
One bill requires the approval of affordable housing projects on urban land owned by private colleges and religious institutions without a discretionary review process, while another bill extends the consequences for cities that fail to build enough homes to meet state-mandated goals. [ more ]