Last spring, we reported on Senator Scott Wiener’s SB 827, which proposed major increases in height and density for qualifying housing developments. Battle lines quickly emerged, with supporters claiming that the legislation was a bold, necessary solution to the
Unfamiliar Terrain
Navigating the complex Bay Area land use landscape
Unfamiliar Terrain is a blog published by the law firm Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP that focuses on legal developments affecting real estate, land use, and housing policy, particularly in California. The blog covers legislative changes such as housing production laws, zoning reforms, and environmental regulations like CEQA streamlining. It also addresses issues related to commercial and residential tenant protections, public agency meeting procedures, and litigation strategies in land use and development. The content reflects the firm's expertise in corporate, real estate, environmental, and regulatory law, providing updates on state and local government actions impacting property development and management.
Latest from Unfamiliar Terrain - Page 5
At Long Last: Central SoMa Plan Effective
SF Planning Dept. – Central SoMa boundary map
After over seven years of planning and public outreach, as of January 7, 2019, the Central SoMa Plan and its implementing legislation are finally effective. The City’s analysis…
Major BART Housing Bill Passes
By Tay Via
On September 30, Governor Brown signed AB 2923, which could pave the way for BART to develop up to approximately 20,000 residential units, plus about 4.5 million square feet of office and commercial uses, on about 250 acres of BART-owned…
Update on Commercial Rent Tax: Tax For Childcare Passes, Faces Legal Challenge
Proposition C—the Commercial Rent Tax for Childcare and Early Education—is set to take effect on January 1, 2019, and increase the Gross Receipts Tax (“GRT”) on commercial rents in San Francisco. As discussed in our previous post, Proposition C…
Summer Summary: Recent Changes in Local Law
This summer, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors approved legislation that increased the Transportation Sustainability Fee (TSF) for large non-residential projects, amended the HOME-SF (Housing Opportunities Mean Equity-San Francisco) Program to temporarily (through 2019) reduce Program requirements, and created a…
California Voters Poised to Weigh in on Major Changes to Rent Control Law
California voters will consider a November ballot initiative (Proposition 10) that would repeal the 1995 California Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act (“Costa-Hawkins”). Costa-Hawkins generally limits rent controls that may be imposed by local jurisdictions on housing units in buildings…
RM-3 Passed – What Happens Next?
Earlier this summer, Bay Area voters passed Regional Measure 3 with 54% of the vote, authorizing $4.5 billion of transportation improvements throughout the region. Commuters will pay a $1 toll hike on seven Bay Area bridges, excluding only the Golden…
