[Originally posted on March 23, 2018, updated on April 11, 2018]
Following more than six years of planning and public outreach, the City initiated the formal approval process
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 6
Land Use Showdown: Battle Lines Are Drawn in SB 827 Housing Density and Height Debate
By Tay Via
[Originally posted on March 19, 2018, updated on April 11, 2018]
Building on the state’s major housing legislation from 2017, Senator Scott Wiener’s SB 827 proposes major increases in height and density for qualifying housing developments. A project would generally…
Assemblyman Chiu Unveils AB 3037 Community Redevelopment Proposal
By Tay Via
Assemblyman David Chiu has unveiled his long-promised legislation to establish a modified version of the state’s former redevelopment program, aimed at creating major state funding for affordable housing, transit, and other infrastructure. Chiu introduced AB 3037 as placeholder legislation on…
Farewell to Costa-Hawkins Agreements for On-Site Affordable Rental Units in SF
By Dan Gershwin
San Francisco wasted no time implementing AB 1505, which authorizes localities to adopt ordinances requiring developers to provide on-site inclusionary affordable housing units in rental projects, provided that there is an alternative means of compliance such as in-lieu fees…
Local Implementation of Senate Bill 35
The San Francisco Planning Director issued a Bulletin in December 2017 explaining how SB 35 will be implemented locally now that it is effective, as of January 1, 2018. Among other things, the Bulletin includes a new ministerial Planning Code…
State Grants Two Year CEQA Streamlining Extension for “Environmental Leadership Projects”
By Nick DuBroff & Rob Hodil
Environmental Justice Element Now Required for California’s General Plans
By Nick DuBroff
Dude, Where’s My Car? San Francisco’s New Gross Floor Area Definition Furthers Sustainable Transportation Goals
By Nick DuBroff
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors is considering minor modifications to the Planning Code definition of Gross Floor Area. The Planning Department characterizes these changes as “good government” measures to clarify the Code and further the City’s sustainable transportation goals.…
Governor Brown Signs Major Housing Package Into Law
By Dan Gershwin
On September 29, 2017, Governor Brown signed into law a 15-bill housing package. A few of the key components, including approval streamlining, are summarized below. The housing package did not include AB 915, which would have authorized the City…
BEWARE: Broad New CA County and City Authority To Impose Transfer Tax on Entity Interest Transfers
By Seth Pardee
