Moves abound to change environmental law to build more housing (CA)

[Kadie]

Posted on Sun, Apr. 03, 2005



Moves abound to change environmental law to build more housing

JIM WASSERMAN

Associated Press


SACRAMENTO - California's housing shortage, which has pushed median home prices above $470,000, is spurring a variety of moves to change the state's 35-year-old environmental protection law, long considered the nation's toughest.

Attempts by the state's home building industry to change the 1970 law, signed by former Gov. Ronald Reagan, are nothing new, but this year Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and a growing list of Democrats are joining in. Key lawmakers are pushing bills to make it easier for developers to maneuver around the law, especially to build housing in downtowns and older urban neighborhoods.

The growing momentum to change the California Environmental Quality Act sets up a clash between business and environmental interests in a state with some of the nation's highest priced homes and lowest rates of homeownership. A majority of Californians can no longer afford to buy homes, prompting some lawmakers to lament their generation may be the state's first unable to provide a better life for its children.

Although environmental groups have given Schwarzenegger's early moves high marks, the governor is expected to unveil proposals to ease current CEQA rules and make it harder to use the law to stop residential construction projects. A draft version of the bill would limit the ability of opponents to file some lawsuits and would streamline the regulatory process for developers in areas already planned and zoned for housing.

more...
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/breaking_news/11302661.htm

[Kerrytravelers]

1. Hang tough Democrats!

Isn't it nice to see the CA Dems holding tight to their concerns for the environment and not cower to the likes of business and the corporate mindset. It's nice to know that the CA Dems aren't starstruck by the presence of old Ah-nald.




I live in CA and am I pissed!

[mtnester]

2. California....please do not do this

please...stay tough!

[XemaSab]

3. The issue here is that

houses in the big cities are the expensive houses. These are the places that are driving up the housing prices.

The only places to build cheap housing are on the agricultural lands and in the forests. This is a terrible idea.

[yorkiemommie1]

4. my city is besieged by developers

and the city council that is beholden to them. the mayor shamelessly uses Arnie as a shield.

[Stinky The Clown]

5. I'm not familiar enough with CA in particular, but

anything that will allow for easier upgrading and renovation of existing urban housing stock is a good thing in my book.

My specific familiarity is in Baltimore. The renovation of the old rowhouse housing stock has been at the "boom" level for more than a decade and continues unabated.

To be sure, there are some issues. Displaced residents (mostly renters) is surely one. Crazy, greedy speculators is another. But ways to allow a homeowner to upgrade at reasonable rates brings out the best in neighbors and soon whole neighborhoods, formerly blighted, are again desirable. Sensitive developers are also a good thing. In Baltimore, there are still rowhouses that can be had (in ..... uh .... "urban pioneer" neighborhoods) for $20K. Yes, twenty thousand dollars. The average rowhouse rehab to a decent standard is about $50K, no matter the location within the city or the underlying value of the house. That makes for affordable housing and urban renewal and a return to the city's tax rolls formerly blighted, under taxed assets.

Indeed, if you want to invest, look into rehabbing in your city. There are lots of people who do one to four houses a year and make a pretty decent income at the same time. Laws to encourage this is a good thing. The trick is to limit some things in a way that excludes the scalpers, vultures, opportunists, gougers, charlatans, and other nefarious and unscrupulous characters.

Maybe, since Baltimore is about 80% Democrat, there's less an issue there. :shrug:

edit for bad gammar

[L.A.dweller]

6. Fixing up old rowhouses is great

and that is currently being done here. The conflict that environmentalists may see here is that developers want to build on land used for agriculture and horticulture. General contractors and construction companies are making a killing over here.