Santa Clara County Local News: Land Use & Development


All Local Land Use & Development News articles contributed by our local media allies and other local newsrooms.

Image caption: The 1965 law known as the Williamson Act has been responsible for keeping about half of California's farmland out of the hands of developers.
The Williamson Act: How the Law That Protects California’s Farmland Works

The Williamson Act, passed in 1965, now keeps more than 16 million acres of farmland out of the hands of developers. Here's how the law puts the brakes on the development of California agricultural properties.

Image caption: Does California’s signature environmental law protect the state’s scenic beauty, or cause more problems than it solves?
CEQA: The Surprising Story of CA’s Key Environmental Law

The California Environmental Quality Act, CEQA, is both the state’s signature environmental legislation, and is also often named as the villain in the state’s housing shortage. But the story may not be that simple.

Image caption: The Baldwin Hills area in South Los Angeles is one region where a state conservancy would keep open land accessible to the public.
California’s 10 State Conservancies: How They Protect Parks and Open Land

How California’s 10 state conservancies buy up open land and shield it from developers to preserve the natural environment for public use.

Image caption: Since 1972, the California Coastal Commission has ruled over the state’s shoreline.
California Coastal Commission: Where It Comes From, What It Does

What is the California Coastal Commission? How one of the state’s most powerful agency protects public access to the state’s scenic coast from Mexico to Oregon.

Image caption: How California reclamation districts turned millions of acres of wetlands into fertile agricultural land, starting in the earliest days of the Gold Rush.
Reclamation Districts: Turning ‘Swamps’ Into Farmland

California has used reclamation districts to turn millions of acres of unusable swamps into fertile agricultural land, starting in the earliest days of the Gold Rush. Here’s how it happened.

Image caption: Zoning laws tell you what you can and can't build on the property you own. How does government get away with that?
How Zoning Laws Shape California and Society

Zoning laws determine what can be built and where. These laws have shaped California, but are they really just tools for social engineering? The history of zoning is closely tied to racial segregation, as well as the state's shortage of …

San Jose Spotlight logo From San Jose Spotlight...

05/07/2024
Image for display with article titled San Jose Neighborhood Fights to Preserve Its Identity

After decades of residents requesting historic status, San Jose is starting the process to create a new city landmark district — the first since 2007.

California Local Pin Marker From The Mercury News...

05/07/2024
A massive ice sports complex to be operated by the San Jose Sharks is a proposed addition to the Gilroy Sports Park.

California Local Pin Marker From Palo Alto Online...

05/07/2024
In their May 6 meeting, the Palo Alto City Council approved a 75-unit condominium complex on San Antonio Road.

San Jose Spotlight logo From San Jose Spotlight...

05/03/2024
Image for display with article titled San Jose Affordable Apartments a Plus for Senior Housing Crisis

More than 100 Santa Clara County seniors struggling with the cost of living will have a place to call home in downtown San Jose within the next few years.

San Jose Spotlight logo From San Jose Spotlight...

05/02/2024
Image for display with article titled What the Demise of Contentious Housing Law Means for San Jose

A brewing battle in the California courts may lift San Jose from the mandates of a controversial law that ended exclusionary single-family zoning statewide.

California Local Pin Marker From The Mercury News...

05/02/2024
Hundreds of volunteers have signed up to participate in painting a mural on San Pedro Street in downtown San Jose.

California Local Pin Marker From Palo Alto Online...

05/02/2024
A mixed-use development of 75 condominiums and retail space is being proposed for 800 San Antonio Road in Palo Alto.

California Local Pin Marker From The Mercury News...

04/30/2024
The 130-unit Solaire Apartments affordable housing complex at 425 Auzerais Avenue in downtown San Jose has opened for occupancy.

California Local Pin Marker From Palo Alto Online...

04/30/2024
The Palo Alto City Council faces hard choices for the redesign of three crossings of the rail corridor.

Gilroy Dispatch logo From Gilroy Dispatch...

04/29/2024
Image for display with article titled As May Approaches, Cal Fire Offers Fire Prevention Tips

With the month of May beginning this week, with its warmer weather, lower humidity and drying vegetation, Cal Fire is urging Bay Area homeowners to do all they can to protect against fire.

San Jose Spotlight logo From San Jose Spotlight...

04/25/2024
Image for display with article titled Housing Development Could Loom Over Los Gatos Backyards

A quiet neighborhood just off bustling Los Gatos Boulevard could be forever changed if a massive housing project comes to fruition.

California Local Pin Marker From Palo Alto Online...

04/25/2024
A legal ruling by a Los Angeles judge will impact the ability to build duplexes or triplexes on single-family zoned lots in charter cities such as Mountain View, Palo Alto and Redwood City.

San Jose Spotlight logo From San Jose Spotlight...

04/24/2024
Image for display with article titled Sunnyvale Voters Likely to Support Property Transfer Tax

Sunnyvale officials may have found a new source of revenue, with a green light from residents to place a proposed tax measure on the November ballot.

San Jose Spotlight logo From San Jose Spotlight...

04/24/2024
Image for display with article titled Sunnyvale Affordable Housing Project Opens Near Downtown

Dozens of affordable homes near Sunnyvale’s downtown are ready to welcome hundreds of residents.

Gilroy Dispatch logo From Gilroy Dispatch...

04/24/2024
Image for display with article titled More Than 10K Comment on Sargent Ranch Quarry Study

Final counts reveal that more than 10,000 letters were submitted to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors during the public comment period for the Sargent Ranch Quarry Draft Environmental Impact Report.

San Jose Spotlight logo From San Jose Spotlight...

04/23/2024
Image for display with article titled San Jose Homeless Housing Planned for Sobrato Land

A homeless housing project is coming to South San Jose, and city officials want to clear the area of unsheltered encampments before it's built.

California Local Pin Marker From The Mercury News...

04/23/2024
A 28-story mixed use high-rise has been proposed for downtown San Jose on East Santa Clara Street.

San Jose Inside logo From San Jose Inside...

04/22/2024
Image for display with article titled Santa Clara County Hears Overwhelming Support for Sargent Ranch Open Space

More than 10,000 comments submitted to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors voice concerns about proposed open-pit mine at Juristac’s sacred tribal land.

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