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Nevada County Land Use & Development Digest



Nevada City Skatepark Advances

12/20/2024

A request for bids has been issued by Nevada City for the design of a new skatepark. Read on to learn more about this project.

Nevada City 2022-2027 Strategic Plan Updating Process Explained

12/19/2024

Nevada City is preparing to update the 2022-2027 Strategic Plan, and public input is invited. Read on to learn more about the plan and how you can participate.

Grass Valley Biomass Plant Advances

12/18/2024

In their December 17 meeting, the Grass Valley Planning Commission determined that the 13 acre parcel on Brunswick Road was a suitable location for a proposed biomass plant under the city's General Plan. Read on for more information about the proposed biomass plant and next steps.

Can New State Regulations Resolve California’s Existential Insurance Crisis?

12/16/2024

There’s no law requiring California property owners to carry insurance, but the vast majority buy it to protect themselves from fire and other perils, or are required to do so by their mortgage lenders.

California Lawmakers Want to Cut Red Tape to Ramp Up Clean Energy but Rural Communities Push Back

12/13/2024

Some rural California communities are resisting efforts to streamline permitting for wind and solar farms and battery storage for environmental or safety reasons.

New Deer Creek Tribute Trail Segment Opens

12/13/2024

Learn more about the newly opened segment of the Deer Creek Tribute Trail crossing California Heritage: Indigenous Research Project (CHIRP) land, and get ready to take a hike!

California Got Millions to Train Workers in Disaster Relief, but It’s Leaving Money on Table

12/12/2024

When disaster strikes, California gets federal funding to hire temporary workers to clean debris. But the jobs are tough, and some agencies struggle to manage the grants.

Land Transferred to Grass Valley

12/12/2024

Almost 200 acres of land from the Loma Rica Ranch were dedicated to Grass Valley as part of a development agreement. Read on to learn what the city has planned for the parcel.

Nevada Irrigation District Welcomes New Directors, Leadership

12/11/2024

In their December 11 meeting, the Nevada Irrigation District Board of Directors welcomed new members and a new Board President and Vice President. Read on to meet the new board members and leadership.

Fundraising for Lake Tahoe Community College Forestry Scholarships

12/11/2024

The Tahoe Fund is raising $50,000 for scholarships for the Lake Tahoe Community College Forestry Program. Read on for more information about how you can help.

Give Your Input: DeVere Mautino Park Community Garden

12/10/2024

Your input and feedback are sought for an initiative by the Interfaith Food Ministry and Sierra Harvest to expand the community garden at DeVere Mautino Park in Grass Valley. Read on to learn more about the proposed project and how you can participate.

Nevada County Mitigation Plan Update Adopted

12/10/2024

Learn more about the finalized Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update adopted by the Nevada County Board of Supervisors in their December 10 meeting.

Nevada Irrigation District Watershed Restoration Explained

12/07/2024

Read on to learn more about the Nevada Irrigation District projects to restore vital watershed feeding its water supply system.

Sardine Meadow Transferred to Tahoe National Forest

11/26/2024

Read on to learn more about the Trust for Public Land and Truckee River Watershed Council transfer of the 600-acre Sardine Meadow to the Tahoe National Forest following work to rehabilitate it to a natural state.

Tiny Homes on Wheels Hearing Rescheduled

11/25/2024

Nevada County has rescheduled the public hearing for the proposed Tiny Homes on Wheels Ordinance has been rescheduled for January 14, 2025. Read on to learn more about the hearing and proposed ordinance.

Nevada County Public Hearing on Tiny Homes on Wheels November 26

11/22/2024

Speak up at the Nevada County Board of Supervisors public hearing on November 26 to consider allowing use of tiny homes on wheels as housing. Read on to learn more about the proposed ordinance.

Public Invited: Nevada City Workshop "Broad Street Y” Project

11/20/2024

Nevada City residents are encouraged to attend a workshop on December 10 at 6:30 to learn more about the capital improvement project to improve the “Broad Street Y” and give feedback.

Wolf Creek Trail Expansion Approved

11/14/2024

Read on for more information about plans to expand the Wolf Creek pedestrian and bicyclist trail in Grass Valley.

Comments Open on County’s ‘Prohousing’ Application

11/13/2024

Learn how you can give your feedback about the Nevada County application for 'Prohousing' designation from the state and what that designation entails.

Spotlight Nevada County Pilot Biochar Program

11/12/2024

Learn more about the Nevada County pilot program to convert biomass to biochar to reduce dangerous fuel load on county lands.

Vegetation Removal Funding Increased

11/12/2024

In their November 12 meeting, the Nevada County Board of Supervisors accepted a USDA Forest Service grant for vegetation removal. Click to get the details.

Nevada County Virtual Town Hall on November 18

11/07/2024

Learn more about the virtual town hall on November 18 focusing on upcoming changes to Nevada County waste disposal.

Site of New Courthouse to be Considered

10/29/2024

Learn more about the November 5 meeting of the Judicial Council’s Court Facilities Advisory Committee and the two sites under consideration for the new Nevada County Courthouse.

Wolf Craft School Approved

10/24/2024

The Nevada County Board of Supervisors approved the application to develop a 16 acre parcel on Wolf Road in Grass Valley into a community meeting center and traditional craft school.

First California Project to Bury Climate-Warming Gases Wins Key Approval

10/21/2024

Capturing and storing carbon underground is a big part of California’s efforts to tackle climate change but community members and environmentalists say it prolongs the life of fossil fuels.

Work Begins on Sugarloaf Trail Project

10/17/2024

Nevada City has started work on improvements to the Surgarloaf Trail.

We Fact-Checked the Ads About Proposition 33, California’s Rent Control Ballot Measure.

10/17/2024

The Yes and No on 33 campaigns have collectively spent more than $140 million. CalMatters fact checked some of the more pervasive claims made by both sides.

Public Meeting to Discuss Future of Nevada City Courthouse

10/11/2024

A public meeting is scheduled for October 22 for a discussion of future uses of the Nevada City Courthouse.

Reduced Regulations for Rural Owner-Built Homes Considered

10/03/2024

Public comment is requested for a proposal that would reduce building regulations on owner-built homes in rural Nevada County.

Upcoming Community Meetings to Discuss Lower Sawtooth Trailhead Improvements Project

09/27/2024

The public is invited to learn more about the Lower Sawtooth Trailhead Improvements Project at two upcoming community meetings hosted by Placer County and the US Forest Service in October.

New California Law Gives Tenants More Time to Respond to Eviction Notices

09/24/2024

Tenant advocates say giving renters 10 days to respond to eviction notices, up from 5, will help those who live in rural areas and have trouble finding legal help. Some landlords argue it will increase their costs.

Why Ricardo Lara Says His Plan to Fix California’s Insurance Crisis Will Work

09/19/2024

At a CalMatters event, California’s insurance commissioner says the changes he’s making will help homeowners and business owners. One idea: A state grant for those who spend money to protect their property from wildfires.

Featured

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 is everywhere, but is it a way to regulate development or a tool for social engineering?
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
From its earliest days as a state, California has been trying to turn marshes into productive land.
Since 1972, the California Coastal Commission has ruled over the state’s shoreline.
California Coastal Commission: Where It Comes From, What It Does
How a nuclear plant, a real estate development and an oil spill led to a landmark law.
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
Starting in 1976, the legislature began creating agencies to buy up open land, and keep it open.
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
54-year-old environmental law is often blamed for causing the state’s housing crisis. Is it getting a bad rap?
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
More than half of California farmland is under contracts that prevent its development.