Santa Cruz 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 …

Image caption: Lighthouse Field in Santa Cruz, which might be a huge resort if not for the Coastal Commission.
The Public Shore Protectors

The future of 1,100 miles of spectacular coastline is in the hands of the California Coastal Commission, which is beloved by coastal environmentalists, notorious among those who favor development, and little-known in the inland parts of the state.

Santa Cruz Local logo From Santa Cruz Local...

10/11/2024
Image for display with article titled Capitola City Council Aims for Capitola Mall Redevelopment

A mix of tax breaks, fee waivers and other incentives could invigorate a potential redevelopment of the Capitola Mall, a consultant said Thursday at a Capitola City Council meeting. It remains unclear whether the mall’s owner would be open to such measures.

The Pajaronian logo From The Pajaronian...

10/11/2024
Image for display with article titled Project Aims to Restore Struve Slough, Improve Water Quality

Work is moving forward on a project to restore native habitat and implement a series of water quality treatment projects to redesign the path of stormwater to Middle Struve Slough.

Press Banner logo From Press Banner...

10/11/2024
Image for display with article titled Scotts Valley Tells Developer to Improve Office-Storage Facility Proposal

A developer that wants to build a combination storage-and-office building at 125 Bethany Dr. at the northern end of Scotts Valley has a little more work to do to get the project over the finish line.

California Local Pin Marker From Lookout Local...

10/11/2024
An appeal has been filed against the approval of a 34-unit tiny home village for local homeless at the Westview Presbyterian Church in Watsonville.

California Local Pin Marker From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

10/11/2024
A report on an October 10 community meeting held to discuss an affordable housing development planned for Soquel Drive and Thurber Lane in unincorporated Santa Cruz County.

California Local Pin Marker From Lookout Local...

10/11/2024
Proposals are being sought for a mural up to seven stories high for a new building in downtown Santa Cruz.

California Local Pin Marker From Lookout Local...

10/10/2024
Up to 189 units of housing is proposed for the site of the beloved diner on Soquel Drive.

California Local Pin Marker From Lookout Local...

10/08/2024
In their October 8 meeting, the City of Santa Cruz rejected a proposal to open up rental and ownership rules governing accessory dwelling units in the city.

California Local Pin Marker From Lookout Local...

10/08/2024
Learn more about a project to develop 289 units of affordable housing at Soquel Drive and 41st Avenue in Santa Cruz County.

California Local Pin Marker From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

10/04/2024
The 41-acre Año Nuevo Vista parcel has been acquired by the Sempervirens Fund land trust providing a possible future link between Año Nuevo and Butano state parks.

California Local Pin Marker From Lookout Local...

10/02/2024
Claiming a violation of state housing laws, local developer Workbench has sued the City of Santa Cruz over restrictions on the proposed five-story development on the Food Bin parcel on Mission Street.

California Local Pin Marker From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

10/02/2024
On October 1, the Watsonville Planning Commission approved a Habitat for Humanity project to develop homes on a parcel located on River Road.

Good Times logo From Good Times...

10/01/2024
Image for display with article titled Watsonville Community Hospital to Be Bought by PVHD

Watsonville Community Hospital could soon be owned by the Pajaro Valley Healthcare District. PVHD announced a plan to purchase the building and surrounding property, a major milestone in a years-long endeavor to return the facility to public ownership.

Santa Cruz Local logo From Santa Cruz Local...

10/01/2024
Image for display with article titled Architects Describe 6-Story Apartment Proposal on Mission St. In Santa Cruz

A proposed six-story apartment building on Mission Street would provide college students and other tenants with the “right kind of housing” and would free up more single-family homes for families, the project’s architect said at an online meeting attended by several skeptical neighbors on September 30.

Santa Cruz Local logo From Santa Cruz Local...

09/30/2024
Image for display with article titled 161 Homes Proposed on Graham Hill Road Near Scotts Valley

Forty acres of horse pasture on Graham Hill Road near Rollingwoods Drive could be transformed into a 161-unit development of houses and townhomes, according to a recent pre-application to Santa Cruz County planners.

The Pajaronian logo From The Pajaronian...

09/27/2024
Image for display with article titled Watsonville City Council Slams Tiny Village Plan, Approves Mobile Home Ordinance

The Watsonville City Council on September 24 expressed frustration at a new planned tiny village community for homeless people slated for the parking lot of Westview Presbyterian Church at 118 First St.

Press Banner logo From Press Banner...

09/27/2024
Image for display with article titled 4 Years After CZU Fire, Local Family Endures Uphill Battle to Rebuild Home

August 2024 marked the four-year anniversary of the CZU Lightning Complex Fire ripping through the Santa Cruz Mountains. Through fundraisers, educational forums and memorial events, residents—including victims of the fire who remain in the area—have gathered to support and assist fellow survivors in their efforts to reclaim and rebuild what was once theirs.

California Local Pin Marker From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

09/27/2024
A summary of the September 26 virtual meeting about the City of Santa Cruz West Cliff Five Year Roadmap.

Santa Cruz Local logo From Santa Cruz Local...

09/26/2024
Image for display with article titled What Triggers a Homeless Camp Sweep in Santa Cruz County?

While outreach and public health are supposed to guide how authorities deal with homeless camps, unhoused residents and their advocates have said the rules are enforced unevenly and arbitrarily throughout Santa Cruz County.

California Local Pin Marker From Lookout Local...

09/26/2024
In their September 25 meeting, the Pajaro Valley Health Care District board voted to purchase the Watsonville hospital facilities and land.
Join Us Today!