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.

California Local Pin Marker From Local News Matters...

07/24/2024
California Forever’s announcement July 22 that it has decided to pull a ballot measure that would have let voters decide on a controversial planned city in rural Solano County drew swift reaction from political leaders and opponents.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

07/24/2024
What happens when voters take to the ballot to thumb their nose at state housing law? Courts haven’t offered a clear answer.

California Local Pin Marker From SF Gate...

07/22/2024
On July 22, California Forever announced it was withdrawing its initiative to amend the Solano County General Plan off the November ballot and would instead begin working with the county through the normal, though less expeditious, process.

California Local Pin Marker From Lookout Local...

07/18/2024
Construction will commence soon on 460 units of student and employee housing on the Santa Cruz Westside.

California Local Pin Marker From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

07/18/2024
A housing project at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Soquel is under discussion between church officials and a group of low-income housing developers.

Good Times logo From Good Times...

07/16/2024
Image for display with article titled Grand Jury Raises Questions About Who Gets Affordable Homes

A report raises questions about whether the City of Santa Cruz is properly tracking who lives in “inclusionary units”—those set aside as affordable housing—within the city to make sure preference is given to Santa Cruz residents.

California Local Pin Marker From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

07/11/2024
UC Santa Cruz moved to raze the 42-space Camper Park on July 10, citing concerns for health and safety.

California Local Pin Marker From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

07/06/2024
A recap of a June 27 meeting attended by residents of Mountain Charlie Road and officials from the Santa Cruz County Department of Public Works.

Press Banner logo From Press Banner...

07/03/2024
Image for display with article titled Tree Work Completed at Castle Rock State Park

Volunteers of the global nonprofit Dr. Shri. Nanasaheb Dharmadhikari Pratishthan completed a conservation drive at Castle Rock State Park, located along Skyline Boulevard, on June 22.

Hilltromper Santa Cruz logo From Hilltromper Santa Cruz...

07/02/2024
Image for display with article titled Why Byrne-Milliron’s Closed for Sustainable Timber Harvest

Property will be closed to public access through May 1, 2025 to selectively harvest trees and maintain forest health.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

07/02/2024
Nearly every major environmental group in California opposes a bill that would modify the state’s signature environmental law to speed up upgrades to power lines. Supporters say it would help free the state from fossil fuels and make the grid more reliable, but opponents fear it would damage state parks.

The Pajaronian logo From The Pajaronian...

06/28/2024
Image for display with article titled Sí Se Puede Breaks Ground for New Facility

An organization that helps men break free from drug and alcohol addiction officially broke ground on June 21 on a new Behavioral Health Center on Miles Lane in Watsonville.

California Local Pin Marker From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

06/27/2024
A report released on June 27 by the National Low Income Housing Coalition found the Santa Cruz area to be the most expensive rental market in the nation.

California Local Pin Marker From Lookout Local...

06/27/2024
A second virtual community meeting about the proposed 16-story 260-unit Clocktower Center housing development in downtown Santa Cruz included both objections and support for the project.

Good Times logo From Good Times...

06/26/2024
Image for display with article titled New City Looms in South of Laurel Area Plan

A bustling neighborhood and a new 3,200-seat arena for the Santa Cruz Warriors are part of a plan to transform Downtown Santa Cruz in the coming years.

California Local Pin Marker From Lookout Local...

06/26/2024
There are few answers and no solution yet for the slow moving landslide on Mountain Charlie Road isolating a Santa Cruz mountain neighborhood.

California Local Pin Marker From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

06/26/2024
In their June 25 meeting in which residents expressed deep public safety concerns, Santa Cruz County Supervisors withdrew a proposed a Low-Impact Camping Area proposal.

California Local Pin Marker From CalMatters...

06/25/2024
A push to bolster housing production in California's coastal communities in recent years has led to heated battles over potential state reforms. Below, a veteran elected official believes the debate has created a false choice between housing and protections. The opposing view: A former attorney for the Coastal Commission says the state Coastal Act has failed to deliver on what it envisioned.

San Lorenzo Valley Post logo From San Lorenzo Valley Post...

06/24/2024
Image for display with article titled Camp Krem on the Road to Recovery

A Bright Future in Sight: Camping Unlimited at Camp Krem Approved for FEMA Assistance

Santa Cruz Local logo From Santa Cruz Local...

06/21/2024
Image for display with article titled Explainer: Nov. 5 Bond Measure for Pajaro Valley Unified School District

Voters in Pajaro Valley Unified School District will decide whether to approve $315 million in bonds in the Nov. 5 election to help repair and upgrade the district’s 35 schools. 

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