CALED IconHousing CEQA Exemptions/Reforms: AB 130, Ch. 22, Statutes of 2025
Other CEQA Exemptions/Reforms: SB 131, Ch. 24, Statutes of 2025

The California Association for Local Economic Development (CALED) is the voice of economic development practitioners and stakeholders. With over 1,000 members, CALED is one of the largest economic development associations in the country. As a benefit of membership, we track legislation impacting economic development and hold special briefings for CALED Leadership & Members. Below is an analysis of recent CEQA exemptions/reforms passed as budget trailer bills (which take effect immediately) as of June 30, 2025, impacting the areas below. Scroll for complete briefing or click here for PDF.

  • Broad Housing Exemption
  • Streamlining for Large ($100 million +) Infill Housing Projects
  • Rezoning of Land (Including Farmland) Necessary for Housing Element Compliance
  • New “Single-Condition” CEQA Analysis for Housing Projects
  • Employee Housing Exemption
  • Community Water/Sewer Systems Exemptions
  • Wildfire Risk Reduction Exemptions
  • Broadband Deployment Exemption
  • State Climate Adaptation Strategy Exemption
  • “Climate Bond” Park and Trail Project Exemption
  • Advanced Manufacturing, Day Care Centers, Food Banks & Rural Health Clinics Exemptions
  • High Speed Rail Station and Maintenance Facility Exemptions
  • Required Mapping of Infill Sites
  • Updated CEQA Guidelines for Development of Infill Sites
  • Exemption From “Record of Proceedings”

Broad Housing Exemptionⁱ: Exempts from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) a housing development project (defined via cross-referenceⁱⁱ to include residential units only, mixed use projects, a single-family home,ⁱⁱⁱ and transitional or farmworker housing) that meets the following conditions:

  1. Site Conditions:
    1. The site is within an incorporated city or “urban area,” as defined by US Census Bureau.
    2. The site is not more than 20 acres, but with two exceptions:
      1. The project site or parcel size is for a “builder’s remedy” project under the Housing Accountability Actⁱᵛ
      2. The project site or parcel size is five acres or less if it became subject the Housing Accountability Act, based on how that law read prior to January 1, 2025.ᵛ
  • The site meets one of the following conditions:
    1. The site was previously developed for an urban use (as definedᵛⁱ).
    2. At least 75 percent of the perimeter adjoins parcels developed with urban uses.
    3. At least 75 percent of the “areaᵛⁱⁱ” within one quarter mile radius of the site is developed with urban uses.
    4. If the site has four sides, at least three out of four sides are developed with urban uses, and at least two-thirds of the perimeter of the site adjoins parcels that are developed with urban uses.ᵛⁱⁱⁱ
  1. Project Conditions:
    1. Must be consistent with the general plan and zoning,ⁱˣ and local coastal program. Projects in the Coastal Zone must also comply with provisions applicable to projects subject to specified conditions within the housing development law established by SB 35 (Wiener) Ch. 366 of 2017.ˣ
    2. Must have at least ½ the density of Housing Element’s default affordable housing zoning thresholds. (Mullin’ standardsˣⁱ). Projects are also eligible for Density Bonusˣⁱⁱincentives, concessions, waivers, and parking ratios.
  • Cannot demolish a historic structure placed on a national, state, or local register before the application was submitted.
  1. Projects deemed complete under the Housing Accountability Act after January 1, 2025, cannot include a hotel, motel, bed and breakfast inn, or other transient lodging.ˣⁱⁱⁱ
  2. Must complete a Phase 1 environmental assessment to determine if there is a hazardous substance on the site.
  3. Formal notification of Native American tribes must be provided by the local agency with an invitation to consult on the proposed project, its location, and potential effects on tribal cultural resources. This consultation may result in the local agency imposing binding conditions on the project.ˣⁱᵛ
  • Projects within 500 feet of a freeway cannot have balconies facing the freeway and meet specified air filtration requirements.

Labor Requirements:

  1. Any project with 100 percent of units dedicated to lower income households shall pay prevailing wages to all workers, with apprentices paid at the applicable apprentice prevailing rate.ˣᵛ
  2. Any housing development project over 85 feet above grade shall pay prevailing wages with apprentices paid at the applicable apprentice prevailing rate.ˣᵛⁱ
  3. Any project within the City and County of San Francisco with more than 50 units must comply with additional specified labor standards.

Streamlining for Large ($100 million +) Infill Housing Projectsˣᵛⁱⁱ: Allows large infill housing projects (over $100 million) that meet affordability, labor and environmental conditions, to qualify as an “Environmental Leadership Development Project” eligible for CEQA process streamlining. These projects must also be consistent with the most recent Scoping Plan adopted by the California Air Resources Board.

Exempts Rezoning of Land (Including Farmland) Necessary for Housing Element Compliance: Exempts from CEQA the rezoning of lands to implement the “schedule of actions” local agencies must take to implement their Housing and Community Development (HCD-approved housing elements. Excludes from this exemption both of the following:

  1. Any rezoning that would allow for a warehouse distribution centerˣᵛⁱⁱⁱor oil and gas infrastructureˣⁱˣ.
  2. Any rezoning of “natural and protected lands” (as definedˣˣ), unless those lands are excluded from the rezoning. Exempts from this prohibition (and, therefore, allows) the rezoning of prime farmland, farmland of statewide importance, or land zoned or designated for agricultural protection by a local ballot measure.ˣˣⁱ

New “Single-Condition” CEQA Analysis for Housing Projects: Requires a lead agency to provide a narrowed CEQA analysis for proposed housing development projectsˣˣⁱⁱ which would be otherwise eligible for either an existing statutory or regulatory categorical exemption but for a single condition.ˣˣⁱⁱⁱ

  1. Requires that the initial study or environmental impact report (EIR) focuses solely on the single condition, and not include an analysis of project alternatives, cumulative, or growth-inducing impacts.
  2. Exempts from this provisions all the following:
    1. iProjects that are not “similar in kindˣˣⁱᵛ” to the projects listed in the categorical or statutory exemptions.
    2. Projects with two or more conditions.
  • A project that includes a warehouse distribution center or oil and gas infrastructure.ˣˣᵛ
  1. A project on “natural and protected lands,” except for projects in very high fire hazard severity zones.ˣˣᵛⁱ

Employee Housing Exemption: Exempts from CEQA new agricultural employee housing that meets numerous specified conditions.ˣˣᵛⁱⁱ

Community Water/Sewer Systems Exemptions: Expands an existing exemption from CEQA for community water system improvements to include the following:

  1. Extends an existing exemption for the installation, repair or reconstruction of a pipeline in a road right of way from one to three miles.
  2. Exempts a project to provide sewer service to a disadvantaged community served by one or more inadequate sewage treatment systems, as defined by Sec. 13288 of the Water Code.
  3. Adds definitions for “wetlands” and coastal “environmentally sensitive habitat area” that all projects subject to this exemption cannot affect.ˣˣᵛⁱⁱⁱ
  4. Extends the sunset date of the section that provides these and other community water system exemptions, by four years, to January 1, 2032.
  5. Exempts the use of two funding sources for the community water and sewer projects until January 1, 2030, funded by either: (i) the “Climate Bond,” Prop. 4 of 2024, the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024, or (ii) the State Water Resources Control Board’s Safe and Affordable Funding for Equity and Resilience program that does not otherwise include any construction activities, if the project does both of the following:
    1. Results in long-term net benefits to climate resiliency, biodiversity, and sensitive species recovery.
    2. Includes procedures and ongoing management for the protection of the environment.

Provides that a project exempted from CEQA based on this Water/Sewer Systems provision remains subject to all other applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations and shall not weaken or violate any applicable environmental or public health standards.

Wildfire Risk Reduction Exemptions: Exempts from CEQA the following wildfire risk reduction projects, if otherwise compliant with all other applicable laws, ordinances, and zoning requirements:

  1. Exempts projects adjacent to a subdivision with 30 or more housing units, that meet the following limitations:
    1. No more than 50 contiguous acres and within one-half mile of the subdivision.ˣˣⁱᵛ
    2. Defensible space fire clearance shall be within 100 feet of the centerline of the roadway identified in an egress and evacuation route to the subdivision.
  2. Exempts a project for residential home hardening or defensible space within 200 feet of a legal structure in a high or very high wildfire hazard zone,ˣˣˣ that includes the removal of flammable trees and vegetation and trees less than 12 inches in diameter at chest height.
  3. Exempts a fuel break project that extends 200 feet from structures and includes the removal of flammable trees and vegetation and trees less than 12 inches in diameter at chest height.

In order to take advantage of these exemptions, the lead agency must:

  1. Consult with the Department of Fish and Wildlife to ensure that, to the extent feasible, the project is designed to avoid or minimize impacts to (A) candidate, rare, threatened, endangered plants and wildlife; and (B) wildlife nursery sites, including nesting rookeries, spawning areas, fawning areas, and maternal roosts.
  2. Design the project, to the extent feasible, to avoid impacts to riparian areas and water quality through use of sediment and erosion control measures where there is ground disturbance for control lines.
  3. Identify and, to the extent feasible, protect tribal cultural resources that may be impacted by project, as specified.

Broadband Deployment Exemption: Expands the existing exemption from CEQA for linear broadband deployment as follows:

  1. Removes the existing limitation that restricts this exemption to apply only to projects funded by the Budget Act of 2021, thus allowing broadband projects funded by other sources to take advantage of this exemption.
  2. Removes the existing limitation that restricts this exemption to projects identified by the Public Utilities Commission as a component of the statewide middle-mile broadband network.
  3. Clarifies that a “right-of-way” includes within a local street or road. Requires the project to incorporate measures developed by the city or county responsible for the right of way to address potential environmental impacts.ˣˣˣⁱ
  4. Removes reference in existing law requiring projects to comply with conditions imposed “by the planning department” as part of a local permit process and instead references the “city, county, and city and county.”ˣˣˣⁱⁱ

State Climate Adaptation Strategy Exemption: Exempts from CEQA updates to the state’s climate adaptation strategy adopted by the Natural Resources Agency.ˣˣˣⁱⁱⁱ

“Climate Bond” Park and Trail Project Exemption: Exempts from CEQA any activity including planning, construction, maintenance of a public park or nonmotorized recreational trail funded by the “Climate Bond,” Prop. 4 of 2024, the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024.

Advanced Manufacturing, Day Care Centers, Food Banks & Rural Health Clinic Exemptions: Exempts from CEQA all the following projects provided they are not sited on “natural and protected lands” (as defined by 21067.5 PRC):

  • Advanced manufacturing facilities, as defined under (26003 PRC) the California Alternative Energy and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority Act.
  • Day care centers not located in a residential area.
  • Food banks or pantries operated by a non-profit, on sites zoned exclusively for industrial use.
  • Rural health clinics or federally qualified health centers, as defined, less than 50,000 square feet.

High Speed Rail Station and Maintenance Facility Exemptions: Exempts from CEQA the development, construction, or modification of either a passenger rail station or a maintenance facility, as defined, serving the high-speed rail project. These exemptions do not exempt other structures, facilities, and uses not identified. “High-speed rail” is defined to include other high speed rail projects planned to connect directly to the California high speed rail project.ˣˣˣⁱᵛ

Required Mapping of Infill Sites: Requires the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI), before July 1, 2027, to prepare a map of “eligible urban infill sitesˣˣˣᵛ” within every urbanized area or urban cluster in the state. Exempts this provision from the Administrative Procedures Act.

Under this program, the LCI must develop a definition and metrics for “eligible urban infill sites” that reflect both of the following criteria:

  1. Have a land use designation consistent with infill development set forth in the jurisdiction’s general plan or most recent HCD’ certified housing element.
  2. Development of the sites promotes compact growth criteria to accomplish one or more of the following goals: reducing greenhouse gas emissions by reducing distances people have to travel; reduce conversion of agricultural land, sensitive habitat, and open space from new development; facilitate healthy and environmentally friendly active transportation; reduce stormwater runoff resulting in flooding or pollution of waterways; or bring vibrancy, community and social connection to neighborhoods.

Prior to adoption of maps, the LCI must send a copy of the maps to affected cities and counties for comment.

  1. Cities and counties must submit comments within 45 days of receiving the maps. Provides that the LCI shall accept information from the local jurisdiction on whether a site has a land use designation consistent with infill development.
  2. A revised version of the draft maps shall be published on the agency’s internet website at least 45 days prior to final adoption. LCI must also transmit a copy to affected cities and counties and hold a public hearing to consider comments.

LCI is authorized, following a 45-day notice to affected cities and counties, to amend any portion of the maps based on a land use designation change or other change in circumstances. Local agencies may submit comments and proposed corrections.

Updated CEQA Guidelines for Development of Infill Sites: Requires the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation (LCI) to prepare, on or before January 1, 2027, updated guidelines to interpret an existing provision of CEQA statute, originally adopted in 2011, (Sec. 21094.5 PRC) which provides for streamlined CEQA analysis of projects on defined infill sites. These guidelines are required to be updated every two years “in order to address any rigid requirements, lack of clarity in vague terminology, and the potential for excessive exposure to frivolous litigation over lead agency determinations to make tiering under Section 21094.5 work more effectively in compliance with this division.”

Exemption From “Record of Proceedings”: Exempts from the definition of “record of proceedings” used by CEQA litigants: “electronic internal agency communications, including emails, that were not presented to the final decision-making body, other than those communications and documents consulted, or reviewed by the lead agency executive or a local agency executive, as defined in subdivision (d) of Section 3511.1, or other administrative official in a supervisory role who is reviewing the project.” Provides that the above exception does not apply to a warehouse distribution center or oil and gas infrastructure.

This briefing handout was developed by CALED specifically to share with our members and partners that may be impacted by this legislation. Thank you to Dan Carrigg for his work on this briefing.

ⁱSee AB 130, Ch. 22, Statutes of 2025, Sec. 59. (21080.66 PRC)
ⁱⁱCross-reference is to sub (h)(2) of Sec. 65589.5. (Housing Accountability Act)
ⁱⁱⁱThis exemption also picks up a single-family dwelling unit because the definition of “housing development project” included is accomplished via a cross-reference to Sec. 65905.5 (b)(3)(C):

  • (C) “Housing development project” includes a proposal to construct a single dwelling unit. This subparagraph shall not affect the interpretation of the scope of paragraph (2) of subdivision (h) of Section 65589.5.

ⁱᵛDepending on the circumstances, this could mean a project could be more than 20 acres. A builder’s remedy project is defined under the state Housing Accountability Act (HAA) (paragraph (11) of subdivision (h) of Section 65589.5 of the Government Code). The HAA is allows housing projects to be built in violation of local plans and zoning if the local agency fails to have a state approved housing element by specified dates. ᵛAB 1893 (Wicks) Ch. 268 of 2024, (which took effect January 1, 2025) made numerous changes to the Housing Accountability Act, and included adding a definition of “builder’s remedy” project, intended to provide more definition of what a developer could do in conflict with local plans and zoning.
ᵛⁱFor purposes of this section, “urban use” means any current or previous residential or commercial development, public institution, or public park that is surrounded by other urban uses, parking lot or structure, transit or transportation passenger facility, or retail use, or any combination of those uses.”
ᵛⁱⁱThis exception appears to allow a parcel that is within ¼ mile (1,320 feet) of urban uses to be developed. It is unclear if the term “radius” means that 75 percent of the land within ¼ acre radius surrounding the parcel must be developed with urban uses, or if just “any” land within a ¼ mile radius.
ᵛⁱⁱⁱThis option lacks clarity. Parcels are typically square or rectangular. Is this about development to the property line? If three sides of a four-sided parcel are developed for urban uses, how is the “two-thirds” requirement calculated? Does this mean that only two out of the three sides of the parcel must be adjoined to urban uses?
ⁱˣThere is some flexibility here that provides that if there are inconsistencies between the general plan and zoning, the project needs to only be consistent with one or the other.
ˣFor limitations affecting the Coastal Zone properties see sub (a)(6) of Sec. 65913.4.
ˣⁱSec. 65583.2(c)(3) (B). Projects would have to meet the following minimum units per acre: 15 – metropolitan areas; 10 – suburban; 7.5 – incorporated non-metro; 5 – unincorporated non-metro. But these are only the minimums. Nothing in this bill would prohibit its use on high-density projects in urban areas.
ˣⁱⁱIf the affected site is already zoned for more than ½ of the Mullin’ densities then the project could be constructed up to the maximum local density, without relying on Density Bonus Law. Some developers may avoid using Density Bonus Law since it would trigger requirements to reserve a portion of the units in an affordable category.
ˣⁱⁱⁱ“Transient lodging” is defined to not include either a residential hotel, or where an individual unit is listed or marketed for short term lodging, consistent with local law.
ˣⁱᵛThis tribal consultation must conform to an extensive process detailed in statute. The bill requires tribal cultural resources to be avoided where feasible, and in furtherance of this requirement, the project applicant shall provide deference to tribal preferences regarding access to spiritual, ceremonial, and burial sites, and incorporate tribal traditional knowledge in the protection and sustainable use of tribal cultural resources and landscapes.
ˣᵛGiven that 100 percent lower income projects typically rely heavily on public funding, prevailing wage requirements may already apply.
ˣᵛⁱDevelopers could propose projects below this 85-foot threshold to avoid triggering prevailing wages.
ˣᵛⁱⁱSee AB 130, Ch. 22, Statutes of 2025, Sec. 60 and 61. (21180 and 21183 PRC)
ˣᵛⁱⁱⁱ“Distribution center” is defined via a cross-reference to Sec. 2100 of the Labor Code to cover warehouses of 50,000 square feet or more.
ˣⁱˣ“Oil and gas infrastructure” is defined as “a facility used for the production, processing, transmission, storage, or distribution of petroleum or natural gas.” It is unclear whether this provision would limit rezoning of land for housing where natural gas infrastructure would be used to supply the planned housing units. This definition appears to also capture a rezoning for residential land that would include a location for a nearby gas station.
ˣˣ21067.5. “Natural and protected lands” means sites located within any of the following locations:

  1. The state park system, as described in Article 1 (commencing with Section 5001) of Chapter 1 of Division 5.
  2. A wilderness area, as defined in Section 5093.32.
  3. A marine protected area, as defined in Section 2852 of the Fish and Game Code.
  4. The national park system, as defined in Section 100102 of Title 54 of the United States Code.
  5. A national recreation area.
  6. A national monument.
  7. The national wild and scenic rivers system, as defined in Section 1273 of Title 16 of the United States Code.
  8. Any ecological reserve or wildlife management area acquired and managed by the Department of Fish and Wildlife pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 1525) or Article 4 (commencing with Section 1580) of Chapter 5 of Division 2 of the Fish and Game Code.
  • A hazardous waste site that is listed pursuant to Section 65962.5 of the Government Code or a hazardous waste site designated by the Department of Toxic Substances Control pursuant to Section 25356 of the Health and Safety Code, unless either of the following apply:
    1. The site is an underground storage tank site that received a uniform closure letter issued pursuant to subdivision (g) of Section 25296.10 of the Health and Safety Code based on closure criteria established by the State Water Resources Control Board for the use proposed by the project. This paragraph does not alter or change the conditions to remove a site from the list of hazardous waste sites listed pursuant to Section 65962.5 of the Government Code.
    2. The State Department of Public Health, State Water Resources Control Board, Department of Toxic Substances Control, or a local agency making a determination pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 25296.10 of the Health and Safety Code has otherwise determined that the site is suitable for the use proposed by the project.
  • Within a regulatory floodway as determined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in any official maps published by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, unless the development has received a no-rise certification in accordance with Section 60.3(d)(3) of Title 44 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
  1. Lands under conservation easement.
  • On, or within a 300-foot radius of, a wetland, as defined in the United States Fish and Wildlife Service Manual, Part 660 FW 2 (June 21, 1993).
  1. An environmentally sensitive area within the coastal zone, as defined in Section 30107.5.
  2. Lands protected as preserve areas or reserve lands pursuant to an adopted natural community conservation plan pursuant to the Natural Community Conservation Planning Act (Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 2800) of Division 3 of the Fish and Game Code) or habitat conservation plan pursuant to the federal Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. Sec. 1531 et seq.).
  3. Within a very high fire hazard severity zone, as determined by the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection pursuant to Section 51178 of the Government Code, or within the state responsibility area, as defined in Section 4102. This subdivision does not apply to sites that have adopted fire hazard mitigation measures pursuant to existing building standards or state fire mitigation measures applicable to the development, including, but not limited to, standards established under all of the following provisions or their successor provisions:
    1. Section 4291 of this code or Section 51182 of the Government Code, as applicable.
    2. Section 4290.
    3. Chapter 7A (commencing with Section 701A.1) of Part 2 of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations.
  4. Either prime farmland or farmland of statewide importance, as defined pursuant to the United States Department of Agriculture land inventory and monitoring criteria, as modified for California, and designated on the maps prepared by the Farmland Mapping and Monitoring Program of the Department of Conservation, or land zoned or designated for agricultural protection or preservation by a local ballot measure that was approved by the voters of that jurisdiction.

ˣˣⁱAllowing the rezoning of protected farmlands for housing to be exempt from CEQA is a significant policy change that conflicts with LAFCO and other state policies that strive to protect farmlands and promote infill development.
ˣˣⁱⁱThe definition referenced here is Sub (h)(2) of 65589.5. HCD has interpreted this definition to not apply to single family homes or ADUs. See attached HCD memo, page 19: https://www.hcd.ca.gov/community-development/housing-element/housing-element-memos/docs/hcd-memo-on-haa-final-sept2020.pdf
“{(2) “Housing development project” means a use consisting of any of the following:

  1. Residential units only.
  2. Mixed-use developments consisting of residential and nonresidential uses that meet any of the following conditions:
    1. At least two-thirds of the new or converted square footage is designated for residential use.
    2. At least 50 percent of the new or converted square footage is designated for residential use and the project meets both of the following:
      1. The project includes at least 500 net new residential units.
      2. No portion of the project is designated for use as a hotel, motel, bed and breakfast inn, or other transient lodging, except a portion of the project may be designated for use as a residential hotel, as defined in Section 50519 of the Health and Safety Code.
  • At least 50 percent of the net new or converted square footage is designated for residential use and the project meets all the following:
    1. The project includes at least 500 net new residential units.
    2. The project involves the demolition or conversion of at least 100,000 square feet of nonresidential use.
  • The project demolishes at least 50 percent of the existing nonresidential uses on the site.
  1. No portion of the project is designated for use as a hotel, motel, bed and breakfast inn, or other transient lodging, except a portion of the project may be designated for use as a residential hotel, as defined in Section 50519 of the Health and Safety Code.
  1. Transitional housing or supportive housing.
  2. Farmworker housing, as defined in subdivision (h) of Section 50199.7 of the Health and Safety Code.”

ˣˣⁱⁱⁱ“Condition” is defined as “a physical or regulatory feature of the project or its setting or an effect upon the environment caused by the project.”:
ˣˣⁱᵛThis “similar in kind” language will be subject to debate and interpretation.
ˣˣᵛThis “oil and gas infrastructure” reference could be interpreted to exclude a building which uses natural gas to supply heat and hot water to residents.
ˣˣᵛⁱThis exception makes it easier to build housing development in very high hazard severity zones. If a housing development would qualify for a statutory or regulatory categorical exemption, but for the “single condition” that it happens to be in a very high fire hazard severity zone, the initial study or EIR could not include an analysis of project alternatives, cumulative or growth-inducing impacts.
ˣˣᵛⁱⁱSee Sec. 8, of SB 131 (Section 21080.44 PRC)
ˣˣᵛⁱⁱⁱ“Wetlands” are as defined in the United States Fish and Wildlife Service Manual Part 660 FW 2 (June 21, 1993), or an “environmentally sensitive habitat” area within the coastal zone, as defined in Section 30107.5.
ˣˣⁱˣThe use of the term “subdivision” and the minimum number of 30 homes here may be somewhat limiting.
ˣˣˣThis is the only project in this “wildfire” exemption that specifically mentions being located in a high or very high wildfire hazard zone. Thus, it appears that the other fire hazard mitigation projects in this exemption could occur, where necessary, in other zones.
ˣˣˣⁱProjects that involve street and road cuts to access the right of way can have other impacts on local communities besides “environmental impacts,” including making a road more vulnerable to future repairs. In some cases, the local agency may charge fees to offset local impacts.
ˣˣˣⁱⁱThis change provides flexibility for cities and counties including allowing for final decisions to be approved by the governing bodies instead of planning staff.
ˣˣˣⁱⁱⁱThis Climate Adaptation Strategy exemption bears watching by local agencies. A CEQA exemption for future updates, makes this plan less vulnerable to future public reviews and analysis over impacts. Just as the role of a state approved housing element grows, the state could begin to look to further expand this “strategy” in ways that impact with local land use plans and community priorities.
ˣˣˣⁱᵛThis exemption appears to also pick up the “Brightline” High Speed Rail train from Rancho Cucamonga to Las Vegas.
ˣˣˣᵛWhile this initial statewide mapping of infill sites requirement appears to be initially connected to the use of existing statutory CEQA streamlining of infill projects, a concern is that it could become a precursor to additional state legislation and regulations affecting development of these parcels.