PCL Insider for December 19, 2011

PCL INSIDER: News from the Capitol NEW STUDY REVEALS CALIFORNIA HAS ENOUGH HOUSING TO MEET DEMAND FOR MORE THAN TWO DECADES Last week, the Urban Land Institute (ULI) released a study detailing how California’s four largest metropolitan areas (Sacramento, Bay Area, Southern California and San Diego), which make up 80 percent of the state’s population, are seeing a trend in locational demands for housing. The dream of owning a home out in the suburbs seems to be shifting as young professionals, and those entering the workforce, care more about living in close proximity to areas served by mass transit, with better access to goods, services and their employment.  California’s most transformative recent environmental legislation, AB 32 and SB 375 (which, taken together, seek to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through more sustainable planning), seem to be aligning with the personal preferences of California residents. In fact, according to the ULI study, nearly “9 million households would like the option to live in locations served by public transit, but today only about 1.2 million California households can claim to have it.”  This fact alone should make enough of a case to cities, counties, developers and planners that sprawl development has become outdated, and is no longer the desired option as and more and more residents are heading for urban dwellings and high density housing options.  Even as California’s population is projected to grow by 4 million people by 2020 and 12 million by 2035, there is already enough large lot, single family housing within the four major Metropolitan Planning Areas (MPO) that not one more house needs to be built to accommodate the expected population growth and demand for this type of housing for the next 23 years.  This in an obvious indicator of the change in desire for housing type; further stressing the point is that demand for housing close to transit stops is so high that if all new homes built until 2035 were placed next to transit stops, we still wouldn’t meet the demand.  Now, as each of the 18 MPOs throughout California drafts its Sustainable Community Strategies (as required by SB 375), we hope they will take into account the growing demand for urban development over sprawl as we seek to get California on track environmentally and economically. As we continue to focus on better regional planning, in 2012 the Planning and Conservation League will also sponsor The Healthy Neighborhoods Act, authored by Assemblymember Roger Dickinson, which seeks to reduce the amount of vehicle miles traveled (VMT) at the project level by rewarding infill development and fostering improved project design and travel demand management programs. There will be more to come on this bill as the Legislature reconvenes in January. LEGAL PANELS HIGHLIGHT IMPORTANT TOPICS         Planning for California’s future and the future of our local communities involves a variety laws and ways to achieve better development projects.  Two sessions at the 2012 Symposium will focus on the legal issues surround regulatory reform and ballot box planning. The Threat and Reality of Regulatory Reform At its most basic level, regulatory reform focuses on making improvements to the quality of governmental regulations.   The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) is perhaps the primary – but certainly not the only – law that has undergone regulatory changes in recent sessions. So, how do we make sure CEQA remains a vital law that effectively requires that environmental impacts of projects are evaluated and mitigated, and that decision-makers and the public are properly informed of a project’s impacts? And what other environmental laws may be on the chopping block?   This panel will focus on the latest legal and legislative developments for proposed regulatory reform, and how Californians can get in front of a ‘real reform’ agenda.  Michael Endicott, Sierra Club Kip Lipper, Office of Senator Darrell Steinberg Keith Wagner, Lippe Gaffney Wagner LLP Recent Trends in Ballot Box Planning “Ballot Box Planning,” as it is commonly referred to, is a method by which voters directly decide the fate of a specific project or land use regulations in general.  More and more often, initiatives and referenda are used to overturn planning decisions on local development projects.  This session will focus on current trends in ballot box planning, including legal challenges, a local activist perspective, and a case study on Wal-Mart’s efforts to circumvent CEQA and other environmental laws through the initiative process. Tal Finney, Dongell Lawrence and Finney LLP Robert “Perl” Perlmutter, Shute Mihaly and Weinberger LLP Theresa Sears, Resident City of Orange The Annual Environmental Legislative Symposium is Saturday, January 28, 2012 at the Sacramento Convention Center.  Early bird (discounted) registration is available through December 31.  We’ve secured a room block at the Citizen Hotel, room reservations must be made by January 6, 2012.        1107 9th Street, Suite 901, Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone (916) 822-5631 • Fax (916) 822-5650 pclmail@pcl.org • www.PCL.org • www.PCLFoundation.org   Please add pclmail@pcl.org to your address book to ensure delivery to your inbox. You are receiving this email because the email address will@aialosangeles.org was subscribed to our email list. Having trouble reading this email? View it on our website. Copyright, 2008 The Planning and Conservation League. All rights reserved. Privacy and Contribution Policies. Click here to unsubscribe

Hewlett Foundation Seeking Environment Program Officer

December 19, 2011 Dear Colleague, I hope you’ll forgive the somewhat impersonal mass email, but I wanted to reach out to you regarding an open Environment Program Officer position at the Hewlett Foundation. The job description is below and also posted to our website here. I’d appreciate any suggestions you have for talented candidates. Also, please feel free to forward this to any networks you think are appropriate. Here are the highlights of the job: The position is focused on climate and energy grantmaking domestically and internationally. Candidates must have significant experience in climate and energy policy development and advocacy. The ideal candidate will have experience working in or deeply with nonprofit organizations. The Hewlett Foundation is a fantastic place to work and the Environment Team is an energetic, talented, and fun group that works well together. The position is based in Menlo Park, CA. Interested candidates should send a cover letter and resume to Dan Sherman, President, Explore Company at resumes@explorecompany.com. Thank you! Best, Tom Steinbach --- Program Officer, Environment Program (Climate and Energy) About the Foundation The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation has been making grants since 1967 to help solve social and environmental problems at home and around the world. The Foundation focuses on education, environment, global development and population, performing arts, philanthropy, and issues that disproportionately affect disadvantaged communities in the San Francisco Bay Area. In 2011, the Foundation’s assets were approximately $7 billion, with annual grants totaling about $320 million. For more information about the Hewlett Foundation, please visit the website at www.hewlett.org. Program Officer – Climate and Energy The Environment Program typically makes grants of $50 million per year focused on three issue areas: Climate change and energy policy; Western conservation policy; and Environmental issues affecting poor communities in the San Francisco Bay Area. In addition to this grantmaking, the Hewlett Foundation helped launch and continues to fund the ClimateWorks Foundation, which is working to reduce the risk of climate change by advancing policies in nations with the highest greenhouse gas emissions. The Foundation’s annual grant to the ClimateWorks Foundation is approximately $100 million. The Climate and Energy Program Officer will report to the Environment Program Director and be based in Menlo Park, California. The Program Officer must have experience in climate and energy policy development and advocacy and be able to apply his or her experience domestically and internationally. Moreover, the Program Officer must have a proven ability to think strategically and understand how policy advocacy creates policy change. In addition to developing and implementing climate and energy grantmaking strategy, the Program Officer will serve as a catalyst and convener—bringing together environmental leaders and other public and private sector stakeholders. Consequently, the Program Officer must have a demonstrated record of success working with a diverse array of partners to achieve specific policy and programmatic outcomes. The Program Officer must thrive in a work environment filled with the exploration of new ideas and approaches to addressing complex problems. Joining a team of ten professionals, the new Program Officer will be challenged to meet the following broad goals and responsibilities: Developing, testing, refining, and implementing climate and energy grantmaking strategies. Communicating strategies to grantees, staff, and partner funders and making other presentations as needed to a wide array of audiences. Assessing the organizational development needs of grantee nonprofit organizations and helping to develop organizational development plans to strengthen the ability of grantees to achieve their goals. Developing and tracking effective measures of progress toward achievement of the Foundation’s climate and energy goals and leading evaluations of climate and energy grants and initiatives. Making site visits, attending conferences, and representing Foundation programs to the public and to climate and energy leaders. Reviewing and assessing climate and energy grant proposals. Contributing to the Foundation’s interest in and practice of strategic philanthropy including due diligence, goal-setting and review of business plans, knowledge building, and evaluation. Maintaining knowledge of trends, practices, laws, and other related aspects of the field. Developing and maintaining effective working relationships with diverse groups of professionals and professional organizations, foundations, and funding sources. The Program Officer should possess the following professional qualifications and personal attributes: Professional Qualifications: Extensive experience and broad recognition as a climate and energy policy leader with a proven track record of success working on policy issues at state, federal, and/or international levels. An understanding of the key climate and energy issues in the United States and ideally, other high greenhouse gas emitting nations such as China, the European Union, and India. A sophisticated knowledge of policymaking and a demonstrated ability to navigate these issues diplomatically. Knowledge and experience working with nonprofit policy advocacy organizations. Experience with strategy development, implementation, and evaluation. Strong ability to manage multiple high priority projects simultaneously and to consistently meet deadlines. Graduate degree in the sciences, public policy, or related fields. Proven talent in staff management and budgeting. The ability and flexibility to travel extensively. Personal Attributes: Articulate, with proven ability to write effectively and speak persuasively. Superlative interpersonal skills, including a willingness to listen to internal and external constituents and learn from their best ideas. Highly motivated with intellectual curiosity, approachability, and openness to input from all levels of staff. Personable, diplomatic, and possessing impeccable integrity. Exceptional analytical, strategic, and tactical abilities. Proven team player and leader able to motivate and inspire staff as well as colleagues to work well as a team. Good sense of humor. Compensation and Benefits The Foundation offers an excellent benefits package and a salary that is commensurate with experience and education. This position is exempt and full-time. To Apply Please email your resume and cover letter to Daniel Sherman, President, Explore Company, at resumes@explorecompany.com. Refer to the Hewlett Foundation Climate and Energy Program Officer position. No phone inquiries please. The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes a diverse pool of candidates for this search. The Foundation uses an outside firm to check the accuracy of information supplied by applicants.

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New Faculty and Administrator Positions at CAAD

Dear all,

Please excuse the mass mailing, and possible duplications - but I would like to bring to your attention new faculty and administrator searches underway at the College of Architecture, Art and Design at the American University of Sharjah.

All information is available at www.aus.edu/caddsearch; please look at the positions, forward to your networks, or apply as outlined in the announcements.

Thank you in advance for your help in spreading the word about these exciting new positions, or for your direct interest in the college. As always, if you are in the area, please stop in to see us - you are always welcomed.

I have listed briefly the various positions available - they are all tenure-track, with an initial three-year contract.

Thank you again, and best regards,

Peter

American University of Sharjah

College of Architecture, Art and Design

Department of Architecture | Design of Design | Foundations Program

Associate | Full Professor | Department Head

Head of Department | Department of Design

Assistant | Associate | Full Professor

Design Management | Department of Design

Product Design | Department of Design

Associate | Full Professor | Director of Foundations

College of Architecture, Art and Design

Assistant | Associate | Full Professor 

Architecture Studios + | Department of Architecture

(Multiple positions in studio and other areas including foundations, environmental technology + sustainable building systems, tectonics, digital design + fabrication, landscape, architectural history + theory.)

Assistant | Associate | Full Professor 

Interior Design | Departments of Architecture and Design

History + Theory + Criticism | Departments of Architecture and Design

Visiting faculty | Departments of Architecture and Design (including Art)

The Search Committee will begin reviewing applications immediately. Interested applicants should send a Letter of Interest outlining areas of teaching, practice, research/scholarship, and service. A Curriculum Vitae, contact information for three references, a digital portfolio of professional work and examples of student work must be submitted as instructed at www.aus.edu/caadsearch. The positions, subject to change and funding, will remain open until filled, however full consideration will be assured to applicants submitting prior to January 3, 2012.

Peter Di Sabatino

Dean
College of Architecture, Art and Design

American University of Sharjah

PO Box 26666, Sharjah

United Arab Emirates

Tel +971 6 515 2868

www.aus.edu

Digital Blue Sky - CityLAB

Digital Blue Sky-cityLAB_Final_Report.pdf Download this file

Governor’s Conference on Extreme Climate Risks & California’s Future

New post on Legal Planet: Environmental Law and Policy Governor’s Conference on Extreme Climate Risks & California’s Future by Jayni Foley Hein Today I attended the California Governor's Conference on Extreme Climate Risks and California's Future, held at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco.  It was a lively event with speakers including Governor Brown, Dr. Rajendra Pachauri, Chair of the UN IPCC, Sir Richard Branson of Virgin Group, former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and a host of distinguished scientists, economists, and policymakers. The backdrop of the California Academy of Sciences set the perfect tone for a day of hard science and big questions concerning the future of California and the US in an era of climate change and extreme weather events. In November, the IPCC issued a report validating the connection between climate change and extreme weather events.  Increased rainfall will lead to effects such as greater flooding and more powerful storms, and warmer temperatures will lead to increases in drought, wildfires, and heatwaves.  Thursday's conference addressed the effects of rising temperatures and extreme weather events on California's economy, agricultural production, public health, and essential public services like water infrastructure. Felicity Barringer of the New York Times asked Governor Brown whether he thought climate change mitigation or adaptation was more important to address right now.  Governor Brown replied that his goal "is to make California the leader in renewable energy," a response that seems very in line with mitigation. Yet adaptation comes into play in regard to energy, as well, as transmission lines will be under increased risk from wildfire due to rising temperatures, and power facilities near coasts will be subject to increasing storm surge and sea level rise. UC Berkeley Economist Max Auffhammer made the analogy to planning for old age: we know it's coming, so we should do something about it. Governor Brown was at his best, stating, The main thing we have to deal with in climate change is the skepticism, the denial and the cult-like behavior of the political lemmings that would take us over the cliff. Brown stated that extreme weather events should serve as a "wake-up call" to take proactive measures such as investing in freshwater infrastructure and accelerating the use of renewables. This sentiment was shared by other panelists, including former Governor Schwarzenegger, who called for greater use of renewables and said that the debate over bankrupt solar panel maker Solyndra was "narrow-minded" at a time when many other business failed, as well. CLEE at Berkeley Law hosted a lead-in event to this Conference on Wednesday night, with speakers from Berkeley Law, the Nature Conservancy, and the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission.  The event focused on policy tools, such as using nature-based strategies for climate change adaptation to protect against extreme weather events. While I saw no actual lemmings on site, I did catch a peek of the aquarium on my way out. Jayni Foley Hein | December 15, 2011 at 9:18 pm | Categories: Uncategorized | URL: http://wp.me/prxko-3m0 Comment    See all comments Unsubscribe or change your email settings at Manage Subscriptions. Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://legalplanet.wordpress.com/2011/12/15/governors-conference-on-extreme-climate-risks-californias-future/ Thanks for flying with WordPress.com

The End of the Year -- The End of an Era?

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a  Sustainable Development Report  a Issue #6                                                                                                                       December 2011 ELP Advisors works with cities, agencies, stakeholders, foundations and business groups to craft strategies to grow thriving, healthy, vibrant communities.  IN THIS ISSUE: American Suburbia: The End of an Era? High Speed Rail: Too Bold for California? Green Infrastructure: Swimming in Jobs Sidewalk Repairs: Who Should Foot the Bill?   LEDs Bring Holiday Joy   For those among us who enjoy amazing our neighbors, friends, coworkers and random passersby with illuminated displays of holiday merriment, save yourself some dough by switching to more energy efficient holiday lighting.   If you like to  go all out for your holiday decorations you'll want to consider switching to LED lights. According to Consumer Reports, incandescent holiday lights use 12 to 105 kilowatts of energy per hour, while their more energy efficient cousins, LED holiday lights, use 1 to 3 kilowatts per hour.   According to the U.S. Department of Energy, switching to LED can save you close to $24 bucks -- enough to buy a loved one a last minute gift at your local mini-mart!     To honor the use of energy efficiency LED lights this holiday season, we share with you the poem "A Christmas Snitch Sees the Light (LED, That is)". Better Buildings Gets Even Bigger   Earlier this month, President Obama made a huge step toward improving the energy performance our nation's building stock by announcing $4 billion in energy upgrades to billions of square feet of commercial and industrial buildings over the next 2 years. In a Presidential Memorandum, President Obama committed $2 billion to support energy efficiency improvements of federally owned and operated buildings, which total up to nearly 3 billion square feet of building space. Private sector companies such as Best Buy and CBRE, as well as institutions such as Allegheny College, also joined the effort by committing nearly $2 billion of private capital for energy efficiency projects.  The aim is to improve energy performance of 1.6 billion square feet of office, industrial, municipal, hospital, university, community college and school buildings. These investments are part of President Obama's Better Buildings Initiative, which has a national goal of improving energy efficiency of commercial and industrial buildings by 20 percent by 2020.  This will not only reduce energy bills for American businesses by $40 billion dollars but also create good paying construction jobs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and make the nation's air cleaner. EVENTS VERDEXCHANGE: VX2012 January 22-24, 2012 Los Angeles, CA   Register for the Water Technology Conference  January 26, 2012  University of La Verne 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.      New Partners for Smart Growth  February 2-4, 2012  San Diego, CA      315 W. 9th Street, Suite 1010  Los Angeles, CA 90015  Phone: 213-612-4545  Fax: 213-488-3468   www.elpadvisors.com www.lesardevelopment.com    Embracing the New Rootedness   The holiday season makes us reflect on the importance of family, friends and the place we call home. As we bid to farewell to 2011, we're thinking about recent Census data that shows Americans as a whole are moving and migrating less. Many are hunkered down trying to pay their mortgages and salvage their slice of the American Dream. In California, data show we are no longer a great attractor of migrants from other states. Nor are we the magnet for immigration that we once were. High housing prices, even after the real estate crash, and a slow economic recovery has taken the gloss off the Golden State. For the first time in a hundred years a majority of us are homegrown Californians.   What does the mean for our future? It means that if we want a brighter future we have to invest in those who are here today and their children. It means we have to double-down on our investments in our communities -- in the very infrastructure that makes it possible for us to grow our food, quench our thirsts, light our nights, power our days, move around, and enjoy healthy, meaningful lives.     We take the view that more a rooted people can build more connected communities where we care for and invest in each other because we know we depend on each other to succeed. So here's to the end of 2011. May 2012 bring us growth, connection and joy in the place we call home.   Sincerely yours,   Cecilia V. Estolano | Jennifer LeSar | Katherine Aguilar Perez  American Suburbia: The End of an Era?    (Overly?) optimistic planners are declaring an end to sprawl. And they've got some intriguing evidence to support their assertion.   First, we start with the Urban Land Institute (ULI). The nonprofit recently  released a report [PDF] on the future of housing in California. In a nutshell, the report finds that in many parts of the state there is a glut of unwanted single-family dwellings. During the great housing boom developers constructed so many of these suburban domiciles that our current stock of conventional single-family homes will still outpace demand in 2035.   It turns out that people are shunning these far-flung abodes for smaller units that are closer to job centers and transit. ULI predicts that by 2035, nine million units of transit-station area housing will need to be constructed (that's eight million more than we have today). In addition, demand for multifamily, townhomes, and small-lot housing is expected to soar.   Demand for denser, more sustainable housing will rule the future. Planners, transit advocates, new urbanists, environmentalists and the like can break out the party hats and uncork the champagne!   Underpinning this anticipated shift in demand are changing demographics, migration patterns, and economics.   Let's start with demographics in the Golden State. Population wise, it's looking a lot like 1900. That's the last time that such a large portion of our state's residents have been California natives. High housing costs and a poor economy continues to make California an unattractive place to live. Within the U.S., the number of residents leaving California has long outpaced the flow of migrants from the other states. A poor national economy has ebbed the tide of immigration that has sustained the state's growth.   The state's growth will, for the first time in a century, be driven by natural increase -- not immigration and migration. It's predicted that as these home-grown Californians enter the housing market in coming decades, they'll opt for smaller homes close to work and/or transit.   This shift in demand is underpinned by changing economic realities. As Eduardo Peñalver at the Washington Post notes, sprawl "was built on the twin pillars of low gas prices and a relentless demand for housing."   In a post-recession America, low gas prices are a  fading memory and we've managed to create a substantial oversupply of housing. Americans, saddled with debt and faced with poor job prospects are staying put. Migration rates within the U.S. have reached historic lows, and new household formation is stagnating, further tempering demand for housing.   Essentially, commuting is expensive and (in California) big homes are expensive. So consumers entering the housing market are predictably looking for smaller, more affordable housing options that are close to work, school, and entertainment (or close to a transit network that makes these things easily accessible). Based on this projected demand, developers are being urged to look more closely at infill development.   But before declaring an end to sprawl, we need to take a measured approach.  David Daddio from The City Fix cautions that "we can't just assume that today's crisis translates into some fundamental shift in the way that we build our cities."   Economic dynamics might change and old patterns of development might reemerge. Even with high fuel prices, more energy efficient vehicles may ease the burden of long commutes, making living on the urban fringe more attractive. And, if cities do not invest in the creation of extensive transit networks that are convenient for residents, the demand for transit-station area housing may crumble. National policies that subsidize the costs of homeownership and the undying notion of the American Dream still reinforce the ideal of a single-family home on a large lot.   The current economic situation has created a seismic shift in how we are consuming housing in the near-term. But it can't be taken for granted that everyone will give up their suburban shackles and flee to more thriving urban cores. The economic downturn has had the unintended effect of elevating more cohesive urban centers above their suburban and exurban counterparts. People are more rooted in their local settings, whether it's by choice or necessity. What's needed now is a comprehensive strategy and policy framework that harnesses this fleeting trend and transforms it into a sustained movement. High Speed Rail: Too Bold for California?     aaaa

Land Use Matters - A Publication of Alston & Bird's Land Use Group

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Each month, Land Use Matters will provide information and insights into legal and regulatory developments, primarily at the Los Angeles City and County levels affecting land use matters, as well as new CEQA appellate decisions. Please visit the firm's website for additional information about our Land Use Group. City of Los Angeles Department of City Planning Warner Center Regional Core Comprehensive Specific Plan The draft Warner Center Regional Core Comprehensive Specific Plan (WCRCCSP) was released on August 2, 2011. The proposed Specific Plan, if adopted, would replace the Warner Center Specific Plan and extend the Specific Plan boundary north to the Los Angeles River, rather than ending it at Vanowen Street. The Specific Plan proposes to increase the floor area ratios, height and density for most lots within Warner Center; authorize flexible parking rates; and provide urban design guidelines. A supplemental sign district is also proposed for the Regional Core. The draft EIR for the Specific Plan was released on December 8, 2011, and the comment period ends on February 6, 2012. A workshop is planned for January 9, 2012, and City Council adoption is anticipated in July 2012. Download a copy of the draft documents at http://cityplanning.lacity.org/eir/WarnerCntrRegionalCore/DEIR/TOC_WarnerCnt.htm. Hollywood Community Plan and Final EIR On December 8, 2011, the Planning Commission recommended that the City Council approve the Hollywood Community Plan and various rezoning actions, certify the EIR, and approve and adopt the Statement of Overriding Considerations. The proposed plan contains policies and programs that will remove and/or revise development limitations on commercial zones and multifamily residential zones. The plan also proposes modified street standards that reflect existing street configurations, protect historic resources and established building patterns, and promote pedestrian activity and bicycle and transit use. The Planning and Land Management (PLUM) Committee will review the reports and recommendations in early 2012. Find a copy of the staff report and Final EIR at http://cityplanning.lacity.org/cpu/hollywood/CPC20056082CPU_Exhibits/HwdCPU_FINAL.pdf and http://cityplanning.lacity.org/cpu/hollywood/EIR/FEIR/TOC_FinalEIR.htm. City-Wide Sign Ordinance Update At the December 5, 2011, PLUM Committee meeting, the latest draft of the proposed sign ordinance was considered (see http://clkrep.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2008/08-2020_RPT_PLAN_11-21-11.pdf). One of the major issues continues to revolve around permitting off-site signs in parks, the Zoo and other city-owned facilities. The Office of the City Administrative Officer submitted a letter requesting that the Council consider an amendment to the ordinance to allow the Zoo to apply for a sign district. Various neighborhood councils oppose the sign reduction and community benefits provisions of the proposed ordinance. PLUM voted to send the ordinance to the City Attorney’s Office for review and will hold another hearing before sending the matter to the full City Council for review. California Environmental Quality Act Pfeiffer v. City of Sunnyvale: The court of appeal upheld the trial court’s denial of a challenge by homeowners to the adequacy of an environmental impact report for a proposed expansion of a medical campus in Sunnyvale. Coming on the heels of an appellate decision from 2010 involving the City of Sunnyvale, in which a traffic study was invalidated due to “baseline” issues, the same appellate court upheld the City’s latest traffic study. That study used a baseline tied to the project’s anticipated date of completion, which was based on (1) traffic counts conducted as of the Notice of Preparation plus (2) additional traffic from anticipated growth and approved, but not yet constructed, projects through the project opening year. This study also analyzed cumulative impacts by analyzing anticipated conditions as of the year 2020, in accordance with the City’s General Plan. In addition to addressing traffic issues, the court also ruled that an EIR does not need to discuss the issue of the project’s consistency with land-use plans unless the project would be inconsistent with such plans. The full decision can be found at http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/opinions/documents/H036310.PDF. Ballona Wetlands Land Trust v. City of Los Angeles: The court of appeal upheld the trial court’s denial of challenges brought by different environmental groups to a revised EIR prepared for the Playa Vista project (comprised of residential-, retail- and community-oriented uses). The original EIR was revised in response to a writ of mandate issued in 2008. The court held that (1) the revised EIR did not have to examine the potential effects of sea level rise that may be caused by global warming in the future because, among other reasons, CEQA does not require analysis of the effects of the environment on the proposed project (declining to follow CEQA Guideline 15126.2); (2) substantial evidence supported the City’s finding that preservation in place of previously removed archaeological resources was infeasible and the impact to such resources was considered to be less-than-significant due to other mitigation measures; and (3) challenges to the analysis of land-use impacts was barred by, among other things, the doctrine of res judicata given the scope of the writ and the nature of the claims brought in the original lawsuit and in the new challenges to the revised EIR. Contributing Authors Edward J. Casey, Partner Environmental and Land Use Group ed.casey@alston.com Kathleen A. Hill, Planning Director Environmental and Land Use Group kathleen.hill@alston.com This publication by Alston & Bird LLP provides a summary of significant developments to our clients and friends. It is intended to be informational and does not constitute legal advice regarding any specific situation. This material may also be considered attorney advertising under court rules of certain jurisdictions. Atlanta | Brussels | Charlotte | Dallas | Los Angeles | New York | Research Triangle | Silicon Valley | Ventura County | Washington, D.C.

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