SB 375: Smart Growth Savior or Just the Beginning?

Abstract

This article analyzes and dissects SB 375. This bill, which was the result of a unique compromise between environmentalists, local governments, and the building industry, seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by creating incentives for smarter land use and development choices by local governments and developers thereby seeking to reduce vehicle miles traveled. Although proponents and drafters have deemed SB 375 as a bill that will be responsible for reshaping the face of California's communities into more sustainable walkable communities, this article places doubt on these optimistic predictions based on both internal and external constraints that will make achieving its ultimate goal of GHG reduction a demanding task.

Notes

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Id. These ten principles include: (1) creating a range of housing opportunities and choices; (2) creating walkable neighborhoods; (3) encouraging community and stakeholder collaboration; (4) fostering distinctive, attractive communities with a strong sense of place; (5) making development decisions predictable, fair, and cost-effective; (6) mixing land uses; (7) preserving open space, farmland, natural beauty, and critical environmental areas; (8) providing a variety of transportation choices; (9) strengthening and directing development toward existing communities; and finally, (10) taking advantage of compact building design. Id., 295–96.

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This would require that SB 375 allow for planning at the regional scale—which is currently not permitted under the bill due to the concession that local governments retain their land use authority—and the state provide funding for redevelopment.

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Navjot Athwal is a third-year law student at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law (Boalt Hall), a licensed California Real Estate Broker and Real Estate Developer. In the fall of 2010, he will commence work as an associate at Farella Braun & Martel LLP in San Francisco in the Land Use and Real Estate Practice Group.He would like to extend his deep appreciation to Professors Michelle Anderson and Richard Frank of the University of California Berkeley, School of Law, for their invaluable guidance during the writing of this article. While their guidance was invaluable, any errors herein are solely the responsibility of the author.