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ARTICLE · 02 OCTOBER 2013

Legislative Changes To California’s CEQA Ease Requirements For Urban Infill Projects

Fox Rothschild LLP
Fox Rothschild LLP
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California lawmakers further streamlined the environmental review of infill residential, mixed-use and "employment center" projects under a new bill passed at the end of the legislative session in September.

United StatesReal Estate and Construction
In The Zone
In The Zone
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California lawmakers further streamlined the environmental review of infill residential, mixed-use and "employment center" projects under a new bill passed at the end of the legislative session in September.

By way of background, all development projects must comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) prior to project approval. Under CEQA, state and local agencies must identify the significant environmental impacts of a proposed development project and avoid or mitigate those impacts, if feasible.

Senate Bill 743 was initially intended as a CEQA streamlining bill for a new sports and entertainment arena for the Sacramento Kings, an NBA team at risk of being lured away by another U.S. city. Legislative leaders and the business community have been asking for broader CEQA reform, because the environmental review process is time-consuming and fraught with litigation risk for developers and local governments. After last minute talksamong Governor Jerry

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