Will State’s New Sprawl Law Actually Contain Development?

The ultimate impact will depend on how the legislation is put intoeffect, and whether its carrots and sticks will outweigh the cries frompeople who don't want big new buildings on their block.

Whatever the law's accomplishments, proponents hope it sends a clearmessage that will be reflected in future legislation and policies onthe state and local levels: Dense, transit-oriented development is acritical goal for the collective good.

"A small step can be an important step if it's the step that turnsthe corner," said Tom Adams, board president of the California Leagueof Conservation Voters, the principal drafter of the legislation. "Ithink it will change forever the way we look at land use in California."

• Transportation planning: The California Air Resources Board (CARB)will set regional greenhouse gas reduction targets after consultationwith local governments. That target must be incorporated within thatregion’s Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), the long-term blueprint ofa region’s transportation system. The resulting model will be calledthe Sustainable Communities Strategy.

• Housing planning: Each region’s Regional Housing Needs Assessment(RHNA) – the state mandated process for local jurisdictions to addresstheir fair share of regional housing needs – will be adjusted to becomealigned with the land use plan in that region’s Sustainable CommunitiesStrategy in its RTP (which will account for greenhouse gas reductiontargets).

• CEQA reform: Environmental review will create incentives to implement the strategy, especially transit priority projects.