California Governor Gavin Newsom signed two bills last week aimed at easing environmental regulations for certain housing and infrastructure projects. While he dubbed it the state’s biggest modern housing reform, experts and developers warn the celebration might be premature, with lingering challenges and limited scope.
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Decades-Old Law Under Fire
Just a year ago, efforts to relax California’s strict environmental review law, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), struggled to gain political traction. But last week marked a turning point as Governor Newsom approved two bills, AB 130 and SB 131, softening CEQA requirements for some urban housing and infrastructure projects. “Go YIMBYs! Thank you for your abundant mindset,” Newsom declared at a June 30 press conference.
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Targeted Exemptions Only
Despite the fanfare, the reforms are narrow in scope. The new laws allow housing and infrastructure projects in urban infill areas to bypass full environmental reviews if they meet specific criteria: under 20 acres in size (or five for “Builder’s Remedy” projects), located on previously developed land or near urban use areas, and compliant with local planning and labor rules…