New Feature on SB 375

Sprawl in Rocklin, CA, outside of Sacramento. Courtesy of Flickr user neighborhoods.org.

I’ve written before about Senate Bill 375, California’s recently enacted anti-sprawl land use planning law, on this blog, but the bill passed back in 2008.  Since it’s been awhile, a refresher seemed in order.  Towards that end, I’ve written a new blog page, which goes into some detail explaining the various provisions and requirements of the bill. This page is purposely designed to address the legislation in the abstract — from the statewide perspective, rather than focusing on the Bay Area or any single region.  My hope is that readers will find this feature to be a useful, approachable, and interesting introduction to the legislation, which will play an important role in regional planning throughout California.

Regional governments have been actively working in recent months with the State Air Resources Board (ARB) on SB 375, and they will continue to do so in the upcoming months.  The legislation requires that ARB release its draft targets for regional greenhouse gas reductions in just about a month, by June 30, 2010.  In order to select suitable targets by the June 30 deadline, ARB has been exchanging technical information with regional governments.  ARB will release final targets later this year, by September 30, 2010.  Over the next few years, regional governments in California will then strive to understand and implement the many new requirements that SB 375 places on the planning of housing and transportation at the regional level, with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and achieving ARB’s regional targets.

In the near future, I hope to include further discussion on this blog of SB 375, including SB 375 planning efforts specific to the Bay Area.  I will soon set up a separate page dedicated to local work on SB 375 and create an entry on the sidebar.  To begin though, a detailed look at the bill’s requirements in the abstract seemed appropriate.  Click here to read the SB 375 page, and a link will soon be added to the sidebar for future reference.