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for the product - and remain zoned under threat of lawsuits. If the housing advocates are wrong, <br /> and the policy of forcing these sites to be available fails to alter deeper market forces, then local <br /> governments will face numerous complaints from landowners wondering why they can't down <br /> zone or rezone their property to respond to market demand. Local officials can now direct these <br /> complaints to Sacramento. <br /> <br /> Any local government considering a rezone or downzone of residential property must be <br /> extremely careful to avoid potential litigation. The League has made available on its website a <br /> recent memo prepared by a city attorney outlining some of the issues cities should consider <br /> when deciding how to implement AB 2292. <br /> <br /> Governor Signs AB 857 (Wiggins) Requiring State Agencies To <br /> Coordinate Plans Around State Planning Priorities <br /> <br /> The Governor signed AB 85'~ (Wiggins), [Chapter # not yet available], which requires state <br /> agencies to coordinate their plans around state planning priorities. <br /> <br /> This legislation, which was the result of an end-of-session conference committee report <br /> supported by th~ League, does three things: (1) establishes three state planning priorities, <br /> promoting infill development and equity, protecting environmental and agricultural resources, and <br /> encouraging efficient development patterns; (2) requires the existing five-year infTastruc~ure plan <br /> and the State Environmental Goals and Policy Report EGPR prepared by the Governor and the <br /> existing functional plans prepared by state agencies to reflect criteria consistent with the land <br /> use planning priorities; and (3) requires the Governor to develop conflict resolution processes to <br /> resolve conflicts between two or more state agencies for a local plan, permit, or development <br /> project. <br /> <br /> California cities have long complained about the lack of internal coordination between the <br />policies of state agencies and departments. The Coastal Commission wants one thing; the <br />Department of Housing wants another. The state is growing at a rate of 660,000 people per <br />year, yet we have no clear idea if it is the objective of the state to preserve farmland or build <br />· houses on it, to preserve environmental resources or stop interfering with development. Often <br /> the message is to do both; but, in truth, priorities have to be established. <br /> <br /> Local governments are required to balance competing interests in their general plans. Local <br /> general plans are required to be internally consistent, and are the products of multi-year outreach <br /> efforts to craft a coordinated vision for the community. AB 857 begins the process of requiring <br /> state plans to balance its policy tradeoffs in a coordinated fashion, and the conflict resolution <br /> process gives local government a place to appeal when they are faced with conflicting <br /> messages from state agencies. <br /> <br /> League to Convene Legislative Taskforce on Housing Issues <br /> <br /> The League of California Cities plans to convene a taskforce dudng the Fall and Winter to <br /> discuss the creation of a proactive legislative package that addresses some of the housing <br /> <br /> Page 5 of 13 <br /> <br /> <br />