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Highlights Many local governments across California are still struggling to adopt housing plans (Housing Elements) that satisfy the state's Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). To accommodate new housing targets, many jurisdictions' Housing Elements commit to rezoning certain sites to increase the allowable residential density. State law requires that this rezoning must occur by a set deadline, which is stricter for jurisdictions that receive late approval of their Housing Elements. Jurisdictions that miss these [...]

A recent case addressed landlords' refusal to accept Section 8 vouchers. The issue before the Court in People v. Commons W., 2023 N.Y. Slip Op. 23213, (N.Y. Sup. Ct. 2023) was whether New York's source of income antidiscrimination statute (Executive Law § 296(5)(a)(1)) violates the Fourth Amendment. Judge Mark Masler, writing for the Cortland County Supreme Court, held that New York's Executive Law § 296 violates the Fourth Amendment to the extent it restricts or prohibits [...]

Community input and engagement are a vital part of land use planning. Getting the community, including adjacent and nearby landowners involved in a positive way, however, can be challenging. Doing so often requires a concerted effort by community groups, developers, individual stakeholders, and planning practitioners. A well-thought-out and organized approach using the following best practices for engaging with the community is advisable: Identify Your Audience: Know the Community To productively engage with a community, it [...]