A state law, SB 743, often referred to as Vehicle Miles Traveled, pits homeowner hopefuls against the state's wish to combat climate change, says a civil rights attorney. The limited supply of California real estate is already threatening homeownership for many young millennials and minorities of color across the state...
With State VMT Law Limiting Home Building, Clovis Takes Action
A state law meant to reduce the miles people drive may be unintentionally driving up the prices of new homes. And, according to the California Building Association, the law — commonly referred to as Vehicle Miles Traveled — poses "a big pause button" for residential home construction. In response,  the Clovis City...
State’s VMT Law Driving Builders Away, Making Homes More Expensive, Say Valley Lawmakers
State Senator Anna Caballero, D-Salinas, says the state should not be scaring away homebuilders but she is worried a new state law is doing just that. "The last thing we need right now is to reduce the number of communities that we're building. We're 2.5 million housing units behind," said Caballero....
Panel Will Vote on Over 60 Proposals to Amend Fresno’s Growth Plan Tuesday
After 10 months of meetings and a coronavirus interruption, the Fresno committee in charge of examining how the city should grow is about to vote on its recommendations. On Tuesday night, the city's General Plan Implementation Review Committee will vote on more than 60 motions that range from developers paying...
Swearengin Says VMT Is Tool to Build Fresno’s Economy. Others Disagree.
Former Fresno Mayor Ashley Swearengin said "something definitely needs to change" when it comes to meeting Fresno's housing needs. And the state's controversial new VMT law, she said, "is a tool" for fixing what she describes as the city's history of unsustainable development. Swearengin made the comments in a statewide...
VMT Opponents Say Plan Is Tax on Car-Driving Commuters
A coalition of 30 business and industry associations have asked Gov. Gavin Newsom to delay a controversial plan affecting new development for one year. Among the groups: the Southern California Leadership Council, LA County Economic Development Corp., California Business Roundtable, Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, and California Building Industry Association....
Fresno City Council Adopts VMT Plan Despite Unknown Costs, Impacts
The prospect of the state mandating how Fresno decides future growth prompted council members to choose their own path to implement a controversial law Thursday. "I think everybody knows that Sacramento develops laws and tries to (push) a one size fits all (approach)," said Fresno City Councilmember Luis Chavez. "But...
Kern Now Joins 4 Other Central Valley Counties in Seeking Delay of Controversial VMT Law
The Kern County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approve a resolution asking Gov. Gavin Newsom to delay implementation of a controversial state environmental law. The counties of Fresno, Kings, Tulare, and Merced have also called for a delay. Starting July 1st, housing construction projects will no longer be assessed a...
VMT Law Could ‘Thwart’ Efforts to Finish Highway 99 Widening
Future Central Valley highway projects — including the expansion of Highway 99 to six lanes — will be impeded if Caltrans follows a new controversial state law, a large regional planning agency says. The San Joaquin Valley Regional Policy Council, which represents more than 60 cities, shared its concerns about Highway...
In Suing California, Group Says Law Will Keep Grandparents From Seeing Grandchildren
A group suing the State of California says the high cost of living in California will only get worse if a new law takes effect. High-tech workers are already fleeing for remote setups in lower-cost areas like Austin, Pittsburgh, and New Mexico says The Two Hundred cofounder Robert J. Apodaca. The...