Feb., 2010
The following is for study only and has NOT been approved by the Land Use and Environmental Committee, Strategic Planning Committee, Executive Committee, or the Board of Directors.
Issue:
What are the Mission Statements for the Land Use and Environmental
Committee and its five (5) Issues Areas?
Action:
None Required
Options:
Not Applicable
Status/Summary:
The Board of Directors adopted a
recommendation of the Public Policy Reorganization Task Force in 2009 to
create a more efficient policy and legislative body in C.A.R. The Task
Force was created out of concern that a proliferation of C.A.R. policy
committees impaired the efficient functioning of the process and was
fostering an environment of committees that were duplicative and too
narrowly focused. This structure seemed to invite too many task forces to
be appointed to consider "big picture" issues and made it difficult to
avoid multiple presentations of the same issue.
The Reorganization Task Force met extensively during 2008 and early 2009. The Task Force members reviewed and discussed existing policy formation committees and structures, and reviewed background materials from staff. These deliberations resulted in the recommendation that the Committee structure should be reorganized into four policy committees and two levels of government committees that will handle the same issues now addressed by more than a dozen committees. All issues covered by each Committee will be addressed by that committee as a whole. Issues Chairs, in the order designated by the Committee Chair, will take turns leading the discussions on issues within their respective areas.
These recommendations were ultimately adopted by the C.A.R. Board of Directors in January of 2009, resulting in creation of the Land Use and Environmental Committee with the following mission statement:
The Land Use and Environmental Committee is a Policy committee. Its mission is to develop C.A.R.'s land use and environmental policy agenda. It has original jurisdiction to evaluate legislation and regulation in the following issue areas as they relate to real estate: Environmental, Land Use and Zoning, Property Rights, Resources, Subdivision and Development.
I. Environmental - Environmental issues include policy
decisions regarding impacts of housing development and communities on the
environment and impacts of the natural environment on humans and housing.
This issue area includes, but is not limited to, such topics as:
- Air quality
- Asbestos
- California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
- Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta
- Lead-based paints
- Mold
- Radon
- Water quality
- Wetlands
- Wildlife
II. Land Use and Zoning - Land Use and Zoning issues
include policy decisions regarding urban and rural land use planning and
zoning. This issue area includes, but is not limited to, such topics
as:
- Brownfields
- Fire/defensible space
- Flood management
- LAFCO
- Levees
- Lot lines
- Mixed-use
- Open space
- Redevelopment
- "Smart growth"
- Transportation
- Urban growth boundaries
- Williamson Act
III. Property Rights - Property Rights issues include
policy decisions regarding the rights of property owners. This issue
area includes, but is not limited to, such topics as:
- Coastal Commission
- Easements
- Eminent domain
- Tribal lands/sacred sites
- Viewscapes
- Water rights
IV. Resources - Resources issues include policy decisions
regarding natural and other resources. This issue area includes, but
is not limited to, such topics as:
- Energy conservation/efficiency
- Energy generation
- Energy transmission
- Forest resources/trees
- Mining
- Water supply
- Water use efficiency
V. Subdivision and Development - Subdivision and
Development issues include policy decisions regarding enhancing
availability and development opportunities for single-family housing and
infrastructure. This issue area includes, but is not limited to, such
topics as:
- Building codes
- Green building codes
- Permit fees
- Seismic hazards and retrofits
- Septic systems
- Sewer laterals
- Sidewalks
- Stormwater runoff
- Subdivision Map Act
