State laws, policies and history governing county land use decisions

New class!  Some of county officials’ toughest decisions are land use choices.  This fast-paced course explains the basic tools of land use planning and development, explores the connections between land use, local finance, and governance, and examines how community politics influence these choices.  The course promotes understanding of the key state laws that affect counties’ decisions: the Planning and Zoning Law, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and the statutes for Local Agency Formation Commissions (LAFCOs).  Case studies and class exercises encourage discussions about topics that include agricultural land conservation, growth management, and regional issues (SB 375 & Sustainable Community Strategies).

Instructor Peter Detwiler is the Senate Local Government Committee’s former staff director who helped legislators craft many of these policies.