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Officials say budget package includes CEQA changes that could affect Carmel-by-the-Sea review processes
Summary
Speakers said the governor signed the state budget and that legislative changes to the California Environmental Quality Act could reduce environmental review for infill housing, broadband, and wildfire projects — changes the village plans to monitor with boards and commissions.
Village officials said the state’s recently signed budget includes statutory changes to the California Environmental Quality Act that could affect local review of projects in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
"The governor signed the final portions of the budget for the year... so $321,000,000,000, a budget," one speaker said, then described budget actions including "$5,000,000,000 in borrowing, almost $2,000,000,000 in funding shifts." The speaker added that the legislature had made changes to CEQA that "could impact us from the perspective of a lessening, a reduction in CEQA review for things like infill housing, broadband infrastructure, ... wildfire prevention projects."
Speakers noted that CEQA historically has been used to protect the village’s character, including design review and historic resources, and said they plan to involve boards, commissions and the community while staff continue to assess the statutory changes. The recording did not specify exact statutory citations or which sections of CEQA were amended.
One speaker emphasized that some CEQA changes would not permit broad changes to the building code but would allow exceptions for fire safety and certain new residential building standards. The village did not announce any specific local policy changes or formal council actions in response to the state budget during the recorded forum.
Officials said they will track the effect of the state budget and inform local advisory bodies and the public as they learn more.
