New CEQA Reforms and California Housing Development: Qualifying for Exemptions, Project Impact, Compliance Challenges
A live 90-minute premium CLE video webinar with interactive Q&A
This CLE webinar will examine two recently enacted laws providing some of the most significant reforms to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in recent history—AB 130 and SB 131—and the impact on housing development. The panel will examine how the laws streamline the CEQA review process, discuss open questions and challenges related to qualifying for the new exemptions provided under the laws, and offer best practices for guiding developer clients through this new regulatory landscape.
Outline
- Introduction
- New CEQA reforms
- AB 130
- Exemption
- Qualifying projects
- Developer obligations
- SB 131
- Exemption
- Qualifying projects
- Limited scope of environmental review
- AB 130
- Project impact
- Projects under review when the laws were enacted
- Future projects
- Remaining questions and compliance challenges
- Best practices for guiding clients through the new legislative requirements
Benefits
The panel will review these and other important issues:
- What is the purpose of the recent CEQA reforms?
- What CEQA exemptions are provided under AB 130 and SB 131?
- What are the qualifying standards for meeting these exemptions? What questions remain as to who qualifies?
- How will the reforms impact projects that were already under review when the new laws were enacted? New projects moving forward?
Faculty
Ryan Michael Leaderman
Partner
Holland & Knight
Mr. Leaderman is a Los Angeles land use attorney who focuses his practice on obtaining entitlements for complex... | Read More
Mr. Leaderman is a Los Angeles land use attorney who focuses his practice on obtaining entitlements for complex land use planning and mixed-use developments in California. He represents clients in all aspects of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). In recent years, Mr. Leaderman's practice has grown to include a particular focus on housing (single-family, townhouse/small lot subdivisions and multifamily), as well as mixed-use developments. He uses his knowledge of rapidly evolving California laws, including the Housing Accountability Act, State Density Bonus Law, Housing Crisis Act (Senate Bill 330), accessory dwelling units and Builder’s Remedy to obtain approvals for his clients' projects. Mr. Leaderman has extensive experience in guiding high-profile residential, commercial, mixed-use, hotel and medical/hospital development projects, including master-planned communities, through the approval process. His experience encompasses all types of land use permits, such as variances and conditional use permits, as well as general plan and zoning amendments. He also interacts regularly with governmental agencies at all levels, including local governments and California's Housing and Community Development Department. Mr. Leaderman assists developers in complying with CEQA and planning and zoning regulations throughout the state. In particular, he advises on mixed-use housing development projects in Southern California. He is well-versed in assisting with variances, general plan amendments, zone changes, conditional use permits, site plan reviews, subdivision maps, development agreements and other entitlements or permits necessary to move a project forward. As necessary and appropriate, Mr. Leaderman litigates land use and CEQA matters.
Close
Eric S. Phillips
Partner
Burke, Williams & Sorensen
Mr. Phillips represents clients in all phases of the development process, including property acquisition, entitlement... | Read More
Mr. Phillips represents clients in all phases of the development process, including property acquisition, entitlement and administrative approvals, CEQA compliance, compliance with state housing laws, and negotiating real estate disputes. He has particular experience with State Density Bonus Law, the Housing Accountability Act, SB 35, and Housing Element Law. Mr. Phillips assists private clients to successfully obtain subdivision maps, density bonuses, development agreements, and other land use approvals. He also has served as special counsel to numerous public agencies and provides advice on writing ordinances and legislative findings related to zoning, subdivisions, inclusionary housing programs, rent control and tenant protection measures, and impact fees. In both roles, Mr. Phillips has worked with various clients to negotiate and close purchase and sale agreements, draft loan agreements, create below-market-rate rental and for-sale programs, perform property diligence, craft residential preference programs, and work with technical consultants to prepare Draft and Final EIRs.
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Stephen E. Velyvis
Partner
Burke, Williams & Sorensen
Mr. Velyvis has over 24 years of expertise advising and representing public agency and private clients in... | Read More
Mr. Velyvis has over 24 years of expertise advising and representing public agency and private clients in administrative proceedings and before state and federal trial and appellate courts. He has extensive advisory and litigation experience with and works daily on projects addressing complex legal issues spanning the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), NEPA, the Federal Power Act, and the California Coastal Act, as well as the state and federal legal and regulatory frameworks governing clean water, clean air, endangered species and electricity generation and transmission. Mr. Velyvis also routinely represents clients in land use and planning-related matters and advises on CEQA compliance issues in eminent domain matters. In addition to successfully representing the firm’s many municipal and public agency clients, he has also successfully represented numerous private clients (e.g., project applicants and project opponents.) In this regard, Mr. Velyvis distinguishes himself as a leading CEQA practitioner -- his deep and varied experience gives him invaluable insight into what all three sides on a given CEQA project are thinking at every step along the way.
CloseEarly Discount (through 09/26/25)
