What matters to me today is Land Use Decision-Making: Who Decides?
“Land use, who decides?”
The answer, of course, is “all of the above.” Land use decisions necessarily involve local decision-making, state decision-making, and federal decision-making. When we try to elevate one above the others, we create a blind spot.
In California, land use control has historically been the province of local government. Cities and counties adopt general plans, zoning, and specific plans that shape their communities. But in recent years, the Legislature has steadily narrowed the ability of local jurisdictions to say “no” — particularly to housing. Through mandates, streamlining laws, and enforceable housing requirements, Sacramento has asserted a more direct role in determining what gets built and where.
At the same time, when the federal government steps back — whether on endangered species protections, climate regulation, or other environmental programs — states like California move quickly to fill the void. State-level action on energy efficiency, species protection, land conservation, affordability, and housing supply has accelerated, often setting standards that exceed federal baselines.
These overlapping roles are not an anomaly. They are the system.
For land use practitioners, the lesson is clear. The relevant battleground is not just city hall. It is also the state capitol and Washington, D.C. Effective advocacy and sound advice require awareness of all three, because increasingly, each is shaping the ground beneath our feet.
That’s what matters to me today in 250 words or less. What matters to you? I’d really like to know.