March 2005

by Joel Ellinwood, AICP

Peter Detwiler, chief consultant for the California State Senate’s Committee on Local Government and long-time legislative staffer on land use planning issues has a new theme. In talks at professional planning seminars around the state, he is warning of a potential new weapon in the litigation arsenal of those opposing development in areas being annexed to cities or special districts. Whether Detwiler is right, or merely singing another version of “the sky is falling,” his pitch is worth paying attention to. He recently presented it at the annual Land Use Conference sponsored by UCLA and at the Sacramento Chapter of the American Planning Association luncheon speaker series. It goes like this.
Continue Reading Legislative Leader Lilts, “LAFCo Litigation Looms.”