Statewide Slow-Growth Bill Heads for Davis

LOS ANGELES-One of the most sweeping and hotly contested anti-sprawl measures in California history could be signed into law as early as this week by Governor Gray Davis

The measure was approved late last week, as the 2001 state Legislative session came to a frenzied midnight close that found lawmakers voting on hundreds of issues—some of which they had barely studied. Davis has indicated that he will sign the bill, which would require builders whose projects would include more than 500 homes to first show that there would be enough water for their development’s residents.

Yet, the plan goes far beyond residential real estate. Large hotel projects would be subject to the new water-related requirements, as would new businesses that want to erect a headquarters complex or industrial facility that would employ more than 1,000 workers.