Land use: development project review: superstores.

The Permit Streamlining Act within the Planning and Zoning Law requires the lead agency that has the principal responsibility for approving a development project, as defined, to approve or disapprove the project within a specified number of days from the date of certification of an environmental impact report, the date of the adoption of a negative declaration, or the determination by the lead agency that the project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act. This bill in addition, would require a city, county, or city and county, including a charter city, prior to approving or disapproving a proposed development project that would permit the construction of a superstore retailer, or where a superstore would be the recipient of over $100,000 in financial assistance, to cause an economic impact report to be prepared, as specified, to be paid for by the project applicant, and that includes specified assessments and projections, including, among other things, an assessment of the effect that the proposed superstore will have on designated economic assistance areas, and an assessment of the effect that the proposed superstore will have on retail operations and employment in the same market area. The bill would also require the governing body to provide an opportunity for public comment on the economic impact report. The bill would define certain terms for these purposes. By increasing the duties of local public officials, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would additionally find and declare that these provisions are an issue of statewide concern and not a municipal affair. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.