California’s $3.9B Midway Rising becomes a CEQA lightning rod

California’s chief environmental law has long been ground-up residential development’s No. 1 nemesis. Litigation under CEQA is one of opponents’ most effective tools to cripple or kill housing developments. Over objections from project opponents who urged a veto, Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed two bills that further blunt that tool, building on last year’s major reform. One targets a single San Diego development enmeshed in lawsuits for years, making it the first state law of its kind. Newsom signed the bills Tuesday as part of a housing package meant to raze regulatory hurdles and speed construction in a state that has struggled mightily to build enough affordable homes. Senate Bills 344 and 958 grew out of a textbook case of litigation leaning on the California Environmental Quality Act to delay Midway Rising, the $3.9 billion redevelopment of San Diego’s Sports Arena site. SB 344 shuts down further CEQA challenges to the project’s environmental review once the city certifies it. SB 958 bars added building height from counting as a determining environmental impact factor on qualifying infill projects statewide. San Diego-area Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson authored both bills, and Mayor...