Office of Planning and Research

Office of Planning and Research
Name	Office of Planning and Research
Formation	1970s
Type	State policy office
Headquarters	Sacramento, California
Leader title	Director
Parent organization	Governor of California

Contents

Office of Planning and Research The Office of Planning and Research is a California state office advising the Governor of California, coordinating statewide land use and environmental planning policy, and administering statutory processes established by the California Environmental Quality Act and related statutes. It operates at the intersection of executive policy-making, statutory implementation, and interagency coordination among executive offices such as the California Department of Finance, California Natural Resources Agency, and California State Transportation Agency. The office engages with legislative entities including the California State Legislature, judicial forums including the Supreme Court of California, and federal counterparts such as the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

History

The office was established through actions by successive Governor of California administrations during the 1970s and evolved alongside landmark statutes like the California Environmental Quality Act, the Coastal Act of 1976, and amendments to the Planning and Zoning Law. Its development intersected with major statewide initiatives including the Proposition 13 (1978), the California Coastal Commission formation, and planning debates driven by population projections from the California Department of Finance. Directors appointed by governors such as Jerry Brown, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Gavin Newsom reshaped priorities in response to issues debated in forums like the Little Hoover Commission and rulings by the California Courts of Appeal.

The office’s statutory mission aligns with the California Environmental Quality Act's procedural standards, statewide planning goals codified in the Government Code (California), and executive directives from the Governor of California. Core functions include preparing statewide planning guidance referenced by agencies such as the Department of Housing and Community Development (California), advising on environmental review processes used by the California Air Resources Board, and coordinating long-range strategies developed with partners like the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, California High-Speed Rail Authority, and California Energy Commission.

The office is led by a director appointed by the Governor of California and organized into divisions that liaise with entities such as the California Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Water Resources (California), and the California State Lands Commission. Internal units handle statutory compliance for instruments like the California Environmental Quality Act, technical analysis informed by the California Natural Resources Agency, and policy outreach coordinated with the Legislative Analyst's Office and California State Auditor. The office’s staffing patterns reflect recruitment from academic institutions such as the University of California, Berkeley, Stanford University, and University of California, Los Angeles.

Major initiatives have included statewide planning frameworks, interagency protocols, and model documents used by local agencies including county governments like Los Angeles County and cities like San Francisco, San Diego, and Sacramento. Programs have interfaced with federal programs such as the Federal Highway Administration and regional efforts led by entities like the Association of Bay Area Governments and the San Diego Association of Governments. The office has produced guidance related to climate programs administered by the California Air Resources Board, housing elements governed by the Department of Housing and Community Development (California), and transportation planning linked to the California State Transportation Agency.

The office’s guidance and regulations influence major statewide projects including routing discussions involving the California High-Speed Rail Authority, conservation strategies involving the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and energy siting overseen by the California Energy Commission. Its policy analyses are cited in administrative proceedings before the California Public Utilities Commission, legislative hearings of the California State Legislature, and environmental litigation in the Supreme Court of California. Outcomes shaped by the office affect funding streams administered by the California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank and programmatic priorities of regional bodies like the Southern California Association of Governments.

Critics in advocacy groups such as Natural Resources Defense Council, local governments including San Diego County, and legislative watchdogs like the Little Hoover Commission have disputed the office’s guidance on issues tied to the California Environmental Quality Act, housing policy controversies surrounding Senate Bill 9 (California), and environmental review controversies linked to the California Public Utilities Commission and large infrastructure proposals. Judicial challenges have arisen in cases heard by the Supreme Court of California and the California Courts of Appeal that questioned procedural adequacy and policy interpretations advanced by the office during contentious proceedings involving agencies like the California Coastal Commission and projects proposed by the California High-Speed Rail Authority.