California Forever is seeking state legislation that would streamline regulatory approvals for its proposed development in Solano County, including a planned new city and a shipbuilding facility. Project representatives confirmed they are discussing draft legislation with the administration of California Gov. Gavin Newsom that would modify portions of the approval process if enacted. The proposal includes changes affecting environmental litigation timelines, annexation procedures and other regulatory requirements tied to the project’s development.
Proposed legislation targets regulatory approvals
The draft proposal under discussion would provide California Forever with relief from several state regulatory processes as the company pursues its long-term development plans in eastern Solano County. Former California legislative leaders Darrell Steinberg and Bob Hertzberg, who joined the project as special counsel in April, said they have been working with state and local officials while discussing the proposal with the Newsom administration.
According to Steinberg and Hertzberg, the proposed legislation would establish a more predictable approval process for portions of the development while maintaining compliance with California environmental and land-use laws. Representatives for the governor did not publicly comment on the reported discussions.
One of the principal elements involves the California Environmental Quality Act, commonly known as CEQA. Under the proposal, lawsuits challenging the project under CEQA would be resolved within 270 days, replacing review periods that can extend for several years. The proposal builds on an existing legal framework that allows certain state-designated projects to receive expedited judicial review.
Development plan combines housing and shipbuilding
California Forever has proposed developing a master-planned community on more than 50,000 acres in Solano County. The project could ultimately accommodate up to 400,000 residents and include approximately 175,000 homes along with commercial, industrial and manufacturing space.
A significant portion of the current legislative proposal centers on a planned shipbuilding facility near Collinsville. The project envisions approximately 7,500 acres designated for maritime industrial development along the Sacramento River and San Francisco Bay.
The broader proposal also includes a 2,100-acre advanced manufacturing district known as the Solano Foundry. California Forever has stated that the development is intended to support manufacturing employers while integrating residential construction with employment growth.
Jim Wunderman, who leads public affairs for California Forever, said the proposed legislation is intended to create predictable regulatory timelines rather than eliminate environmental review requirements. He stated that the shipyard portion of the project would rely in part on a 2008 environmental impact report covering the waterfront site while remaining subject to applicable state environmental and land-use regulations.
Steinberg said the current legislative proposal is narrower than the overall vision for the project because it concentrates on industrial development, workforce housing and related infrastructure connected to manufacturing employment.
Industrial recruitment remains part of the proposal
California Forever has continued discussions with prospective industrial employers as it advances plans for the waterfront development. Company representatives said multiple manufacturers and shipbuilders have expressed interest in locating operations at the proposed site, although no binding agreements have been announced.
Among the companies linked to the discussions is Saronic Technologies, an Austin-based defense contractor that has explored constructing its proposed Port Alpha shipyard in Collinsville. The company has also evaluated other potential locations for the facility.
Steinberg said the proposed regulatory changes would not become effective unless California Forever first secures binding commitments from one or more major manufacturers or shipbuilders planning to invest in the project.
California Alliance for Jobs has organized support for the legislation through a coalition that includes labor organizations, business groups and local officials. The coalition has argued that the proposal could encourage substantial private investment while expanding employment opportunities and housing availability in the region.
Joshua Arce, executive director of California Alliance for Jobs, said the legislation could help position California to compete for manufacturing projects while supporting economic development in Solano County.
Project continues through county approval process
California Forever first became publicly known in 2023 after assembling thousands of acres of land near Suisun City and Collinsville through a series of property acquisitions. The company later announced plans to develop a new community designed around housing, employment and public infrastructure.
Last year, the developer withdrew a proposed county ballot initiative after county staff raised concerns involving fiscal impacts, infrastructure capacity and environmental issues. California Forever subsequently agreed to continue pursuing approvals through Solano County’s standard planning process.
The latest legislative proposal would not replace local planning requirements. Instead, it focuses on specific state-level regulatory procedures that project representatives believe could delay investment decisions by prospective industrial tenants.
Another component of the proposal addresses the Local Agency Formation Commission process governing annexation of unincorporated land. According to Hertzberg, the legislation would include provisions intended to protect Solano County from additional financial obligations by requiring binding arbitration over future tax-sharing agreements connected to the development.
Environmental review and local concerns remain part of discussions
The proposed development continues to draw scrutiny from some local residents and environmental advocates who question its potential effects on farmland, water resources and nearby wetlands.
Former Solano County Supervisor Duane Kromm said the project’s industrial expansion would require careful environmental review because of its scale and potential impacts on the Sacramento River-Delta system and surrounding infrastructure. He also questioned whether the existing environmental documentation cited by project representatives is sufficient for the proposed shipyard.
California Forever maintains that the legislative proposal would not exempt the development from state environmental requirements. Company representatives said the objective is to establish clearer timelines for regulatory review while preserving compliance with applicable laws governing environmental protection and land use.
Steinberg said the project’s broader vision of developing a new city remains a long-term objective, while the immediate legislative effort is focused on supporting manufacturing investment, workforce housing and infrastructure tied to confirmed industrial employers.
