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California's Biggest Land Use Story Is Not The Housing Market

Posted by: Paul Shigley

1 January 2009 - 5:00am

The deepening of the housing market crisis is certainly a big deal in California. But the land use story of the year was the Legislature's passage of a measure mandating regional planning.

The passage of Senate Bill 375 may not mark the end of the suburban era in California, but it demonstrates the ongoing evolution. Quite clearly, the goal is to encourage infill development, mixed uses and transit, and to discourage greenfield housing subdivisions. And the diverse coalition that endorsed the bill was truly remarkable.

Other top land use stories in the Golden State include the passage of sales taxes for transportation projects, voter-imposed growth controls, the rejection of a property rights initiative, and a stunning court reversal on wireless zoning.

Full Story: The Top 10 Stories Of 2008
Source: California Planning & Development Report, December 30, 2008
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Portland's bike culture is about as progressive as they get in America. Yet, the city's reputation only started to expand nationally following a 1996 master plan that jumpstarted the city’s bicycle infrastructure expansion.
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