Who should pay for growth? In the crunchy enclave of Bolinas California, newcomers pay a steep entrance fee. Fair or not, it's a good anecdote to share among planners and budget analysts.
An auction for a water meter Friday will determine the price for growth in the antidevelopment town of Bolinas, 20 miles north of San Francisco. The event is the consequence of a water meter moratorium put in place in 1971.
Since then, longtime Bolinas resident Barbara Rothwell tells the New York Times "the only way a water meter came free was when a house burnt down, or fell off a cliff."
$300,000 sounds like an insane amount of money to pay to hook up one house, but many locals think the water meter is undervalued. If it does not bring big money, some residents may take it as a sign that the relentless development pressures of the last decade have receded.
FULL STORY: The Price for Building a Home in This Town: $300,000 Water Meter

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
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Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
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Defunct Pittsburgh Power Plant to Become Residential Tower
A decommissioned steam heat plant will be redeveloped into almost 100 affordable housing units.

Trump Prompts Restructuring of Transportation Research Board in “Unprecedented Overreach”
The TRB has eliminated more than half of its committees including those focused on climate, equity, and cities.

Amtrak Rolls Out New Orleans to Alabama “Mardi Gras” Train
The new service will operate morning and evening departures between Mobile and New Orleans.
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