California Planning and Development Report

Although it is a public transit success, Metrolink was cobbled together with old freight rail lines. It was a relatively cheap and quick way of providing rail service, but its drawbacks have become obvious.

A California bill that seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by controlling land use may be one of the most important land use bills in years, according to Bill Fulton. But if it passes, the progress it makes could be short lived.

Manufacturing still matters, and what manufacturers want hasn't changed much. The question is whether a "new economy" state like California can compete in the old economy.

Joel Kotkin's recent LA Times Op-Ed is critiqued by Bill Fulton of the California Planning and Development Report. Fulton argues the suburban areas Kotkin defends are actually urbanizing, whereas true suburbia show signs of becoming the new slums.

A court of appeal in California ruled that a decades-old plan to realign a road and a two-year-old plan to build a big box improvement store nearby only need to undergo one environmental impact analysis under the state's Environmental Quality Act.

The Bush administration is backing away from urban programs that Republicans of a generation ago supported.

Voters in Murrieta, one of California's fastest growing cities, have recalled the mayor because of concerns about rapid development.

Transit-oriented development is a necessary but not sufficient precondition to more transit ridership, writes Bill Fulton.

California voters decided on dozens of ballot measures that impact land use in their cities and counties.

These days, a house in California costs a lot of money. Inevitably, the planning system gets blamed for the mess.

California's de-malling movement turns white elephants into urban centers.

Three sweeping growth measures in three very different parts of California all lost during the March 2 primary election.

Cities and counties throughout California are developing 'inclusionary zoning' programs. But do they work?

Cities and counties of all sizes are adopting regulations to limit development of big box stores.

California voters decided on two dozen land use ballot measures on November 4.

A major developer uses an innovative design minimizing the impact of cars on an apartment complex, suggesting that the market is ready for such change.

New state growth policies could accompany a new governor for California.

California Governor Davis' Transportation Congestion Relief Program appears to be self-destructing, along with the entire system of funding state transportation projects.

In only a few years, Indian tribes in California have developed Vegas-style casinos across much of the state.

William Fulton explains how a citizen anti-tax initiative passed 25 years ago has turned out to be a major force in shaping the urban and suburban landscape we see throughout the country today.