California Planning & Development Report
California Election Results Reverse Trend on Growth
It's no surprise when voters in the college town of Davis, California, say no to a housing development. But it is a surprise when Modesto says "whoa" to growth, and when development-averse Santa Barbara and Ventura reject new controls.
California Planning & Development Report
Andrés Duany Visits Sacramento
Paul Shigley reports that Duany spoke to planners at an event in Sacramento, and has a new issue: the broken process for getting things built.
California Planning & Development Report
Will California Have To Exempt All Stadiums From Environmental Review?
Now that Ed Roski's new stadium in the City of Industry is exempt from CEQA, Bill Fulton wonders whether California can deny the same competitive advantage to others.
California Planning & Development Report
Climate Change Stumps California Planners
Although climate change is a predominant issue for California's land use planners, they concede they are just making up new practices and lack the tools they really need. Paul Shigley reports from the CAL APA Conference.
California Planning & Development Report
Practical Lessons From Portland
Bill Fulton visits Portland, and comes back with six practical lessons that other cities can take from the 'planner's nirvana.'
California Planning & Development Report
Off the TOD Path
Bill Fulton consults on a boulevard in Los Angeles, and concludes that sometimes the dense, mixed-use approach is too heavy-handed, particularly when transit is lacking.
California Planning & Development Report
California's Budget Undercuts Climate Change Policy
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger cultivates the image of a climate change warrior. But the state budget he signed this week portrays very different priorities.
California Planning & Development Report
California Cities Object To Greenhouse Gas Law
California's SB 375 attempts to require cities to develop in a way that reduces greenhouse gas emissions. But some cities say the new law is misguided, and the state should focus on zero-emission vehicles instead.
California Planning & Development Report
Petaluma's Planning Department Given Pink Slip
Last week, with a $4.5 million budget deficit and no development activity, the Petaluma City Council took the drastic step of eliminating its entire planning department.
California Planning & Development Report
Southern California Landscape Proves the Golden Rule
The old saying is that he who has the gold, rules. The fact that Orange County motorists have a toll road carving through a magnificent canyon while rich folks in Malibu get to live next to scenic hillsides proves the rule, writes Bill Fulton.
California Planning & Development Report
Washington Not Stimulating New Growth Patterns
For the first time since the Carter administration, Washington is in the position of paying for seemingly everything. But how will the federal government's spending affect growth in California? Not in the way you might think, says Bill Fulton.
California Planning & Development Report
Concerns Over Sidelining CEQA
The California Environmental Quality Act is being set aside for a handful of stimulus projects, but even when the project is to the benefit of the community many see the sidelining as silencing much-needed input.
California Planning & Development Report
Failure of Palmdale Airport Frustrates Regional Planning In SoCal
Once the object of grand plans, L.A. county's Palmdale Regional Airport has tried in vain to sustain regular service and ease congestion at LAX. United's pullout in December leaves the future of regionalization in doubt.
California Planning & Development Report
Homebuilders Pin Hopes On State Tax Subsidy
California is now offering buyers of new housing units a $10,000 tax credit. The tax break was pushed hard by homebuilders, who say the measure should boost housing starts.
California Planning & Development Report
For Big Events, Transit Beats Cars
Twice in the last month, planning expert Bill Fulton has ridden public transit to and from large public events. In both cases, transit was far more effective than driving.
California Planning & Development Report
Redevelopment Plan for Queen Mary Hits Rough Waters
An investment group that bought the Queen Mary had big plans to redevelop the parking lots and moribund area around the grand ship. The difficult economy, however, appears to be jeopardizing those plans.
California Planning & Development Report
California's Biggest Land Use Story Is Not The Housing Market
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.
California Planning & Development Report
Greenhouse Gas Plan Punts On Land Use Issue
In a surprising last-minute change, a new plan that outlines how California will reduce its greenhouse gas emissions does not include a concrete target for reductions attributable to less-sprawling land use patterns.
California Planning & Development Report
Urban Design Studio To Transform Glendale
Glendale, California, has recently established an Urban Design Studio within its planning department to help developers create more appropriate, aesthetically appealing projects.
California Planning & Development Report
Could Vagrants Doom A Rebounding Downtown?
The issues posed by homeless people in downtown Riverside, California, are not out of the ordinary. But they definitely do not help the city's efforts to revitalize downtown.
California Planning & Development Report




















