Government / Politics
San Francisco Buses May Nab Double-Parkers
Motorists beware - if you double-park in a transit-only lane in San Francisco next year, that bus behind you could take your photo resulting in a $250 citation, if AB 101 is signed by Governor Schwarzenegger.
Senate Blocks Toll Road Conversions In Texas
The U.S. Senate recently approved a bill that prohibits the state of Texas from converting any of its existing highways into toll roads for at least one year.
'Major Disconnects' Cited in Federal Disaster Planning
New federal guidelines for disaster planning are being panned by state and local officials, citing a poorly-defined chain of command and unnecessary duplication.
Late-Session Bill May Make L.A. Entertainment Complex Eligible For Housing Funds
A controversial bill approved at the end of the California State Senate's regular session may allow developers of a massive entertainment development in downtown Los Angeles to compete for millions of dollars in affordable housing funds.
Ban On Truck Parking Ruled Unconstitutional In Florida
The city of Coral Gables, Florida, has tight regulations that keep its neighborhoods and homes beautiful. But a regulation that forbade residents from parking pickup truck on streets and in driveways at night has been ruled unconstitutional.
Alaskan Community Considers Property Value Compensation Measure
A measure on the Alaskan ballot this October could require a local government to compensate landowners if new land use regulations hurt property values -- a measure similar to Oregon's controversial Measure 37 that is meeting similar resistance.
Subdivision Residents Hoping For Permission To Pay For Road Maintenance
With little money available in county coffers, residents in an Indiana subdivision are hoping to create a special assessment district that will allow them to personally pay for road maintenance.
Billboard Ban Will Hurt Small Business
This column criticizes the recently-passed Kansas City ordinance that restricts billboard advertising within the city, claiming it will disproportionately harm local small businesses that are already having trouble getting noticed.
Controversial Legislation Tackles Land Use, Transportation, Regional Planning, & Global Warming
In what is arguably the most important environmental bill in California since last year's Global Warming Solutions Act, SB 375 attempts to reduce global warming by addressing land use and transportation through better regional planning.
The Formula To Guarantee Your Project's Approval
For those developers and planners frustrated by not being able to push projects past local opposition, writer Garret Keizer offers his formula for getting nearly any project approved.
Kansas City To Limit Billboards
The Kansas City Council has passed an ordinance that will tightly restrict outdoor billboard advertising within the city. The ordinance effectively bans new billboards from all city streets.
Short-Changing America's Youth
Columnist William Blackburn laments school trailers and their effect on the psyche of America's youth.
DIY Gray Water Recycling
This report from NPR looks at a homeowner who has transformed her house's plumping to reuse its "gray water" -- non-potable water from sinks that can be rerouted into gardens and toilets. Some lawmakers are discouraging this method.
Vegas May Be Too Bright
Home to the bright lights and elaborate signage of Las Vegas, Clark County, Nevada, may revise an ordinance to more effectively regulate the bright signs and displays that illuminate the Las Vegas Strip and other parts of the county.
How Ireland Became A Leader In Immigration
By increasing the amount of migrant work permits and political rights, Ireland has beckoned immigrants from all over the world, becoming one of Europe's immigration leaders.
Closely Connected Northwest Cities Need To Plan Together
This editorial calls on the governments of Portland, Oregon, and its intimately-connected neighbor, Vancouver, Washington, to expand the reach of the metropolitan planning agency whose jurisdiction ends at the border between the two cities.
Suburbs Support New City Creation For Political Leverage
Small city public officials in the Sacramento area are using public money to support a bid to turn an unincorporated plot of land into a new city -- a move they hope will help to distribute regional planning power more equitably to smaller towns.
Senator Opposes Plan To Convert Interstates To Toll Roads
A U.S. Senator from Texas has vowed to oppose a state-supported plan to convert existing interstate highways into tollraods.
Has Smart Growth Made A Difference In Maryland?
Though former Governor Perris Glendening lead the charge for smart growth in Maryland, its hard to tell if the state's policies have curbed sprawl significantly.
Texas Wants To Buy Back Interstate, Convert To Toll Roads
Transit officials in Texas are looking to convince Congress to let the state buy back sections of interstate highway for conversion into revenue-generating toll roads.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
KFH Group Inc.
Greater Baltimore Committee
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
