A proposal for a large development in the Coachella Valley, near Joshua Tree National Park, is facing obstacles once again as the planning commission fails to recommend the plan move forward.

"Riverside County Planning Commissioners voted 4-1 [last week] to recommend that the board of supervisors deny plans for Paradise Valley, a proposed 8,400-home development east of Coachella [in Southern California]," reports Gabriella Paluch.
The project was first proposed in 2004, but the planning commission noted numerous issues that the development company has not resolved. "The primary issue — and potentially the costliest — between [the developer] GLC and conservation groups, according to the report, is how the destruction of critical habitat would be mitigated," says Paluch.
Insufficient emergency road access, concerns about affordable housing, and a lack of details about power infrastructure for the project are other issues that the commission cited. “All but one commissioner said they believed there was no path forward to finding a solution, since the developers had been unable to solve problems over years of consultations,” writes Paluch.
FULL STORY: Riverside County planners to supervisors: Deny Paradise Valley, a proposed 'new town' near Joshua Tree

Legendary Parking Guru Donald Shoup Dies at 86
Urbanists are mourning the loss of a dynamic voice for parking reform and walkable cities.

DOT Memo Directs Transportation Funding to Communities With Higher Marriage and Birth Rates, Compliance with Immigration Officials and No Mask Mandates
The memo ties immigration enforcement to federal funding and prohibits mask or vaccine mandates.

Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto
The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.

Community Colleges: A Pathway for Native Hawaiian Achievement and Growth
The University of Hawaiʻi Community Colleges provide Native Hawaiian students with transformative educational experiences, integrating academic success, cultural identity, and strong community support to help them find purpose and thrive.

Building Resilient Communities: Insights from the LA County Cities Summit
The Los Angeles County Cities Summit convened local leaders to share strategies for advancing sustainability, addressing climate resilience, extreme heat, and other pressing environmental challenges through policy and community-driven solutions.

Intercity Bus Ridership Grows Despite Service Cuts
Passengers continue to rely on intercity bus lines, even as cities shutter bus terminals and bus companies restructure to avoid financial failure.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Bakersfield
Standridge Inc.
City of Brookings
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service