The entire state of California is now on a shelter in place order, but planning desks and public hearings on land use issues were already in the process of shutting down.
The Land Use & Natural Resources Team at Cox Castle & Nicholson, LLP is tracking developments related to the processing of land use and planning applications as California cities work to contain the coronavirus, most recently updating the status of those processes on March 18. Since then, the entire state has been ordered to shelter in place, but several themes were already emerging, according to the article.
- zoning counters and planning departments are closing for some period of time; some are maintaining virtual services;
- public meetings are being cancelled or delayed; in some cases social distancing is being enforced; in other case telephonic participation may be provided;
- cities have declared, or are preparing to declare, suspensions of deadlines under various state land use and environmental planning laws.
The blog post lists specifics for some of the largest cities and counties in California—detailing the status and linking to the official statements announcing the temporary policies—including San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland, Newport Beach, city of Los Angeles, county of Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and Menlo Park.
FULL STORY: City Land Use and Planning Functions During Shelter In Place and Related COVID-19 Orders
Announcing an Antidote for Planning Uncertainty: A Pandemic Tool Kit for Local Governments
A new toolkit shares 22 actions governments should take to get the economy restarted, including the regulatory or policy tools needed to implement the actions.
New Online Collaboration Tool, Designed for Effective Pandemic Policy
The Smart Cities Council has launched the "Activator - COVID-19 Mitigation Roadmap."
Equity and 'Righting Past Wrongs' to Start the 2021 National Planning Conference
The American Planning Association's 2021 National Planning Conference started streaming this morning, with an obvious focus on equity and the historical role of the planning profession in perpetuating systemic racism.
How the Trump Presidency Could Impact Urban Planning
An analysis of potential changes in federal housing, transportation, and climate policies.
Research Affirms Safety of ‘Idaho Stop’
Allowing cyclists to treat stop signs as yield signs does not negatively impact safety and can help people on bikes more effectively navigate roadways.
Midburbs: A New Definition of Suburbs
When the name “suburb” just doesn't quite fit.
The Urban Heat Divide: Addressing LA’s Thermal Inequities
LA's thermal inequities leave low-income, minority neighborhoods disproportionately hotter and more vulnerable, prompting advocacy and policy efforts to address these disparities through green infrastructure and equitable climate investments.
Healing the Land: Collaborative Effort to Reclaim Orphan Well Sites
The Well Done Foundation and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are partnering to plug over 110 orphan wells across four National Wildlife Refuges, restoring habitats, protecting ecosystems, and reducing methane emissions.
The Apartment Through History
The humble apartment, as a typology, has been with us for millennia.
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.
Placer County
Skagit Transit
Berkeley County
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
M-NCPPC Prince George's County Planning Department
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service