The Daily Source of Urban Planning News

At more than 2,300 acres, Orange County's new park on the site of a former marine base, will be the second-largest in California, about the size of Griffith Park in Los Angeles.

October 18 - The Los Angeles Times

Oregon's land use laws were thrown into new controversy as a Marion County Circuit Court Judge ruled last November's property rights initiative invalid.

October 18 - The Oregonian

BLOG POST

<img src='http://www.planetizen.com/tech/files//20051017castrategicplan.jpg' alt='California State Information Technology Strategic Plan' align='right' />While not strictly relevant to planning, it's always interesting to compare plans prepared by planners with plans prepared by other branches of government, in this case the California CIO and the IT Council Strategic Plan Committee have prepared the new <a href="http://www.cio.ca.gov/PDFs/101405_ITStrategicPlanUpdate.pdf">California State Information Technology Strategic Plan</a> (PDF, 220KB)<br /> <br /> The plan lists six impressive strategic goals:<br /> <br /> <li>Make Government services more accessible to citizens and State clients.<br /> </li>

October 18 - Chris Steins

Edmund Bacon, Philadelphia's most influential planner, died on October 14th, leaving behind a legacy of public service.

October 18 - The Philadelphia Inquirer

An animated cartoon comments on economic and social impact of big box stores.

October 17 - Jib Jab

New York has been remarkably successful and it remains the nation's premier metropolis. Edward L. Glaeser evaluates what accounts for New York's rise and continuing success in this academic discussion paper.

October 17 - Harvard University

Three design finalists have been selected for the Orange County Great Park; a debate on the merits of each ensues.

October 17 - The Los Angeles Times

In the first of a five-part series, columnist Steve Lopez takes readers on a tour of Los Angeles' skid row, through the eyes of a paramedic.

October 17 - Los Angeles Tiems

A study's conclusion that coastal erosion contributes more sand to beaches could be used by environmentalists to fight oceanfront development and seawalls.

October 17 - The Los Angeles Times

Connecticut's cities' zoning codes -- many based on MuniCode's bolierplate code -- make sprawl ineveitable.

October 17 - The Hartford Courant

Citing numbers from AAA, Albert B. Crenshaw argues that switching to public transportation for some trips may not result in substantial savings unless you get rid of your car completely.

October 17 - The Washington Post

FEATURE

October 17 - David Renkert

The demand for oil and gas is pushing exploration and drilling activities to an all time high in the Rocky Mountain region and communities are concerned that environmental impacts from this activity are not being addressed.

October 17 - The Denver Post

Prices are rising predictably, but what does that bode for poor renters and the character of communities?

October 17 - The Christian Science Monitor

With the cultural history of New Orleans at stake, scores of planners, conservationists, lobbyists and insurance adjustors are locked in a battle to decide the fate of the reconstruction of New Orleans.

October 16 - USA Today

In a surprising Harris poll, nearly half of all U.S. adults think the government's doing far too little to protect the environment.

October 16 - The Wall Street Journal

Across the country, cities are faced with the dilemma of "Manhattan-izing" their skyline with high-rise condos.

October 16 - The Austin-American Statesman

Italy selects a firm to build the $5.3 billion contract to build the world's longest suspension bridge, link Sicily to the mainland.

October 16 - BBC News

NPR features an interview with Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour on the rebuilding of the Gulf Coast.

October 16 - National Public Radio

Rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina may not take as long as some predict.

October 15 - Abhijeet Chavan