Leave Urban Planning for Professionals?

LA Times Op-Ed by two attorneys argue that citizens should let professional urban planners plan.

1 minute read

June 12, 2000, 10:22 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


Authors Gideon Kanner and Michael Practice Berger are land use attorneys at Berger & Norton in Santa Monica and write that they have been struck by the increase in citizen control over land use decisions. "[Citizens] wouldn't dream of writing the city's fire code but, when it comes to land use, everyone's a maven." The authors cite the example of pending legislation in Orange County over Measure F, which would give the public control over the reuse of the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station. The authors point to the planner's training and experience with land use and legal issues and AICP certification from the American Planning Association.

Thanks to Chris Steins

Sunday, June 11, 2000 in The Los Angeles Times

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I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

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