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.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.
Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?
Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.
In California Battle of Housing vs. Environment, Housing Just Won
A new state law significantly limits the power of CEQA, an environmental review law that served as a powerful tool for blocking new development.
Boulder Eliminates Parking Minimums Citywide
Officials estimate the cost of building a single underground parking space at up to $100,000.
Orange County, Florida Adopts Largest US “Sprawl Repair” Code
The ‘Orange Code’ seeks to rectify decades of sprawl-inducing, car-oriented development.
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.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont