As a planner for Riverside County, California, John Trichak's monumental task is to approve names for new streets in fast-growing unincorporated Riverside County.
"Each week Trichak receives up to 50 maps of new housing tracts. Using a red pen, he eliminates street names he can't pronounce or spell easily, and ones that are too common or too long. Two weeks ago, for example, he rejected Bird of Paradise Street for a property in Wildomar because of its length â€" the letters would be too squished on a street sign.
...To show a visitor what slipped through before he took the job, Trichak pulled out a copy of a yellowed Riverside Press-Enterprise article. He pointed to a photo of street signs reading Thata Way and Whicha Way â€" an intersection in Hemet named before the city was incorporated.
...Naming streets is important and tricky enough that some developers hire marketing or advertising firms to dream them up. Laguna Niguel advertising agency C&M Communique Inc. was hired by Granite Homes to come up with tree-themed street names for a Moreno Valley tract called Beechwood. C&M's list of prospective names included Button Willow, Golden Larch and Silver Spruce."
FULL STORY: Street Name Game Has a Few Rules

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?
As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?

USGS Water Science Centers Targeted for Closure
If their work is suspended, states could lose a valuable resource for monitoring, understanding, and managing water resources.

House Moves to Rescind California’s Emissions Standards
The state has been allowed to set its own emissions goals, including a mandate to transition to electric or zero-emissions vehicles by 2035.

Portland Proposal Would Suspend Development Fees to Spur Housing Construction
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek and Portland Mayor Keith Wilson announced their policy plan Thursday, with the goal to jumpstart housing construction.

Honolulu Community College Celebrates Culture and Sustainability
Honolulu Community College brought together more than 320 students, staff, and community members for a day of Hawaiian cultural activities, music, and sustainability-focused learning at its annual Hoʻolauleʻa celebration.
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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.
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Village of Glen Ellyn
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
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Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions