A proposal to combine the planning and development services departments could give San Diego's planning director the power to plan for the long-term -- or perhaps lead to more political scandal.
"William R. Anderson has had a lot to do since the middle of last year when he became San Diego's 10th planning director. At the top of the list is completing a new general plan to guide the city's development for the next generation.
But as of last month, he's wearing an unexpected second and bigger hat, temporarily at least, as the city's new land-use czar.
As part of Mayor Jerry Sanders' inner circle, Anderson now has the power to referee disputes between big-thinking planners and short-term-oriented building-permit processors, between doing the right thing or the most expedient thing.
It's a job he inherited from his former boss, Jim Waring, who lured him out of the private sector in June 2006.
Ironically, Waring's departure catapulted Anderson into a position city planners have been pining for since the 1950s – a bureaucratic power base to put vision into place through regulations and action.
"In some respects, planning has been elevated to its highest level in my memory," Anderson said. "I think from the mayor's perspective, it illustrates the importance he places on planning.""
"In this never-ending story, the recommendation under consideration is to merge the Planning and Community Investment Department, which oversees planning, redevelopment and economic development, with the city's Development Services Department, which handles building permits, to achieve consistency and clear communication.
Anderson oversees those departments, as well as real estate assets, redevelopment, economic development and housing. The current city budget says the entire group of departments includes 764 positions and a combined budget of $130.5 million.
Close up, it appears to be a boring debate over an organizational chart. But from afar, the idea poses the ultimate question for San Diego: Who's in charge and whose priorities are paramount?"
FULL STORY: Waring's departure as city's land-use czar elevates long-term thinker

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.

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

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

Half of Post-Fire Altadena Home Sales Were to Corporations
Large investors are quietly buying up dozens of properties in Altadena, California, where a devastating wildfire destroyed more than 6,000 homes in January.

Opinion: What San Francisco’s Proposed ‘Family Zoning’ Could Really Mean
Mayor Lurie is using ‘family zoning’ to encourage denser development and upzoning — but could the concept actually foster community and more human-scale public spaces?

Jacksonville Launches First Autonomous Transit Shuttle in US
A fleet of 14 fully autonomous vehicles will serve a 3.5-mile downtown Jacksonville route with 12 stops.
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.
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
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