This editorial calls on the city of San Jose, California, to bend recently-passed planning process rules to keep hopes alive for a mixed-use soccer stadium project.
"An international city without a soccer team? This does not compute. So next week, the San Jose City Council should keep alive the hope for a publicly owned stadium in Silicon Valley for the most popular sport in the world - even though it will mean stretching some generally very good city planning rules."
"Tuesday, the San Jose City Council should agree to extend the deadline to June 30 for developer Lew Wolff's proposal to build a stadium near the airport in exchange for a zoning change on a separate piece of land."
"Wolff's idea was unorthodox from the start because of the stadium financing plan, which will require the city to approve housing on 74 acres in Edenvale now planned for industry and retail."
"The extension adds another layer of controversy because it will require the council to break a rule it just passed: limiting general-plan changes to just one set of hearings a year, so the cumulative effects of the land-use decisions are clear."
FULL STORY: Editorial: Soccer stadium plan's potential is worth extended review
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin
People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.
US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico
A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.
5 New England states march closer to 800 megawatt wind energy project
Securing federal approval for the project may be complicated under the Trump administration, which has historically been hostile towards domestic wind power.
Baltimore to break ground on $50 million Transit Priority Project
The project will bring faster bus trips, safer streets and better bike connections to Baltimore.
Airbnb launches $250 million 'last-dollar financing' housing accelerator, makes first investment in Austin
The company will put $6.4 million towards affordable housing development in Texas’ capital.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Nashville Planning Department
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association