The agreement trades a massive open space donation and other terms for clearance to conduct exploratory drilling off the coast.
The article contains an interview with Debra Geiler, Southern California Director for the Trust for Public Land, one of the key benefactors of the deal:
"Others have tried this before. What's different this time is that Plains went to the environmental groups and said, 'What do you want from us? What would it take for us to get your support?' First, everybody shook their heads and said, 'Are you kidding? No way. It'll never happen.' Then, they started seeing a potential opportunity to negotiate with PXP for multiple benefits..."
"There are other oil companies that operate in the channel, and I think what the groups are saying right now is, 'This is your bar. This is the high-water mark. You need to come to us to negotiate something.'"
"The coast of California generally traverses north and south. At Point Conception, it transitions to an east-west direction. In that area, there's a convergence of extremely different, rare terrestrial and marine life. The habitat and the species in this area are very important. TPL has been working to conserve land on the Gaviota Coast for about 12 years."
Read the full story: Trust for Public Land Contributes to Landmark Oil Agreement
Redefining "Smart Growth" for the 21st Century
Kaid Benfield of the NRDC thinks it is time to add more specifics to the definition of smart growth. He prescribes a set of six new focus areas, including equity and health, that he argues should be emphasized in the 21st-century smart growth agenda.
Feds want to stop notifying landowners about drilling under their land
The proposal also asks to reduce the public comment period for the BLM’s leasing decisions from 90 days to 10.
Maryland county approves first agricultural use of composted human remains
Earth Funeral will grow a forest from human remains that have gone through a “natural organic reduction” process.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
‘Going backwards:’ Baltimore mayor, students rally against state's transit funding plan
Maryland's proposed six-year plan provides no funding for Baltimore’s BMORE bus program and reduces its road maintenance funding.
Mamdani sent nearly 6,000 pied-à-terre tax warnings to homes that didn’t qualify
A judge has ordered the administration to cancel thousands of pied-à-terre tax notices after it sent 35% of them erroneously.
Alaska takes public comment on new long-term plan for roads, bridges and more
Alaska's draft Statewide Transportation Improvement Program includes over $1 billion for the Alaska Marine Highway System.
A Colorado neighborhood is the testing ground for the future of home energy
A start up may have found a way to quickly bring geothermal energy to new communities.
Mamdani sent nearly 6,000 pied-à-terre tax warnings to homes that didn’t qualify
A judge has ordered the administration to cancel thousands of pied-à-terre tax notices after it sent 35% of them erroneously.
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.
City of Thousand Oaks
City of Wisconsin Rapids
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
Northern Illinois Transit Authority (NITA)
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello