An Italian View of U.S. Planning

An Italian city planner visits San Diego to analyze sprawl-fighting techniques first-hand.

1 minute read

June 20, 2008, 8:00 AM PDT

By Tim Halbur


"For all the American architects and planners who travel to Europe to study how the Old World built cities, Claudia Trillo did the reverse.

A Fulbright scholar, city planner and assistant professor at the University of Naples, Trillo spent the last six months in San Diego to see how a Southern California city battles sprawl with smart-growth principles."

"In the last few years, sprawl has been plaguing Europe," she said, and San Diego has the reputation in worldwide planning circles for planning smart – even if locals here don't believe it.

"She also said NIMBYism – "not in my backyard" objections to development – is so common in land-use issues that Italians have adopted the term without translation into an Italian equivalent.

Of particular interest to her once she arrived in November was the intertwining of local and regional interests and priorities, as evidenced by work at the San Diego Association of Governments and in the many local and state agencies that affect land-use decisions.

"I realized that the level of democratic discussion is much higher," she added."

Sunday, June 15, 2008 in The San Diego Union-Tribune

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

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

April 30, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Close-up on Canadian flag with Canada Parliament building blurred in background.

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?

April 28, 2025 - Benjamin Schneider

Close-up on woman in white and blue striped knee-length dress standing next to mint green cruiser bike resting against low wrought iron fence in front of green lawn.

Paris Voters Approve More Car-Free Streets

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo says the city will develop a plan to close 500 streets to car traffic and add new bike and pedestrian infrastructure after a referendum on the proposal passed with 66 percent of the vote.

15 minutes ago - domus

Close-up of man in manually operated wheelchair waiting at urban crosswalk.

Making Mobility More Inclusive

A new study highlights the challenges people with disabilities continue to face in navigating urban spaces.

1 hour ago - Greater Good Magazine

US and Texas flags flying in front of Texas state capitol dome in Austin, Texas.

Texas Bills Could Push More People Into Homelessness

A proposal to speed up the eviction process and a bill that would accelerate enforcement of an existing camping ban could make the state’s homelessness crisis worse, advocates say.

2 hours ago - The Texas Tribune