Two bills are being considered in the state house that may force planners to consider a development's effect on the state's water supply.
Stephen K. Hall, executive director of the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA, stresses the connection between land use and the availability of water resources in California communities. Builders and policy makers, alike, are enthusiastic about the positive economic impact that growth can have on communities, Hall observes. But this eagerness can have negative consequences for the state's water supply. Hall calls for tougher laws that make a clear connection between water availability, development, and the effect that development can have on water supply. Two bills are presently being considered, but these bills, along with overarching laws such as the California Environmental Quality Act, may be insufficient. The present bills should be amended so that the planning process involves assessing the availability of local water resources and the level of development that would severely impact the local supply. Regular inventories of present and future water supplies should also be mandated and used to guide land-use decisions, Hall concludes.
Thanks to California 2000 Project
FULL STORY: ADDING WATER TO THE PLANNING MIX IN CALIFORNIA CITIES

Rethinking Redlining
For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

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

Walmart Announces Nationwide EV Charging Network
The company plans to install electric car chargers at most of its stores by 2030.

EPA Awards $267 Million to Clean Up and Reuse Contaminated Sites
The EPA is investing the funds to clean up and redevelop contaminated sites nationwide, supporting economic growth, community revitalization, and environmental restoration.

Knoxville Dedicates $1M to New Greenway
The proposed greenway would run along North Broadway and connect to 125 miles of existing trails.

Philadelphia Launches ‘Speed Slots’ Traffic Calming Pilot
The project focuses on a 1.4-mile stretch of Lincoln Drive where cars frequently drive above the posted speed limit.
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.
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions