Some critics say the proposed voluntary measures don’t have teeth, while others worry they lay the groundwork for overdevelopment.
Rather than strictly regulating new buildings, the guidelines are intended as a tool for the community and developers, says City Planning. They stress 'attractive building design' and elements like pedestrian scale and streetscape activation, sustainability and contextual sensitivity, while frowning upon parking lots, blank walls and out-of-scale development.
Some critics say that if the guidelines are nonbinding, they will have little impact. Others say the recommendations are hostile to single-family home neighborhoods and are tantamount to a prescription for unwarranted density. On both sides are complaints that the guidelines are being rushed through the approval process without enough public input.
In any case, there is a definitive need for a citywide approach to design, writes Sam Lubell:
"The guidelines' necessity became apparent during the city's ongoing process to update the more than 20 specific plans for its 35 community plan areas. Many of these plans have overlapping design elements, while others have no design guidelines at all. The guidelines could reduce confusion and fill in the gaps."
FULL STORY: LA's New Design Guidelines on the Line
Op-Ed: No Room for Subjectivity in Los Angeles Design Guidelines
Sam Lubell outlines the good and bad of recent small lot design guidelines approved by Los Angeles.
Developer Defeats Planning Expertise in Downtown Los Angeles
The Los Angeles City Council recently approved a pedestrian footbridge for a large development west of Downtown. The approval came suddenly and despite the protests of advocates, planning professionals, and the volunteer City Planning Commission.
Los Angeles Debates Controversial Citywide Design Guidelines
James Brasuell discusses the contentious proposal to adopt citywide design guidelines for use by L.A.'s City Council. While the guidelines are intended to raise the level of design throughout the city, some argue they will stifle good design.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?
Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.
Map: Where Senate Republicans Want to Sell Your Public Lands
For public land advocates, the Senate Republicans’ proposal to sell millions of acres of public land in the West is “the biggest fight of their careers.”
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.
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.
California Homeless Arrests, Citations Spike After Ruling
An investigation reveals that anti-homeless actions increased up to 500% after Grants Pass v. Johnson — even in cities claiming no policy change.
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.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)