Despite a budget significantly smaller than his predecessors had, Los Angeles Planning Director Michael LoGrande is hoping to bring about major changes in the way the city gets things done.
In this Q&A, LoGrande, a former zoning administrator, discusses tight budgets, a proposal for a downtown stadium, and how the zoning process and code needs to change.
"Q: As the ZA, did you ever get to a point where you lost faith in the document you were enforcing?
A: No. I don't think we've lost faith in it. I think we've definitely come to the point where we've overhauled the engine a number of times and it's time to get a new car. Maybe don't use that quote because we're getting away from the car in Los Angeles, right? But it's time to kind of rethink just a piecemeal approach to updating the zoning code and really completely rewriting it. We're working on getting support to take on a comprehensive rewrite of the 1946 code and are looking for funding to do that, but are also trying to figure out what it would take to actually take on a multi-year multi-million dollar effort like that. We'd be able to go to a more form-based code as opposed to a code based off exceptions. Currently everything that you want to do, we say: "Here's what you can do and anything that requires a deviation, here's the process for it." So for projects that we want, we basically put in a lot of bureaucratic hurdles to come up with a good design rather than having the kind of projects that make neighborhoods, and having them be built in a by-right fashion."
FULL STORY: The Man With the Plan

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.

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

In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?

Portland Raises Parking Fees to Pay for Street Maintenance
The city is struggling to bridge a massive budget gap at the Bureau of Transportation, which largely depleted its reserves during the Civd-19 pandemic.

Spokane Mayor Introduces Housing Reforms Package
Mayor Lisa Brown’s proposals include deferring or waiving some development fees to encourage more affordable housing development.

Houston Mayor Kills Another Bike Lane
The mayor rejected a proposed bike lane in the Montrose district in keeping with his pledge to maintain car lanes.
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.
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont