As the San Diego Planning Department folds into another department to save city money, locals and former officials grapple with whether it was the right move and how the city could change as a result.
Mixed feelings abound in the city, even from the former planning director who resigned over the merger.
"Until now the city's pro-active planning model has been similar to models used in Boston, Seattle, San Antonio, Austin, and Portland-all cities recognized for effective planning and high-quality urban development. San Diego won awards from the American Planning Association and the Urban Land Institute for its 2008 overhaul of the city's general plan. But in his state of the city address in January, Mayor Sanders claimed that merging planning with development services would "save as much as $1 billion by eliminating duplication."
Bill Anderson, who was the city's Planning Director before resigning in May, sees pros and cons in the new arrangement. "We will benefit by having California Environmental Quality Act issues tied more to development. Also, with the staff for land development code under development services instead of in a separate planning department, things may be more efficient," he said. However, Anderson cautioned, "Now planning becomes a more conventional regulatory process, rather than a pro-active community planning and development department." Currently a principal and vice president at AECOM, Anderson left his position with the city largely because of the impending merger."
FULL STORY: Down with the Plan?
Planning Slips From San Diego's Org Chart
Last month, the planning department of the City of San Diego was folded into the Development Services Department. Locals worry the shift in perspective will endanger plans being developed in a dozen different neighborhoods.
Boston Gets a New Planning Department
After 67 years since its formation, the Boston Planning and Development Agency is no more.
Storms Sever California Rail Line—Again
The coast-hugging rail corridor linking Los Angeles and San Diego faces an uncertain future as mudslides once again force part of the line to close.
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Chicago to Turn High-Rise Offices into Housing
Four commercial buildings in the Chicago Loop have been approved for redevelopment into housing in a bid to revitalize the city’s downtown post-pandemic.
New Park Opens in the Santa Clarita Valley
The City of Santa Clarita just celebrated the grand opening of its 38th park, the 10.5-acre Skyline Ranch Park.
U.S. Supreme Court: California's Impact Fees May Violate Takings Clause
A California property owner took El Dorado County to state court after paying a traffic impact fee he felt was exorbitant. He lost in trial court, appellate court, and the California Supreme Court denied review. Then the U.S. Supreme Court acted.
How Urban Form Impacts Housing Affordability
The way we design cities affects housing costs differently than you might think.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Town of Zionsville
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.
