When residents and business owners in the coastal neighborhood of Venice in Los Angeles want to develop, they require approvals from the state's Coastal Commission and the city. A proposed coastal program could remove the state from the equation.
The California Coastal Commission (CCC), empowered by the California Coastal Act of 1976, has permitting power over all forms of development, and even parking, along the Pacific coast in California. Many communities along the coast, however, have opted out of CCC jurisdiction by producing a local coastal program, which, when certified by the CCC, removes the state authority from the approval process.
Although it came close to passing a local coastal program over a decade ago, Venice has not approved such a program, and as a result developers and residents are subject to two notoriously byzantine approval processes.
As reported by Martha Groves, the neighborhood’s new City Council representative, Mike Bonin, has set the program as a priority, and is seeking funding to move ahead in developing the program. More than that, the CCC would love to get Venice off its hands: “It's a long time coming…The city should take that responsibility on. The commission should not be in the permitting business,” says said Jack Ainsworth, Coastal Commission senior deputy director.
FULL STORY: Venice looks to take more control over its development
Sacramento Voters to Decide on Using Lawsuits to Reclaim Sidewalks
Measure O may be one of the first ballot measures of its kind to empower residents to take legal action against a city for illegal encampments on city property. The Sacramento City Council voted 7-2 on August 9 to place the ordinance before voters.
Locals Vehemently Oppose Venice Beach Homeless Housing
The controversies about homelessness in what was once a beach community full of hippies and surfers has boiled over in response to a large proposed development of supportive housing on a surface parking lot owned by the city.
Supportive Housing Bridging Venice Canals Granted Planning Commission Approval in L.A.
The mixed-use Reese Davidson Community will include 140 housing units, commercial space, and a performance space.
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.
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.
Adaptive Reuse Will Create Housing in a Suburban Texas Strip Mall
A developer is reimagining a strip mall property as a mixed-use complex with housing and retail.
Study: Anti-Homelessness Laws Don’t Work
Research shows that punitive measures that criminalized unhoused people don’t help reduce homelessness.
In U.S., Urban Gondolas Face Uphill Battle
Cities in Latin America and Europe have embraced aerial transitways — AKA gondolas — as sustainable, convenient urban transport, especially in tricky geographies. American cities have yet to catch up.
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
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont