A tradition as old as the Planning Department itself: proposing reforms to the planning and development approvals process in the city of Los Angeles.
"With a brusing [sic] battle over high-density developments on the horizon, the Los Angeles City Council is looking to take steps toward amending its convoluted and often controversial planning process," reports Steven Sharp.
The proposed changes stem from a May report by the Los Angeles Department of City Planning (PDF) to the Los Angeles City Council. The report focuses on four categories of action: 1) a system for updating community plans, 2) batching general plan amendments, 3) changes to contracting with consultants that assist with the preparation of Environmental Impact Reports, and 4) a status update on the overhaul of the Planning Department's technology infrastructure.
Sharp reviews each of these issue sin more detail as the City Council's Planning and Land Use Management Committee prepared to review the recommendations earlier this week.
FULL STORY: City Explores Potential Reforms to Planning Process
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin
People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.
US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico
A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.
Baltimore to break ground on $50 million Transit Priority Project
The project will bring faster bus trips, safer streets and better bike connections to Baltimore.
Airbnb launches $250 million 'last-dollar financing' housing accelerator, makes first investment in Austin
The company will put $6.4 million towards affordable housing development in Texas’ capital.
Guerilla urbanists are building DIY bus stop benches in Chicago
A before-and-after of one of the bus stops with a new bench. The new benches are not officially sanctioned or permitted, but the residents who placed them hope they will be the start of a network of DIY benches across the city.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Nashville Planning Department
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association