Redondo Beach, located in the South Bay area of Los Angeles County, is responding to public outcry by halting all mixed-use projects in the city. Meanwhile, an advisory committee is working on the city's first new General Plan in 25 years.
"After years of mounting opposition to dense housing and retail projects in south Redondo Beach, city leaders have slapped a temporary ban on mixed-use development that could be extended up to two years," reports Megan Barnes.
The moratorium "was first considered by the previous council nearly two years ago amid public outcry over projects on Pacific Coast Highway, such as Sea Breeze and Legado," according to Barnes. "But the panel decided to hold off until making headway on updating the city’s mixed-use guidelines in its General Plan."
The council could extend the moratorium for two years if they make the case that "mixed-use projects pose an 'immediate threat' to public health, safety and welfare," according to Barnes.
The article includes a lot of soundbites from city officials to provide more detail on the political context of the decision. Popular points among the political leaders of the city: the city does not have a housing shortage and recent developments have changed the character of the city's neighborhoods. For more of the planning background, see an article by Kelcie Pegher on the city's ongoing General Plan update from March 2016.
Read the full story: Redondo Beach adopts temporary ban on controversial mixed-use projects
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
Eastern Nebraska is running out of electricity
Data centers and electrification are straining eastern Nebraska’s grid, throttling economic development.
Move over, LA: St. Louis gears up for Olympics, invests millions in downtown redevelopment
The Missouri city will host the 2028 Olympic soccer group stage and knockout matches.
Mass. votes against statewide minimum lot size for single-family homes
Over 2 million residents voted on Question 7; it was decided by just over 30,000 votes.
Maryland’s $15 billion bridge project gains key approval
The Maryland Transit Authority said the project will create over 60,000 jobs and add $23 billion to the local economy.
‘No clear next steps’ for Chicago's permanent festival grounds
Eleventh Ward Ald. Nicole Lee has suggested Soldier Field as a possible location for the permanent event space.
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.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority