California Coastal Commission

Venice Beach Plan Would Avoid Coastal Commission Controls

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.

January 21, 2014 - Los Angeles Times

Battle Over Beach Sprawl Divides Orange County

Once again, Southern California finds itself embroiled in a dispute over public access to, and private usurping of, its most coveted resource -- the beach. This time, tony Orange County is the scene of the battle.

May 8, 2012 - Los Angeles Times

Longtime Defender of California Coastline Steps Down

After 34 years on the California Coastal Commission, Peter Douglas is ceding his post due to poor health. The San Jose Mercury News looks back at his long career at the powerful public agency.

November 1, 2011 - San Jose Mercury News

Coastal Areas Prepare For The Other 'Big One'

California has just completed a landmark effort to assess the state's worst-case tsunami danger. Now emergency response officials, and even some planners, are considering how to keep the state's coastal populations safe.

March 13, 2010 - California Planning & Development Report

The Shifting Tide of Public and Private Space

In Malibu, CA, private property extends to the high tide waterline, where public land begins. An unofficial group of "urban rangers" is giving tours and dance performances along that line to explore the absurdity.

August 17, 2009 - The Los Angeles Times

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.

Senior Planner

City of Thousand Oaks

Community Development Director

City of Wisconsin Rapids

Professor of Urban Planning

Harvard University Graduate School of Design

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.