Community Plans

Los Angeles

New All-Affordable Zone Proposed for L.A.’s Skid Row

A Los Angeles Times editorial argues that Skid Row’s future should learn from the mistakes of the past.

February 16, 2023 - Los Angeles Times

San Diego Beach Housing

'Housing for All of Us' Initiative Unveiled in San Diego

The city of San Diego is hoping an expedited community plan process can help deliver more housing, and more affordable housing options, to meet the needs of its residents.

July 26, 2021 - KPBS

Downtown Los Angeles

Op-Ed: It’s Long Past Time for Planning Reform in L.A.

Another corruption scandal involving a Los Angeles city councilmember highlights the urgent need for major planning changes in the city.

October 19, 2020 - Los Angeles Times

Compton, California

What Is a Specific Plan?

Specific Plans are unique to the state of California, but come up frequently in media coverage of planning. Understanding the purpose of Specific Plans can also open a window to understanding of how planning works all over the country.

October 16, 2020 - James Brasuell

Griffith Park

DTLA 2040 Ready for Public Scrutiny in Los Angeles

Two community plan updates, to the Central City and the Central City North community plans, comprise the DTLA 2040 plan. DTLA 2040 is also the first showcase for the city's new zoning code system.

November 4, 2019 - Urbanize Los Angeles

Los Angeles Downtown River

A Sneak Peek at the New Plan (and Zoning Code) for Downtown Los Angeles

The Los Angeles Department of City Planning has released a draft of the DTLA 2040 plan. In addition to the changes it proposes for the downtown area, it's the first community plan update to roll out the city's new zoning code.

July 6, 2019 - Urbanize LA

Stahl House Los Angeles

Los Angeles Launches Wave of Community Plan Updates

With a promise to update all 35 of its community plans by 2024, Los Angeles took a big step toward that goal this week by launching new planning processes in nine community plan areas.

October 3, 2018 - Los Angeles Department of City Planning

Brooklyn, New York City

Bushwick Community Plan Facing Criticism From the Community

The Bushwick Community Plan process is being lead by the members of the community, but has still provoked controversy over issues of gentrification and displacement.

August 14, 2018 - City Limits

Los Angeles 110 Freeway

South L.A. Community Plans Tackle Gentrification

As public and private investment grow in South L.A., new community plans mark a victory for local organizers seeking to prevent displacement.

November 29, 2017 - KPCC

San Diego Construction

San Diego Inclusionary Zoning Program Makes Headway

San Diego's Affordable Homes Bonus Program (AHBP), launched in mid-2016, increases incentives for projects that incorporate more affordable units. Developers are taking notice.

November 7, 2017 - Next City

Santa Monica

Santa Monica Mayor: High Inclusionary Housing is Worth the Risk

Mayor Ted Winterer and Mayor Pro Tem Gleam Davis elaborate on the city’s new Downtown Community Plan, which includes what may be the state's highest inclusionary housing requirement.

August 10, 2017 - The Planning Report

California

New Community Plan Poises Downtown L.A. for Transformation

In addition to a contemporary vision for Downtown, the plan debuts a new approach to zoning that could help transform the entire city.

August 10, 2017 - The Planning Report

Los Angeles sprawl

New Community Plans for South L.A.

The Los Angeles City Planning Commission has approved new plans for parts of South Los Angeles. A focus on transit-oriented development and commercial revitalization has raised concerns over displacement.

July 6, 2017 - Curbed LA

MacArthur Park

After Measure S: Los Angeles Leaders Ponder Growth and Equity

The controversy over the recent ballot initiative known as Measure S has Los Angeles thinking: How can the city accommodate new housing supply without disenfranchising communities?

May 4, 2017 - The Planning Report

L.A.'s New Planning Framework Starts Now

After the defeat of Measure S, Los Angeles Planning Director Vince Bertoni explains how a slew of new planning reforms will help move the city forward.

April 2, 2017 - The Planning Report

Los Angeles Residential Street

Los Angeles Planning Reforms Respond to Measure S

Councilmember José Huizar weighs the city's new rules against those proposed by the upcoming ballot measure.

March 7, 2017 - The Planning Report

Los Angeles Density

Los Angeles to Update Community Plans Every 6 Years

Los Angeles has approved new rules aimed at increasing accountability in the planning process—and at preempting a more severe approach promised by an upcoming ballot measure.

February 17, 2017 - KPCC

San Diego

A New Community Plan for a Neighborhood on the Border

The city of San Diego recently approved a 30-year community plan for the San Ysidro neighborhood.

January 13, 2017 - The San Diego Union-Tribune

Mural Los Angeles

Why New Affordable Housing Draws the Short Straw in Los Angeles

Cecilia Estolano, former Executive Director of Los Angeles’s Community Redevelopment Agency, diagnoses why the region has been unable to provide housing for working-class citizens.

September 29, 2016 - The Planning Report

Los Angeles Little Tokyo

4 Ideas for Overhauling the Los Angeles Department of City Planning

A tradition as old as the Planning Department itself: proposing reforms to the planning and development approvals process in the city of Los Angeles.

September 8, 2016 - Urbanize LA

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Websites

The best of the Internet—since 2002.

Top Apps

Planning apps for a brave new world.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

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.