Environmental Impacts

Colorful mural depicting people holding signs with proclamations on exterior wall of public restroom in People's Park, Berkeley

Lessons From People’s Park

The University of California, Berkeley faced bitter opposition to new student housing. What does this mean for universities—and for democracy?

June 20, 2023 - Next City

Wastewater California

What Is CEQA?

Designed to assess the environmental impacts of new projects and provide mitigation measures, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) has a controversial history, sometimes serving as a convenient tool for groups intent on stopping or slowing development.

March 16, 2022 - Diana Ionescu

New York City Coronavirus

Assessing and Reversing Environmental Injustice in New York City

New York City launched its first ever environmental justice study just before the Covid-19 pandemic turned the world upside down. The study took on a new urgency throughout the months and years that followed.

November 16, 2021 - Politico

San Pedro River

The Environmental Consequences of the Arizona Border Wall

A segment of the planned U.S.-Mexico border wall would cut across the San Pedro River and threaten the area’s wildlife and plants.

January 14, 2020 - Herald/Review

Hillsborough River

'Turning the Toxic Tide' in Florida

A series of editorial sets an environmental agenda for new political leadership in the state of Florida. Reform of the state's planning and development processes are included.

January 25, 2019 - TCPalm

Sacramento River

Decision on California's $15.5 Billion 'WaterFix' Expected, Finally, in September

The massive project known as the California WaterFix has nearly come to its day of reckoning.

June 15, 2017 - The Sacramento Bee

Sacramento - San Joaquin River Delta

California Delta Tunnels Don't Stand Up to Federal Analysis

Federal agencies think the proposed Bay Delta tunnels are still too dangerous for endangered species.

May 25, 2017 - The Sacramento Bee

King Tides

A Timeline of CEQA-Circumventing Court Rulings

The California Environmental Quality Act is generally considered a major obstacle for development. In a few cases, however, the law's definitions have been used to clear the way for development in environmentally sensitive areas.

April 27, 2017 - San Francisco Public Press

Border

Trump's Border Wall Would Bring 'Ecological Disaster'

Vox offers a feature length article, with lots of visual references, that tells the story of the ecological risks inherent with any plan to build a wall along the border between the United States and Mexico.

April 11, 2017 - Vox

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.

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.