The Press Democrat

Gas Stations

California City the First to Ban New Gas Stations

With the state mandating a switch to electric vehicles by 2035, Petaluma is aligning its land use regulations with its climate goals.

March 3, 2021 - The Press Democrat

San Francisco

Bay Area Transportation Planners Breathing Easier After Court Ruling

A total of $4.5 billion in road and transit projects was at stake in a state taxpayer group's lawsuit against a regional ballot measure approved by voters in June 2018.

April 10, 2019 - The Press Democrat

Complying With New State Laws on ADUs No Easy Matter

Santa Rosa is struggling to complying with two laws passed last year to encourage construction of inlaw units to increase affordable housing. Council members are concerned that loosened restrictions would degrade neighborhood character.

December 11, 2017 - The Press Democrat

Tolling May Finance Repair of Bay Area Highway Threatened by Sea Level Rise

Officials have begun tackling the problem of adapting low-lying State Route 37 in the North Bay, closed several times this year due to flooding, to climate change. With no identified funding, a working group is leaning toward road tolling.

May 9, 2017 - The Press Democrat

Northern California City Protests Closure Of Popular Rail Crossing

State rail officials decided that the risk posed by Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit trains is too grave to allow an existing grade crossing to remain open, forcing pedestrians and a cyclists out of their way to cross the tracks.

November 20, 2015 - The Press Democrat

Tea Party Activists Disrupt Planning Meeting

A police sergeant displayed his mediation skills at a regional planning meeting by temporarily replacing the facilitator after 20 tea party activists disrupted the meeting.

January 12, 2012 - The Press Democrat

A Perfect Storm For Bad Roads

Winter storms have combined with bad road engineering, geography, funding shortfalls and inequities in Sonoma County, California. drivers and cyclists can expect an unusually rough ride this year and more to come.

January 4, 2011 - The Press Democrat

Losing Business Because of Pay Parking? Charge More!

Parking guru Don Shoup was invited to speak in Santa Rosa as an expert on parking policies. Though the city is the only one in Sonoma County to charge for parking (to the chagrin of downtown merchants), it is considering building a 545-space garage.

August 14, 2009 - The Press Democrat

Wi-Fi Plans Dropped Over Health Concerns

Officials in the California city of Sebastopol have gone back on an agreement with an Internet provider that was planning to create a municipal Wi-Fi network for the city. They cited health concerns in their decision.

March 28, 2008 - The Press Democrat

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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.