California

Proposed Law Would Prevent Downzonings in California
A proposed state law, SB 330, would make it remove some local control of land use regulations by making it very difficult to downzone.

High-Speed Rail Galvanized Development in San Francisco's Transbay District
Even as prospects for high-speed trains dim in California, San Francisco's Transbay Transit Center has already spurred a development spree in the surrounding area.

California Bill Would Increase Wastewater Recycling
In California, a billion gallons of water ends up in the ocean every day. A new bill seeks to curb this practice by requiring treatment facilities to increase recycling and reuse efforts.

California's Push to Electrify Its Building Stock
Developers, environmentalists, and other experts discussed the challenge of achieving all-electric homes and businesses at VerdeXchange 2019.

Glendale, California Passes 'Right-to-Lease' Ordinance
To combat displacement, Glendale authorized a new ordinance requiring that landlords offer year-long leases to existing tenants and capping rent hikes.

Climate Action and the Green New Deal: Interview with Rep. Mike Levin
Long before winning the congressional seat in California's 49th District, Mike Levin advocated for clean energy and a green economy.

Berkeley to Study Missing Middle Housing Options for Single-Family Residential Neighborhoods
The city of Berkeley, famed for its radical left politics in the 1960s, is now considered a bastion of anti-development obstructionism. Those politics could be changing, however.

Ride-Hailing Fee on the Table in Los Angeles
The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority will decide this week whether or not to proceed with separate studies of two ideas that would generate transportation funding from car trips and potentially influence driver behavior.

A New Player in Planning Los Angeles: Marqueece Harris-Dawson
The new chair of the Planning and Land Use Management committee of the Los Angeles City Council will influence how the city grapples with homelessness, an expanding rail system, and the 2028 Olympics.

A Sprinkle of Stores: Wrestling With Jacobs's Uncertainty
Jane Jacobs used vague terms to describe the number of stores necessary for a safe and vibrant streetscape. Here, author Fanis Grammenos attempts to discover a more specific number to attach to this prescription.

Los Angeles Wants its River Back From the Feds
Regional officials don't think the federal government is doing enough to warrant continued ownership of the Los Angeles River flood control channels that cut a 40-mile path through the city and county.

White House Ends Talks with California Over Fuel Efficiency Standards
Ending the talks means litigation will have to settle the conflict over the two standards: California and 12 other states continue to use the Obama-era standard of 36 mpg by 2025, while the administration's rule freezes standards at 2020, or 29 mpg.

Role of S.F. Parklets as Public Space Not Always Clear
Parklets in San Francisco are available for public use, but often they serve as extensions of the dining rooms of eateries.

Everywhere, Signs of Demise for the Planning Status Quo
The plans, they are a-changin.

Scientists Warn Mega-Storm Could Make 'Lakes' of California Cities
If you live in California, you've heard predictions of a disastrous earthquake dubbed "the big one." Now, scientists are warning of an epic rainstorm that could cause three times as much damage.

In 2018, Autonomous Vehicles Drove 2 Million Miles in California
Autonomous vehicles are racking up quite a track record in California—and fewer of the miles driven by autonomous vehicles in 2018 had humans at the wheel than in 2017.

Trump Administration Targets California High-Speed Rail After Border Wall Lawsuit
The Trump administration has canceled a nearly $1 billion grant assigned to the California high-speed rail project and is attempting to get the state to return the $2.5 billion it has already spent on the $77 billion project.

Momentum Builds for Public Housing in California
A "white supremacist" law that blocks public housing in the state is up for repeal—again.

Steady Loss of San Francisco Bay Area Affordable Housing
Skyrocketing rental costs are hitting low-income residents even harder as available subsidized housing continues to disappear.

Taking the Carbon Emissions Out of Buildings
Much of the focus on decreasing carbon emissions is on the electrical grid and vehicles. But, buildings are a huge contributor, and California is leading the way in making electrification a priority.
Pagination
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.
New York City School Construction Authority
Village of Glen Ellyn
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions