California

Richmond Bridge

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.

March 4, 2019 - Urbanize LA

Salesforce Park

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.

March 2, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

Wastewater California

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.

March 2, 2019 - Los Angeles Daily News

California

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.

March 1, 2019 - The Planning Report

Freeways

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.

February 28, 2019 - Next City

Green New Deal

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.

February 28, 2019 - The Planning Report

UC Berkeley and North Berkeley

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.

February 28, 2019 - The Bay City Beacon

Westfield Mall Uber Drop-Off

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.

February 27, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Grand Park

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.

February 27, 2019 - The Planning Report

Broadway Downtown

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.

February 27, 2019 - Fanis Grammenos

Los Angeles Downtown River

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.

February 26, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

Metropolitan Detention Center

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.

February 25, 2019 - The Washington Post

San Francisco Parklet

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.

February 25, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

Transit Oriented Development

Everywhere, Signs of Demise for the Planning Status Quo

The plans, they are a-changin.

February 25, 2019 - James Brasuell

Feather River

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.

February 23, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

Self-Driving Car

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.

February 23, 2019 - Smart Cities Dive

Border

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.

February 21, 2019 - The New York Times

Los Angeles 110 Freeway

Momentum Builds for Public Housing in California

A "white supremacist" law that blocks public housing in the state is up for repeal—again.

February 20, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

San Francisco Housing

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.

February 20, 2019 - The Mercury News

Kaiser LEED Certified Building

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.

February 19, 2019 - Vox

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.

Senior Manager Operations, Urban Planning

New York City School Construction Authority

Building Inspector

Village of Glen Ellyn

Manager of Model Development

Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO

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.