California

Inland Empire

'Millennial Livability' Takes Shape in Suburban Inland Empire

The Inland Empire's housing boom and economic growth are attracting plenty of new residents—especially millennials.

November 1, 2017 - The Planning Report

Pomona Transit Center

Southern California Bus System Cuts Costs to Compete with L.A. Metro Light Rail

Bus riders can expect two rounds of fare increases, plus service cuts along the light rail route.

November 1, 2017 - Pasadena Star News

Adapting Combined Sewer-Stormwater Systems to Climate Change

Only one coastal city has a sewer system that must handle stormwater as well as wastewater. San Francisco's efforts to adapt its combined sewer-stormwater system has put it on the vanguard of the city's climate adaptation efforts.

October 31, 2017 - San Francisco Chronicle

Proterra Electric Bus

Electric Transit Becoming the New Norm in California

Electrification is at a tipping point in California, expanding into the heavy-duty sector with the buy-in of transit agencies across the state.

October 31, 2017 - The Planning Report

Los Angeles River Kayak

High Bacteria Levels Require a New Approach to Los Angeles River Recreation

The city of Los Angeles created a new plan to notify the public about high levels of E.coli in the Los Angeles River after kayakers were exposed to E.coli earlier this fall.

October 29, 2017 - KPCC

6th Street Viaduct

A Bold Housing Vision for the L.A. River

An unsolicited proposal from the engineering firm reimagines a stretch along the L.A. River as a mixed-use mega-development, rich in housing and jobs.

October 28, 2017 - The Architect's Newspaper

Power Lines

The High Cost of Burying Power Lines

With speculation that downed power lines and exploding transformers may have caused California's most deadly and destructive wildfires, many question why utility companies don't bury these lines through fire-prone areas.

October 27, 2017 - San Francisco Chronicle

Apartment for Rent

Rent Control Advocates Turn to California's Initiative Process after Bill Fails

A statewide initiative has been filed by California tenant activists that would repeal the Costa-Hawkins Act, the 1995 legislation that restricts the type of rental housing regulated by local rent control ordinances.

October 27, 2017 - The Sacramento Bee

Desert Farm

An Agrihood Takes Root in Palm Springs

Developer Freehold Communities is planning a suburban farming community in California's Sonora Desert.

October 26, 2017 - Mercury News

Houston And L.A.: Kindred Spirits Meet In World Series

Planning scholar Bill Fulton, longtime resident of L.A. and relatively recent transplant to Houston, sizes up the urban implications of a World Series played between two very similar cities.

October 25, 2017 - California Planning & Development Report

Gas Pump

California Gas Tax Repeal Provokes Internecine Republican Conflict

Chances for a repeal of California's 12-cents gas tax increase have doubled in that two measures aim to qualify for the November 2018 ballot. The initiatives are opposed by the state's major business groups that usually side with Republican causes.

October 25, 2017 - CALmatters

2017 World Series

The World Series of Housing Markets

Comparing the housing markets of Houston and Los Angeles—two of the nation's metropolitan area's most commonly associated with auto-centric sprawl—before their respective Major League Baseball teams square off in the 2017 World Series.

October 24, 2017 - Real Estate Consulting

Prototypes for Trump's Border Wall Now on View in California

The U.S.-Mexico border between San Diego and Tijuana received eight controversial additions over the weekend.

October 24, 2017 - New York Daily News

Northern California Wilidfires

Wine Country Wildfires Put Spotlight on Transmission Lines

No cause has yet been attributed to California's deadliest wildfires, but the connections to fallen power lines and exploding transformers, maintained by PG&E, have been exposed in a series of reports by the Bay Area News Group.

October 23, 2017 - The Mercury News

Highway Speed

Speed Limit Changes Coming to L.A.

The Los Angeles Department of Transportation announced proposed speed limit changes and enforcement budgets. Changes to the speed limit will mean an increase in most places.

October 22, 2017 - Streetsblog LA

Wood Fire Smoke

California to Implement Wood Smoke Reduction Program

The program is voluntary, providing incentives to replace older, uncertified wood stoves for cleaner replacements or alternatives. In addition to decreasing air pollution, it reduces emissions of a "super climate pollutant," black carbon.

October 21, 2017 - California State Senate

Los Angeles Traffic - The Newhall Pass

Massive Newhall Ranch Deal Will Expand L.A. County's Footprint

FivePoint Holdings will pay $25 million for environmental preservation, in exchange for access to the undeveloped L.A. County land.

October 20, 2017 - Los Angeles Times

California

Integrating Environmental Justice Into Planning Processes

National City, California pioneered a model for implementing environmental justice considerations into planning processes—state law compels states to follow National City's leadership.

October 20, 2017 - Next City

Wine Country Fires

Wildfire Destroys Santa Rosa Neighborhood Outside of Fire Hazard Zone

The Wine Country wildfires destroyed Coffey Park, a subdivision within the urban boundaries of the Bay Area's fifth largest city, and outside of the state's severe fire hazard zones. But the cause wasn't a mystery to wildland fire scientists.

October 20, 2017 - Los Angeles Times

San Francisco Density

San Francisco Mayor Calls for Quicker Approvals for New Housing

San Francisco Mayor, Ed Lee, released his directive saying the city should be approving the building or renovating of 5,000 units a year.

October 20, 2017 - San Francisco Business Journal

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.

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.