California

America's Global Warming-Fighting Attorney General

California Attorney General (and former governor) Jerry Brown may be to global warming what former NY Attorney General (now Governor) Elliot Spitzer was to corporate reform, as his widely watched lawsuits, and threats of lawsuits, have gained fame.

December 29, 2007 - ASSOCIATED PRESS via San Diego Union-Tribune

The Path To Preserving L.A.'s Industrial Lands

Preserving industrial land in Downtown L.A. is the focus of a broad city report to be released in January. The city recommends classifying specific areas into four land use categories to guide development in the area increasingly sought by investors.

December 29, 2007 - L.A. Downtown News

California's Land Use Stories Of The Year

The sudden end to a hot housing market and planners' response to climate change were the top land use stories of 2007, according to California Planning & Development Report.

December 28, 2007 - California Planning & Development Report

Urban Renewal Plan Translates To Job Loss And Gentrification

This editorial from the Orange County Register bemoans the urban renewal process proposed in a new specific plan for the city of Santa Ana that some say will gentrify the city's downtown and eliminate many industrial jobs.

December 28, 2007 - Orange County Register

California Experts on 'Establishing a Framework for Equitable Growth'

California's population is not only immense, it's incredibly diverse. Building the infrastructure to serve the state's current residents has proven a difficult task -- one that won't get any easier.

December 27, 2007 - The Planning Report

California Growth Slows As Out-Migration Continues

Far more residents left the Golden State than arrived from other states, but births and foreign in-migration kept the state growing to 37,771,431 residents, with 3/4 of total population increase resulting from births alone.

December 26, 2007 - The Los Angeles Times

Transit Fare By Phone?

A new trial in the San Francisco Bay Area has riders using their phone to pay for transit fare.

December 26, 2007 - Banking Unwired

Will Retiring Baby Boomers Revive The Cohousing Movement?

Cohousing could be the answer for seniors looking for a strong sense of community and support from neighbors as they age.

December 26, 2007 - The Los Angeles Times

A 'Green' Manifesto From L.A.'s Mayor

Under the leadership of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the city of L.A., long infamous for its smog and traffic, has become a leader in many aspects of sustainable urban living.

December 25, 2007 - The Planning Report

San Mateo: First California County To Subdivide Housing Need Allocations

"Regional Housing Needs Allocations" are generally dreaded by California cities who resist state mandates to provide affordable housing. Rather than being assigned the requirement by the regional COG, San Mateo's 20 cities chose to do it themselves.

December 23, 2007 - Redwood City Daily News

Los Angeles Hopes To Win Federal Grant For 3 HOT Lanes Conversions

The L.A. Metropolitan Transportation Agency hopes to convert carpool lanes on three freeways to variably priced High Occupancy Toll lanes and win a federal grant. But the plan is upsetting carpoolers and hybrid owners who use these lanes for free.

December 21, 2007 - The Los Angeles Times

Second Life Used To Solve Real World Engineering Challenges

A UC Irvine professor and a transportation firm are teaming up to use the online virtual world Second Life to test real world public transit ideas.

December 20, 2007 - O.C. Register

Housing The Most Vulnerable

Homeless advocates are working in Los Angeles to identify the city's most vulnerable homeless people on Skid Row. With this list the county intends to take a piecemeal approach to housing the city's homeless.

December 20, 2007 - NPR

A Look At Redevelopment With and Without Eminent Domain

In this video from Reason, comedian Drew Carey looks at the use of eminent domain in Los Angeles and compares it with the efforts of nearby Anaheim to work with developers and avoid seizing land through eminent domain.

December 20, 2007 - Reason

Sacramento's Big Opportunity Needs A Cautious Approach

Plans are moving forward to redevelop a massive railyard site near downtown Sacramento. It could be a major boon for the city, but as California Planning and Development Report's Paul Shigley writes, the city should moved ahead cautiously.

December 20, 2007 - California Planning & Development Report

L.A. Considers Rail Turnstiles

As one of the only major U.S. cities that has no turnstiles at its rail stations, Los Angeles is feeling the pinch of riders who don't pay. But now, local officials are trying to get turnstiles installed.

December 19, 2007 - NPR

Lawsuit Settlement May Bankrupt City

After denying plans for a subdivision, the city of Half Moon Bay, California, was sued. The city lost and now must pay a settlement of nearly $40 million -- more than three times the city's annual budget. Many worry the city may have to fold.

December 19, 2007 - The San Francisco Chronicle

Long Beach's YouTube Videos Persuade Residents to Conserve Water

The city of Long Beach, California has initiated a water conservation campaign, including YouTube videos. As a result, residential water use rates have hit record lows.

December 18, 2007 - The Los Angeles Times

Anaheim Plans To Remake Its Sports District Into Highrise Urban Village

Anaheim (Orange County, CA) has big plans: 20,000 urban infill homes planned for their sports district. While the zoning change passed the council on a 4-1 vote, developers will wait for the housing market to recover.

December 17, 2007 - The Los Angeles Times

Architecture And The City: A Changing Relationship

On the 10th anniversary of Getty Center art museum in Los Angeles, architecture critic Christopher Hawthorne examines how architecture and its relationship with the city have changed over the past decade.

December 17, 2007 - Abhijeet Chavan

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.

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA

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.