California

Huge Solar Power Plants Proposed in California

Solar power will get a big boost from two facilities planned for California, which will together be capable of generating 800 megawatts of power.

August 21, 2008 - The New York Times

Mixed-Use Faces Mixed Reviews in Fullerton

In Fullerton, CA, a dense new mixed-use building is facing criticism from neighbors and residents. 'All of a sudden we get one of these mixed-use buildings, [and] it's like a fort got dropped out of the sky,' says one neighbor.

August 20, 2008 - The Los Angeles Times

Historic Land Use Bill's Steam Could Run Out

A California bill that seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by controlling land use may be one of the most important land use bills in years, according to Bill Fulton. But if it passes, the progress it makes could be short lived.

August 20, 2008 - California Planning and Development Report

Golden Gate Bridge Congestion Pricing Replaced With Parking Pricing Plan

The Feds won't agree to a $1 congestion peak bridge toll, so SF planners have proposed peak hour parking fees on corridors leading to the Golden Gate Bridge to satisfy the Urban Partnership Agreement terms to retain the $158 million grant.

August 19, 2008 - The San Francisco Chronicle

The New Urbanist Racetrack

Bay Meadows Racetrack in San Mateo,CA is being transformed into 19 blocks of office buildings, dense housing, parkland and plazas.

August 19, 2008 - The San Francisco Chronicle

Sprawlfighting in San Jose

San José, California, after decades of sprawl that left the region one of the least-dense cities in the state, is on track to densify their underused areas. As one planner put it, "The decision was, let's not build out anymore, let's build up."

August 18, 2008 - The San Francisco Chronicle

Unlikely Partners Oppose L.A. Transit Funding Plan

In an unlikely collaboration, tax payers and the Los Angeles Bus Riders Union have joined in opposition to a proposal that would raise L.A. County sales tax a half-cent to provide funding for public transit.

August 18, 2008 - LA Weekly

L.A.'s Fast Food Ban Boosts Health and Healthy Businesses

A moratorium on new fast food restaurants in Los Angeles is seen as a way to encourage better public health, but also a way to encourage healthier businesses.

August 16, 2008 - The New York Times

Forget Coffeehouses- Businesses Want Freeways, Labor, Energy

Manufacturing still matters, and what manufacturers want hasn't changed much. The question is whether a "new economy" state like California can compete in the old economy.

August 14, 2008 - California Planning and Development Report

Rare Show Of Unity on Growth Legislation in CA

An unusual coalition of environmentalists, builders,and city leaders announced their support for a controversial land use and transportation bill that aims to involve the CA Air Resources Board in setting reduction targets.

August 13, 2008 - Capitol Weekly

Smart Growth or Smart Food?

"Locavores" hoping to promote more sustainable agriculture through urban gardening are facing a new hurdle: infill housing projects.

August 12, 2008 - The Berkeley Daily Planet

Flaunting Lawn and Order With Astroturf

Upkeep and Water Consumption Prompt Reviews of the Esthetics of Faux Turf

August 12, 2008 - The Los Angeles Times

Desalination Plant Approved in California

A large water desalination plant has been approved in Southern California, where water supplies are historically low and the population is high.

August 11, 2008 - MSNBC

Pixar Director Building Fake Treehouse Home

Peter Docter, director of the animated film 'Monsters Inc.', has submitted plans to build a series of artificial tree houses on his land in Lafayette, CA to be his family's home. The Planning Commission is currently considering the project.

August 10, 2008 - San Jose Mercury News

Could Downtown L.A. Transform From Parking Lot to Park?

A handful of EDAW interns have created an ambitious plan for a new park to connect L.A.'s disconnected downtown with lush greenery.

August 10, 2008 - The Architect's Newspaper

Edible Walls Growing in L.A.

August 10, 2008 - The Tribune

Rethinking California's Irrigation Strategy

Astride the maze of rivers east of San Francisco that crisscross California's Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta stand two imposing edifices — the pumping stations that supply water to vast swaths of the state. When operating at full throttle, the Harvey O. Banks Pumping Plant, managed by the state of California, and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's C.W. "Bill" Jones Pumping Plant, have the capacity to entirely reverse the flow on the delta tributaries upon which they sit.

August 8, 2008 - Miller-McCune

San Francisco Streetcars 'Too Popular'

The F-Market is a streetcar line in San Francisco that features restored historic streetcars. When it was built in 1995, many saw it as a novelty, but today it is so popular and crowded that it has become an inefficient means of transportation.

August 7, 2008 - The San Francisco Chronicle

Broad Green Building Law Passed in San Francisco

San Francisco has passed some of the strictest green building requirements in the nation, for new construction and renovations.

August 6, 2008 - The San Francisco Chronicle

Bike Warriors in L.A.

In many cities across the U.S., commuters are taking to their bikes as gas prices climb. But as the Wall St. Journal reports, it takes guts to bike in Los Angeles, where bike lanes and racks are a rarity.

August 4, 2008 - Wall St. Journal

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

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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.