California

Silicon Valley

Linkage Fee for Affordable Housing Funding Approved in San Jose

The city of San Jose will charge developers a fee to help fund affordable housing projects in the city. But critics say the fees are insignificant compared to the scale of the need.

September 3, 2020 - The Mrecury News

Los Angeles, California

Gehry's Latest Downtown L.A. Project Rises While Workers Stay Home

A high-profile project in the heart of the cultural and civic center of Downtown Los Angeles is rising quickly, and practically in secret, as the area's daytime population stays home during the pandemic.

September 2, 2020 - Los Angeles Times

Southern California

How Regional Planning Can Be Antiracist

Under new board president Rex Richardson, the Southern California Association of Governments—the country's largest MPO—has pledged to combat racism through regional planning, including equitable housing development.

September 2, 2020 - California Planning & Development Report

Hollywood Sign

Another Defeat for Statewide Zoning Reform in California

Another year, another defeat for sweeping changes to the status quo of single-family zoning in the state of California. SB 1120 would have allowed duplexes in areas previously zoned for detached single family zoning.

September 1, 2020 - Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles County

Micro-Units Considered as Affordable Housing Option

Long Beach, California is the latest city to consider small residential units, 350 square feet and smaller, as one way to combat the rising cost of housing.

September 1, 2020 - Signal Tribune

Northern California Wilidfires

Wildfire Smoke Affecting Communities Across the Country

Wildfires in California and Colorado are spewing out smoke that is traveling to other parts of the country. The health effects of the dirty air are substantial, and they could last long after the fires are out.

August 31, 2020 - Inside Climate News

California Houses

California Unions Voice Strong Opposition to Housing Bills

Trades groups demanded provisions in housing bills that ultimately will stymie the construction of much-needed affordable housing in the state.

August 31, 2020 - San Francisco Chronicle

Laurel Canyon

How Urban Form Created Classic Rock

A great many factors converged to create the culture and music of the 1960s. A powerful, but often overlooked, factor was the Los Angeles neighborhood of Laurel Canyon. A new documentary provides a case study in urban creativity.

August 30, 2020 - Common Edge Collaborative

Paradise, California

In Paradise, Using Greenbelts to Manage Wildfires

The Camp Fire in California devasted the town of Paradise. As rebuilding progresses, local leaders are looking to protect the town using nature-based fire resilience strategies.

August 27, 2020 - Bloomberg CityLab

Northern California Toll Lane

Tolling All Freeway Lanes in the Bay Area?

What's more surprising is seeing who is making the proposal and why. The first step would be to have the concept included in Plan Bay Area 2050.

August 26, 2020 - San Mateo Daily Journal

I-45 and I-69

Sun Belt Cities Are Facing Many Changes and Challenges

Cities across this swath of the country have rapidly growing populations and economies. At the same time, Sun Belt cities are contending with a common host of urban issues that should not be overlooked.

August 25, 2020 - Urban Edge

Uber Car

Ride-Hailing Services Shutdown in California Averted

Uber and Lyft were set to cease operations in California, but an appeals court has granted them a reprieve and the controversy continues.

August 24, 2020 - The New York Times

South Los Angeles

South L.A. Townhall Opposes SB 1120 Statewide Upzoning Bill

L.A. City Councilmembers Herb Wesson and Paul Koretz register opposition to SB 1120, calling the bill an attack on the residential integrity throughout the state of California.

August 24, 2020 - The Planning Report

San Francisco Rail Transit

Compromise Reached to Save Caltrain

The saga of the three-county sales tax upon which the future of Caltrain depends is now in the hands of voters.

August 24, 2020 - KTVU

California Desert

Desert Species, Endangered by Climate Change and Renewable Energy, Create Controversy

The wind strewn and sunny parts of California are home to many species threatened both by climate change and renewable energy facilities like wind and solar power facilities. What is an environmentalist to do?

August 23, 2020 - Los Angeles Times

New York City Homelessness

The Impacts of Repeated Closures on California Commercial Real Estate

Carl Muhlstein discusses the recent re-closure of California businesses and the subsequent impact on the regional real estate market.

August 21, 2020 - The Planning Report

BART Fare Gate

Policy Change That Could End the Disproportionate Targeting of Black Transit Riders

Having experienced improper detainment by transit police officers, National City Housing Advisory Committee Commissioner Marcus Bush calls for substantive change in transit fare enforcement systems.

August 20, 2020 - Voice of San Diego

Cupertino

Digital Roundtable Discusses Silicon Valley's Urbanist Future

Highlighting the ways in which the pandemic’s disruption is unleashing innovation, panelists share their hope for streamlining public-private collaborations to solve some of the region’s housing, transportation, and equity challenges.

August 20, 2020 - The Planning Report

King Tides

The Cost of Sea-Level Rise Measured in Tens of Billions in California

A new report summarizes the impact rising sea levels would have on California residents, businesses, and infrastructure. The effects would be catastrophic for the San Francisco Bay Area.

August 20, 2020 - San Francisco Weekly

Los Angeles River Bike Path

Seeing the Los Angeles River in Whole New Way

We seem to have an app for everything. Now we have one that walks a viewer through the river’s history from the pre-historic era to the present.

August 19, 2020 - Los Angeles Times

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

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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.