California
In Shaky San Francisco, Don't Get Too High
When selecting a design for San Francisco's new Transbay Terminal, planners and the public should be cautious of building too high in a seismically-active city, writes Harold Gilliam.
Controversial Legislation Tackles Land Use, Transportation, Regional Planning, & Global Warming
In what is arguably the most important environmental bill in California since last year's Global Warming Solutions Act, SB 375 attempts to reduce global warming by addressing land use and transportation through better regional planning.
Sacramento's Green Ambitions
With ambitious environmentally-conscious building requirements and the cooperation of the state government, the California Capitol city Sacramento is looking to edge past Chicago as the nation's greenest city.
Judge Calls For Reduced Water Pumping In California
A ruling in California is expected to greatly reduce the amount of water the state can pump from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta -- a water source for nearly half the state's residents and much of its farmland.
60 Million Californians? Maybe Not
Despite estimates that the state of California's population will grow to 60 million by 2050, Wendell Cox argues that growth in the state is slowing.
Suburbs Support New City Creation For Political Leverage
Small city public officials in the Sacramento area are using public money to support a bid to turn an unincorporated plot of land into a new city -- a move they hope will help to distribute regional planning power more equitably to smaller towns.
Changing The Car Culture Of Los Angeles
City planners -- hoping to get reluctant Angelenos out of their cars -- have put forth a proposal that would waive all parking requirements for developers whose buildings offered suitable transportation alternatives.
State Senator Discusses Transportation Budget Cuts
Same cuts of transportation spending, different voter-approved initiative. State Senator Alan Lowenthal surveys California's transportation challenges amid a budget impasse and questions about bridge safety.
Vendors Upset Over Dust From BRT
Street vendors in Berkeley are voicing complaints that a new rapid bus line is passing by too quickly, stirring up dust along the sidewalk that covers them and their merchandise.
Dry L.A. Reconsiders Wastewater Recycling Plan
Facing one of the driest years in recent history, the city of Los Angeles is feeling the pinch of the drought. Officials have suggested reconsidering a once-proposed and once-disapproved plan to recycle wastewater back into the groundwater.
Affordable Housing Mistakenly Renting At Market Rates
Complaints over parking have led the city of Martinez, California, to realize an affordable housing complex built for seniors has been renting at market rates for years.
Trees Add To Levee Strength, But May Be Removed
Despite scientific findings that trees along levees help improve their effectiveness, federal regulations may require that trees lining levees in Central California be removed.
Free Transit Day Brings No Boost To Ridership
Public transit ridership saw little or no change in the San Francisco Bay Area earlier this week when transit agencies offered free rides as part of a "Spare the Air" campaign.
Handling The Homeless In Golden Gate Park
Advocates for the homeless offer their advice on dealing with homeless people sleeping in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. They say that, with some caveats, the homeless should be allowed to sleep in the park. Residents feel differently.
L.A.'s Development Has Many Centers
A trend of dense downtown development in Los Angeles has some calling the city's new urban growth pattern a move towards "Manhattanization".
Transportation Is Biggest Loser In New California Budget
California's 52-day delayed budget was just signed by Gov. Schwarzenegger and the biggest loser is transportation -- to the tune of $1.3 billion. Public transit agencies will be taking the biggest hit of all.
Lawsuit Over General Plan Ignoring Global Warming Settled
A widely watched lawsuit by California's attorney general against the state's fastest growing county over the issue of inventorying and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the update of a county general plan has been settled.
Disneyland Takes Rezoning To Ballot
The housing saga continues in Anaheim, California, as the Disney Corporation has pushed a referendum into next June's city ballot that will let voters decide if housing should be allowed in the Disneyland-adjacent "Resort District".
Drawing A Rail Line From L.A. To San Francisco
Transit planners are hoping to nail down a route for the long-sought high speed rail line between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Many in San Jose say the route must run through the Silicon Valley, a major driver of California's economy.
Friday Funny: Really High Density
Plans to accommodate population growth in Los Angeles while facing a land shortage have developers giving a new meaning to "building up".
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.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
