California
Coastal Town Gives Developer A Major Challenge
After a $1.3 million campaign, residents of Pacifica, California rejected a developer's proposal for a new hotel, shopping center, and residential community master planned by Duany Plater-Zyberk. But the developer's not giving up yet.
Columnist Lampoons LA's Deputy Mayor for Transportation on His Hummer
Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez takes the city's Deputy Mayor for Transportation to task for driving a Hummer. 'It's smaller than a Yukon.'
Town-Gown Showdown
The City of Santa Cruz and its University of California campus are struggling to come to terms with the university’s ambitious plans for growth and its impact on the city.
In California, Fast Food Entrepreneur Buys Route 66 Town
Fast-food chicken baron Albert Okura purchased Route 66 town of Amboy, home to a well known landmark of roadside architecture.
Growth Boundary Extension Approved Before Impact Reports Completed
The Pittsburg, California, City Council has unanimously approved an extension of the city's urban growth boundary to include 1,600 more acres of foothills. This extension was approved by voters in 2005, but some argue the initiative was deceptive.
Adult Business Moves Into Historic Building To Make Love Not War
The old San Francisco Armory, which has sat empty for more than three decades in city's Mission district, has found a new use, but local residents aren't exactly excited about this latest chapter of the neighborhood's gentrification.
Chain Stores Invade New York, Not San Francisco
Chain stores have invaded Manhattan and now look to open in other New York City neighborhoods. Meanwhile, San Francisco's planning commission has the power to reject chain retail and restaurants. And they have been using that power.
Developer Demands Doubling Height For Supermarket Deal
East Palo Alto may be one of the few U.S cities of 30,000 residents lacking a supermarket. Now this 23-year-old city is close to getting one on a 6-acre vacant lot, but increased land costs forced the new developer to renegotiate the prior plan.
Berkeley Housing Quota Rises Above City's Comfort Level
City officials in Berkeley, California, are voicing concerns about a regional government association's proposed ousing quota for the next seven years, one which calls for a yearly increase of more than 200%.
On Farmers' Markets And Public Space
In many urban areas, farmers' markets provide both a connection to nature and a sense of community.
New San Francisco Light Rail Line Opens
San Francisco's new light rail line, the 5-mile T-Third, opened for free, weekend service Jan 13. The service is intended to revitalize the sagging south-east neighborhoods, but some bus riders question the new line. Daily service begins April 7.
Rent Control: Tenant's Dream, Landlord's Nightmare?
At almost 30 years of age, L.A.'s rent control ordinance is a double-edged sword -- reviled by some and relied upon by others.
Small Town Pushes For Housing On Protected California Delta
A small Delta town near Sacramento is pushing a state commission to loosen barriers on development in an area set aside in the '90s to protect agricultural land, the area's migratory bird life, and water resources that provide for much of the state.
California Governor Proposes New Fuel Regulation To Fight Global Warming
Hailed by many as setting a new fuel standard to reduce carbon emissions and questioned by others as to its effect on smog levels and gas prices, the new regulation will reduce the carbon content of transportation fuels 10% by 2020.
Southern California's Laboratory For Smart Growth
With Southern California's strictest urban growth rules and a commitment to preserving open space and agriculture, Ventura County has become the region's hotbed of smart growth.
Downtown L.A.'s Revitalization To Spread Southward
Redevelopment officials are looking at the southern frontier of downtown as the next potential neighborhood for revitalization and new transit-oriented development, but some locals are worried about the area's gentrification.
Parking Rage Boiling Over In San Francisco
Anger over parking difficulties in the city has spawned attacks between motorists and enforcement officers, and even led to the death of one resident.
A Real Life 'Italian Job'?
Two City of Los Angeles senior traffic engineers are charged with breaking into traffic control computers and disabling traffic signals at busy Los Angeles intersections.
Small Bay Area Commuter Train Hopes To Revolutionize Passenger Rail
Caltrain, the nation's oldest commuter rail system west of the Mississippi, unveiled a plan to electrify the line that operates 96 daily trains from San Francisco to San Jose using technology that requires changes in federal and state regulations.
Designing A Better Cell Tower
A 65-ft tower in San Diego is being redesigned as a piece of modern art.
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
