California

Nighttime view of empty gas station

Biden Proposes Gas Tax Holiday to Reduce Gas Prices

President Biden asked Congress on June 22 to suspend federal fuel taxes, unchanged since 1993, for three months to provide motorists 'relief' at the pump. Additionally, he asked states to follow suit and for oil companies to increase refining.

June 30, 2022 - Smart Cities Dive

Car Traffic

San Francisco Just Ended Single-Family Zoning

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted to Tuesday to eliminate single-family zoning, but pro-development advocates say additional changes are needed to unleash a wave of construction.

June 29, 2022 - San Francisco Chronicle

San Diego Harbor

Seeking Public Input to Improve and Expand Waterfront Park in San Diego

The Port of San Diego is engaging the public to gather additional feedback on the latest draft design for the National City Bayfront’s Pepper Park.

June 28, 2022 - The Log

A Gold Line AnsaldoBreda P2550 train enters Mission Station in South Pasadena on February 25, 2012.

Land Banking to Prevent Transit-Oriented Displacement in Los Angeles

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) will implement a new land banking program to mitigate gentrification and displacement around future transit lines.

June 28, 2022 - Los Angeles Daily News

A view of the Pacific Ocean and California coastline from high in the Santa Monica Mountains.

Preserving More Hillside Land for Conservation and Biodiversity

The Los Angeles City Council recently approved an ordinance giving the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy first right of refusal to purchase any surplus hillside land owned by the city so it can be preserved.

June 27, 2022 - Beverly Press

Rendering of inclusive Courtney's Playground

The Importance of Inclusive Playgrounds

The first fully inclusive playground in the Antelope Valley in Los Angeles County features full, accessible rubber surfacing and activities accessible to children of all abilities.

June 27, 2022 - The Antelope Valley Times

Thermometer infront of blurred image of street during heat wave

New Tool to Understand Heat Vulnerability and Resilience in California

The California Healthy Places Index: Extreme Heat Edition is a tool which provides datasets on projected heat exposure for California, including place-based indicators measuring community conditions and sensitive populations.

June 27, 2022 - UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs

A privately owned public space at 555 Mission Street with large sculptures and benches.

The Return of San Francisco’s Privately Owned Public Spaces

In San Francisco, you can find respite from city life in some unexpected places—if you know where to look.

June 26, 2022 - The San Francisco Chronicle

Cruise Ships

California Coastal Commission Nixes Parking Reforms Intended to Spur ADUs in San Diego

Environmental causes run into conflict with zoning reforms intended for environmental benefit once again, as the California Coastal Commission requires San Diego to reinstate parking requirements for ADUs.

June 23, 2022 - OB Rag

A cable-stayed bridge designed spans the water of the Los Angeles River, which is placid and dotted with rocks.

A New Master Plan for the Los Angeles River

The L.A. County Board of Supervisors voted to approved a new master plan for the L.A. River—the “Reimagined River.”

June 22, 2022 - Ethnic Media Services

View of Devil's Punchbowl rock formations

Envisioning a New Nature Center

Los Angeles County is seeking public input as part of the Devil’s Punchbowl Natural Area Nature Center replacement planning project.

June 21, 2022 - Antelope Valley Press

View of Yosemite Falls waterfall

Wanted: Taggers Responsible for Graffiti at Yosemite National Park

National Park officials are asking for the public's help to track down those responsible for graffiti recently painted in the park.

June 21, 2022 - CNN

3D rendering of a hydrogen storage facility with wind turbines in background

Energy Department Resumes Loan Program with Hydrogen Storage

The Energy Department's loan office, known for a bad loan to the solar panel startup Solyndra in 2011, will loan $504 million to a company that will use renewable energy to create 'green hydrogen' and store it in salt caverns in Utah.

June 21, 2022 - U.S. Department of Energy

Playground at Jackie Robinson Park, Sun Village, California

Nation's First Jackie Robinson Park Declared a Historic Landmark

Jackie Robinson Park in Sun Village has just been designated as a County Landmark by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

June 21, 2022 - Antelope Valley Press

1984 Olympics

L.A. Seeking Funding for New Transit Projects Prior to the 2028 Summer Olympics

Los Angeles officials have been working for years to deliver a suite of transit projects in time for the 2028 Olympics. Planners now hope federal infrastructure funding could reinvigorate the effort.

June 20, 2022 - Los Angeles Times

Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, San Diego, California

Waterfront Wonder: The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park in San Diego

Learn more about this beautiful concert venue located on the edge of San Diego Bay.

June 20, 2022 - Los Angeles Times

California Shelter-in-Place

Downtown San Francisco Still Looking for a Post-Pandemic Comeback

“Downtown on the Brink” reads the headline of a recent San Francisco Chronicle feature.

June 15, 2022 - San Francisco Chronicle

View of downtown Los Angeles from a green park

Restoring Degraded Lands to Advance Park Equity and Environmental Justice

The restoration of degraded lands, including properties occupied by abandoned, redundant, or unwanted infrastructure, is of great importance in Los Angeles County where numerous underserved communities are plagued with environmental burdens.

June 14, 2022 - National Recreation and Park Association Open Space Blog

Central Los Angeles

How California Planning has Changed—and How it Hasn't

In the newest edition of his classic book Guide to California Planning, Bill Fulton says there is still tension between the state's suburban planning system and its urban reality.

June 13, 2022 - California Planning & Development Report

Goats grazing in a California field

How Goats Aid in Wildfire Prevention

Grazing goats can quickly and effectively clear steep or hard-to-reach hillsides of invasive, fire-fueling vegetation.

June 10, 2022 - National Geographic

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.

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.