California

Deal Will Preserve Valuable S.F. Bay Area Open Space
Land in the Coyote Valley in San Jose, California, will be protected in a move that ends over three decades of development battles.

Tinkering With New Ride-Hailing Area Produces Results at LAX
Few planning projects in recent weeks have attracted such scrutiny as the LAX-It ride-hailing pickup area at Los Angeles International Airport.

Pedestrian-Only 'Gaslamp Promenade' Considered in San Diego
San Diego is considering a plan to block off an eight-block portion of its Downtown, known as the Gaslamp Quarter, to automobile traffic.

Regional Planning Paradigm Shift in Southern California
The Southern California Association of Governments, in response to new mandates from the state, has adopted a radical new approach to housing requirements in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties.

Torrent of Pro-Housing Policies Could Overwhelm California's Planners
Ben Metcalf recently stepped down as director of the California Department of Housing and Community Development. His tenure coincided with adoption of aggressive new statewide policies. But are they too much of a good thing?

Why Big Tech Billions Won't Dent California's Housing Crisis
New multibillion-dollar affordable housing commitments from leading tech firms may build out thousands of units, but that's nothing next to California's gargantuan housing shortage.

Environmental Study of Shasta Dam Project Halted
The federal government was considering a plan to raise the height of the dam on California's largest reservoir. But the area’s water district recently announced that it will not continue with an environmental study of the project.

Trump Administration's New CA Water Plan Chooses Farmers Over Fish
A plan to divert water to farmers in California, released at the end of October, would allow for the annihilation of winter-run Chinook Salmon.

Traffic Signals Will Finally Prioritize Expo Line Trains in Los Angeles
The Los Angeles City Council has approved a motion to improve signal prioritization for the sake of light rail transit on the Expo Line where it operates in city streets.

Planning a New Approach to Transit Oriented Development in Compton
The city of Compton has completed a draft environmental impact review of an ambitious plan to transform the blocks surrounding the Artesia Station on the Metro A Line.

Next Steps After S.F. Bay Area Adaptive Bikeshare Pilot Program
A summer program incorporated adaptive bikes into the region’s bikeshare network as a first step in making the system accessible to more riders.

Apple Pledges $2.5 Billion for Housing Affordability
It's been a big year for tech giants pledging money to mitigate the affordability crisis in the regions and cities they call home. Apple joins a club that includes Google, Facebook, and Microsoft.

DTLA 2040 Ready for Public Scrutiny in Los Angeles
Two community plan updates, to the Central City and the Central City North community plans, comprise the DTLA 2040 plan. DTLA 2040 is also the first showcase for the city's new zoning code system.

Pre-Fab Buildings to Ease the Housing Crisis
Modular housing is cheaper and faster to build compared to conventional buildings. These advantages could make it an effective and viable way to increase apartment housing stock.

Office Development Fee to Fund Affordable Housing Approved in San Francisco
A new fee would add an estimated 6 percent to the cost of building new office space in San Francisco, yet not many from the business community resisted the new costs.

GM, Toyota, and Fiat Chrysler Back Trump on Weaker Auto Emissions Rule
The auto industry is divided on whether to back stronger emissions standard adopted by California and 13 other states. Three major automakers and three auto industry groups sided with Trump on Monday in a court battle over 'one national standard.'

JUMP, Uber's Bike and Scooter Rental Business, Creates Privacy Controversy in L.A.
The battle over privacy data will move to court, as Uber and the Los Angeles Department of Transportation has been able to work out their differences regarding the use of the city's mobility data specification.
Two New Community Land Trusts for Ventura County
Ventura County, Located to the north and west of Los Angeles County, will soon have its first two community land trusts.

Wildfires and Public Health
California is being forced to reckon with numerous negative public health outcomes caused by wildfires.

Homelessness Fuels a Backlash in California
The Golden State's ongoing homelessness crisis has residents on edge and is testing the limits of empathy in a state known for its liberal values.
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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.
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