California

Coyote Ridge San Jose

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.

November 12, 2019 - The Mercury News

Southern California Freeways

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.

November 11, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

San Diego Gaslamp District

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.

November 11, 2019 - The San Diego Union-Tribune

Sprawl

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.

November 10, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

California

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?

November 10, 2019 - California Planning & Development Report

Cupertino, California

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.

November 9, 2019 - The New York Times

Shasta Lake

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.

November 9, 2019 - High Country News

California State Water 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.

November 7, 2019 - East Bay Express

Expo Line LA Skyline

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.

November 7, 2019 - Streetsblog LA

Compton, California

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.

November 6, 2019 - Urbanize Los Angeles

MoGo Bikeshare Bikes

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.

November 4, 2019 - Next City

Cupertino, California

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.

November 4, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

Griffith Park

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.

November 4, 2019 - Urbanize Los Angeles

Washington, D.C. Apartment

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.

November 4, 2019 - CALmatters

Millennium Tower

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.

November 3, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

Detroit, Michigan

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.'

November 3, 2019 - Reuters

Uber Jump bike

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.

November 1, 2019 - CityLab

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.

November 1, 2019 - Ventura County Star

Wildfire

Wildfires and Public Health

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

November 1, 2019 - The Conversation

Skid Row Los Angeles

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.

November 1, 2019 - The New York 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.

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.