California

Aerial view of irrigation canal winding through Scottsdale, Arizona suburb with mountains in background

Mitigating the Environmental Footprint of Sprawl

There is still time to reverse the environmental outcomes of American suburbs. Researchers in Los Angeles, considered by many to be the poster child for U.S. sprawl, have been at work on the problem for years.

May 11, 2023 - Nature

View of oceanfront homes in Malibu, California against golden afternoon sky

Report: West Coast Must Come to Terms With Managed Retreat

As sea levels rise, experts say coastal communities have to overcome their resistance to managed retreat and plan for relocation.

May 10, 2023 - Smart Cities Dive

Lone hiker on gravel trail at Eaton Canyon Natural Area, Los Angeles County

Ensuring Equitable Park Access in Los Angeles County

Learn more about the Park Equity Alliance and how it is working to ensure equitable access to parks and recreation in L.A. County.

May 10, 2023 - Park Equity Alliance

Large single-family homes on hillside in Los Angeles, California

Well Intended Housing Tax Could Wreak Havoc in L.A.

A new transfer tax that intends to fund affordable housing might end up crushing Los Angeles's multifamily market—at exactly the wrong time.

May 8, 2023 - California Planning & Development Report

View of field of blooming orange poppies in Antelope Valley, California

L.A.’s 30x30 Goals: Conservation and Restoration

Learn more about Los Angeles County's Parks Needs Assessment Plus (PNA+) which focuses on land conservation and restoration, regional recreation, and rural recreation to address climate change, protect biodiversity, and meet the needs of residents. 

May 8, 2023 - Parks & Rec Business

Cover of Los Angeles County 2022 Parks Needs Assessment Plus

The Growing Importance of Data Storytelling

Data storytelling refers to the ability to effectively communicate insights from data using narratives and visualizations. When done right, it can be used to put data insights into context and inspire action from decisionmakers.

May 7, 2023 - National Recreation and Park Association Open Space Blog

California Houses

California Growth Report: Housing Up, Population Down

Good and bad news can be found in the most recent demographic report from the California Department of Finance. The population dropped by nearly 140,000 last year while housing grew at the highest rate in 14 years.

May 4, 2023 - San Francisco Chronicle

Self-driving white Waymo Jaguar SUV on street in Chandler, Arizona

How Self-Driving Cars Are Integrating—or Not—Into the Urban Fabric

As they become more common on some U.S. streets, autonomous vehicles are impeding emergency response operations and blocking traffic, idling in neighborhoods, and defying law enforcement.

May 2, 2023 - Arizona Republic

View of Los Angeles skyline on sunny day with palm trees in foreground

Los Angeles Finalizing Three Long-Awaited Community Plan Updates

Los Angeles is poised to approve a trio of long-planned zoning code updates—for the neighborhoods of Boyle Heights, Downtown, and Hollywood—as the first test cases for a new citywide zoning code update known as re:code LA.

May 1, 2023 - Urbanize LA

Unpaved road through Owens Lake bed with Sierra Nevada mountains in the background

California Braces for Floods After Historic Winter Storms

Emerging from a years-long drought, the state now faces significant flood risks as temperatures rise and the abundant snowpack begins to melt.

May 1, 2023 - Los Angeles Times

Many people on bikes riding on city street during CicLAvia event in Pasadena, California

Los Angeles County to Update Bike Master Plan

The plan will serve as a guide for the development of safe and accessible bikeways and paths within unincorporated areas of L.A. County and along County flood control district channels.

April 30, 2023 - Los Angeles County Public Works

White electric bike logo on asphalt

California E-Bike Rebate Takes Shape

The California Air Resources Board plans to launch an e-bike incentive program later this year.

April 30, 2023 - Streetsblog California

Metro Subway Los Angeles

Opinion: To Improve Transit Safety, Boost Ridership

Research links high ridership levels with lower crime, signaling that, rather than introducing new security measures, transit agencies should focus on bringing riders back to their systems.

April 28, 2023 - Los Angeles Times

View of Los Angeles skyline against a bright orange sky with a palm tree at left

Los Angeles County Releases Updated Climate Action Plan

The revised plan reflects the county's commitment to fighting climate change and identifies strategies, measures, and actions to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from community activities and some municipal operations.

April 27, 2023 - Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning

San Francisco Internation Airport

BART Reorients Service for Weekend Travelers

With weekday commuter ridership still lagging far below 2019 levels and remote work not going anywhere anytime soon, the agency plans to increase train frequencies on weekends and reduce some weekday service.

April 27, 2023 - NBC Bay Area

Welc_me to Fabulous Las Vegas

Bipartisan Lawmakers Support L.A.-to-Vegas Train

Legislators from California and Nevada are calling on Secretary Buttigieg to support a private effort to build a high-speed rail line between Southern California and Las Vegas.

April 27, 2023 - Associated Press

White VTA light rail train passing by historic building in downtown San Jose, California

San Jose Rail Extension Clinches Final Funding Piece

The new line will expand rail service to more communities in the South Bay.

April 26, 2023 - The Mercury News

Vintage 1929 map of Los Angeles

L.A. County's Regional Planning Commission Celebrates 100 Years of Service

The first planning commissioners were appointed by the Board of Supervisors in 1923, making the Regional Planning Commission the oldest county planning commission in the United States.

April 25, 2023 - Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning

Hand holding candle toward small electrical fuse box in the dark

California Developments Wait Months for Power

In areas served by PG&E, new developments sometimes have to wait months before the utility will turn on the power, creating extra costs for builders and keeping new affordable housing units off the market.

April 25, 2023 - Politico

View from below of orange tethered hot-air balloon floating in blue sky

New Vision for Southern California’s Great Park

The newly unveiled comprehensive plan includes a botanical garden, museums, and a 22-acre lake system.

April 24, 2023 - The Architect's Newspaper

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Websites

The best of the Internet—since 2002.

Top Apps

Planning apps for a brave new world.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

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.