CP&DR

Climate Change Provides Planners An Opening - How Will They React?

Dec 29, 2007

California, California Environmental Quality Act, Insight, Vol. 23 No. 01 Jan 2008, William Fulton

Has climate change lit a fire under California's professional planners, and if so, how much impact will they have on the climate change debate?

Reform or Regulation? Year of the Election Might Have a Split Personality

Nov 29, 2007

California, Insight, Vol. 22 No. 12 Dec 2007, William Fulton

Call it the Year of the Election.

Every time you turn around during 2008, Californians are going to be voting on something. February. June. November. And, on the local level, probably some dates in between.

Mitigation, Rather Than Avoidance, Continues To Dominate In Fire-Prone California

Oct 30, 2007

California, Insight, Regional planning, Vol. 22 No. 11 Nov 2007, William Fulton

Should planning departments in California force developers to steer clear of fire-prone areas? Or should building departments force developers to fireproof their neighborhoods instead?

Housing Market Slowdown Could Stall Or Change State's Urban Transition

Sep 21, 2007

California, Housing, Insight, Vol. 22 No. 10 Oct 2007, William Fulton

It's undeniable: California is in the worst housing bust since the early 1990s. Sales have dropped by a third compared with last year. Prices are stable for now, but nobody knows what will happen once all those bank repos hit the market. And it's pretty clear that developers all over the state are sitting on their entitlements. Nobody's building anything unless they absolutely have to.

Greenhouse Gas Debate Involves More Than The Usual Intramural Squabbles

Aug 29, 2007

California, Climate change, Insight, Vol. 22 No. 09 Sep 2007, William Fulton

California's greenhouse gas reduction bill – AB 32 – has received worldwide recognition as cutting-edge policy on global warming, not least because Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has chewed up a lot of carbon flying around the world promoting it. Back in Sacramento, however, the hard part is just beginning: Deciding how to actually reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the state.

Highway Toll Plans Profit From Congestion

Jul 26, 2007

California, Insight, Transportation, Vol. 22 No. 08 Aug 2007, William Fulton

On July 24, the last 7-mile stretch of the 210 Freeway opened from Rialto to San Bernardino. In a way, it was the end of an era.

Right On Cue, Ballot Measure Confusion Grows While Construction Slows

Jun 26, 2007

California, Initiatives and referendums, Insight, Vol. 22 No. 07 Jul 2007, William Fulton

Wouldn't you know it? Right when the real estate market slows down, the land use initiative business is picking up. And, as is often the case, the initiatives – rather than clarifying things – are making things more confusing. Although localized in nature, the confusion will continue all the way through the emerging real estate bust and on to the beginning of the next boom.

Housing Market Switcheroo: The Affluent Go Downtown, The Poor To Suburbia

May 29, 2007

Infill development, Insight, Los Angeles County, Vol. 22 No. 06 Jun 2007, William Fulton

A few weeks ago, I attended an Urban Land Institute event dedicated to hyping Los Angeles's newfound urbanity. It was a panel discussion on the windy roof of an old office building at 3801 Wilshire Boulevard, just across Western Avenue from the historic Wiltern Theater and catty-corner to the Red Line stop at Wilshire and Western.

Washington's Carrots And Sticks No Match For Global Warming Challenge

May 2, 2007

California, Insight, Legislation, Vol. 22 No. 04 Apr 2007, William Fulton

For the first time in 12 years, the Democrats are in charge of Congress. That ought to mean there is a long wish list somewhere regarding domestic policy issues, including issues associated with planning and development.

So far, we haven't seen much publicity on domestic policy – the Democrats, as more than a few media outlets have observed, are more interested in investigation than legislation. But as the congressional session unfolds, it won't be long before the new majority begins to focus on the two major federal policy levers that affect land use – the Big Carrot of transportation funding and the Big Stick of environmental regulation. In each case, a crisis appears to be forcing Congress's hand.

San Joaquin Valley Blueprint Planning Confronts Regional Fragmentation

May 2, 2007

Insight, Regional planning, San Joaquin County, Vol. 22 No. 05 May 2007, William Fulton

Can the entire San Joaquin Valley embrace the idea of regional planning – or at least agree on a common vision for how to accommodate future growth?

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