The curious case of Cynthia Dunne in Ladue, Missouri, who was permitted by the city to tear down her house, and then subsequently informed that a lack of water pressure prohibited building a new one.
Robert Patrick reports from Ladue, Missouri: "Officials here allowed Cynthia Dunne to buy a 4,400-square-foot home for $1 million and knock it down, but they won’t allow her to replace it because of an aging water line that feeds her community, a federal lawsuit filed this month says."
Dunne's plans for a new, 7,700-square-foot home that would accommodate her physical disabilities "were approved by Ladue’s architectural review board before she applied for and received a permit to demolish the old house in 2018," according to Patrick. Dunne’s building permit was blocked after she demolished the old house, and after Ladue officials said that fire hydrant water pressure was insufficient for any structure, the suit says.
According to a spokesperson for Missouri American Water, the cost of addressing inadequate water lines usually falls to developers. In this case, either the neighborhood would have to chip in to help pay for a new water line, or Dunne will have to pay the cost entirely on her own.
Dunne filed a lawsuit earlier this month against the city of Ladue and Building Commissioner Roger Stewart, seeking unspecified damages.
FULL STORY: Ladue to homeowner: Sure, tear down the old house. But there isn't enough water to build a new one.
Mississippi Investigated for Civil Rights Violations in Jackson Water Crisis
The NAACP has accused a pair of Mississippi departments of discrimination against Black Mississippians, leading to the loss of drinking water in the state's capital city at the end of the summer.
Bay Area Development Encounters the Limits of the Water Supply
A development battle pitting Contra Costa County against the East Bay Municipal Utility District illustrates the challenges of developing new housing supply in a time of drought.
Arizona Governor Pledges $1 Billion to Water Infrastructure
The billion-dollar investment in the state's water supplies sounds good on paper, but lawmakers must also distribute funding effectively to mitigate the state's urgent water shortage.
Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Why Should We Subsidize Public Transportation?
Many public transit agencies face financial stress due to rising costs, declining fare revenue, and declining subsidies. Transit advocates must provide a strong business case for increasing public transit funding.
Understanding Road Diets
An explainer from Momentum highlights the advantages of reducing vehicle lanes in favor of more bike, transit, and pedestrian infrastructure.
New California Law Regulates Warehouse Pollution
A new law tightens building and emissions regulations for large distribution warehouses to mitigate air pollution and traffic in surrounding communities.
Phoenix Announces Opening Date for Light Rail Extension
The South Central extension will connect South Phoenix to downtown and other major hubs starting on June 7.
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.
Caltrans
Smith Gee Studio
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service