With the explosion of the super-affluent class from theSilicon Valley, Carmel, Sonoma and Truckee have seen a sharp increase inhousing costs as dot-commers are buying second and third houses in theseareas.
With the explosion of the super-affluent class from theSilicon Valley, Carmel, Sonoma and Truckee have seen a sharp increase inhousing costs as dot-commers are buying second and third houses in theseareas. Residents complain that it has changed the character of the smalltowns, with monster mansions replacing small cottages, and homes leftempty for a good part of the time. The surge of development has alsoleft a shortage of affordable housing, according to Greenbelt AllianceNorth Bay field representative AnnaLis Dalrymple. Dalrymple alsosuggests that putting pressure on local officials for strategic planningmay help the towns accommodate growth without compromising theircharacter.
Thanks to California 2000 Project
FULL STORY: A Rising Tide

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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.
Economic & Planning Systems, Inc.
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research