After a $1.3 million campaign, residents of Pacifica, California rejected a developer's proposal for a new hotel, shopping center, and residential community master planned by Duany Plater-Zyberk. But the developer's not giving up yet.
An 87-acre former quarry in the coastal town of tract homes and homes about 10 miles south of San Francisco was purchased by Peebles Corp. last year as the proposed site for a 350-room hotel, 355 housing units, and a shopping center at the Quarry.
A 1983 ballot measure, though, requires a vote of the people before any housing is allowed on the property, which is zoned for commercial use. Undaunted, Peebles hired DPZ and spent millions of dollars to try and win local support for the project. Ultimately, residents rejected the proposed due to traffic and environmental concerns.
"Officials from the firm will now go back to the drawing board and come up with a plan that conforms to the local zoning code: 'We'll be shaping a project to include a major hotel and a retail use, which could be an outlet store or big-box retail. We're interviewing consultants and joint-venture partners.' "
Some opponents of the original plan now say "Peebles had threatened to put a Wal-Mart in the Quarry if his plans for a hotel and residential development were defeated."
FULL STORY: Las Palmas developer generating ire in California

San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.

Has President Trump Met His Match?
Doug Ford, the no-nonsense premier of Canada's most populous province, Ontario, is taking on Trump where it hurts — making American energy more expensive.

Study: London ULEZ Rapidly Cleaning up Air Pollution
Expanding the city’s ultra low-emission zone has resulted in dramatic drops in particle emissions in inner and outer London.

San Jose Mayor Takes Dual Approach to Unsheltered Homeless Population
In a commentary published in The Mercury News, Mayor Matt Mahan describes a shelter and law enforcement approach to ending targeted homeless encampments within Northern California's largest city.

Atlanta Changes Beltline Rail Plan
City officials say they are committed to building rail connections, but are nixing a prior plan to extend the streetcar network.

Are Black Mayors Being Pushed Out of Office?
The mayors of New York, St. Louis, and Pittsburgh all stand to lose their seats in the coming weeks. They also all happen to be Black.
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.
Resource Assistance for Rural Environments
City of Edmonds
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research