In her Sacramento Bee column, Diana Griego Erwin advocatesadhering to urban growth boundaries in efforts to curb sprawl.
Erwinrejects the assumption that all open space eventually will be developed,and thus also rejects the argument put forth by some developers for"responsible" growth before a more destructive development takes overthe open space. Erwin highlights the proposed Deer Creek Hillsdevelopment in Sacramento County in which an upscale, gated communityfor seniors was rejected by county officials after extensive reviewbecause it was outside of the urban growth boundary, raising questionssurrounding traffic, police protection, and environmental concerns.Despite taxpayers' investment in paying experts and officials to studythe feasibility of the project, developer C.C. Myers has put the projectto countywide vote under Measure O; Erwin notes that voters will havefinal say on the project, most of whom will not have read any of thereports analyzing the project.
Thanks to California 2000 Project
FULL STORY: Diana Griego Erwin: O, California! Is this our future
Manufactured Crisis: Losing the Nation’s Largest Source of Unsubsidized Affordable Housing
Manufactured housing communities have long been an affordable housing option for millions of people living in the U.S., but that affordability is disappearing rapidly. How did we get here?
Americans May Be Stuck — But Why?
Americans are moving a lot less than they once did, and that is a problem. While Yoni Applebaum, in his highly-publicized article Stuck, gets the reasons badly wrong, it's still important to ask: why are we moving so much less than before?
Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.
California's Canal Solar Projects Aim to Conserve Resources and Expand Clean Energy
California’s Project Nexus has begun generating electricity from solar panels installed over irrigation canals, with researchers and state agencies exploring statewide expansion to conserve water and boost clean energy production.
HHS Staff Cuts Gut Energy Assistance Program
The full staff of a federal program that distributes heating and cooling assistance for low-income families was laid off, jeopardizing the program’s operations.
San Antonio Remains Affordable as City Grows
The city’s active efforts to keep housing costs down through housing reforms and coordinated efforts among city agencies and developers have kept it one of the most affordable in the nation despite its rapid population growth.
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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.
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Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
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