California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
Report: California Should Treat Housing Crisis like Climate Change
The California Apartment Association released a report on what it will take to solve the state's chronic housing shortage. Cities that are loath to permit new residential developments, both affordable and market rate, will not be pleased.
San Francisco Rejects Environmental Review for Lack of Gentrification Analysis
In what could be a first, but potential not a last, the power of the California Environmental Quality Act was invoked in San Francisco with regard to concerns about gentrification.
Proposed California Law Could Fast Track CEQA Litigation for Large Developments
A bill moving through the California Legislature, SB 734, would extend the reach of legislation from 2011 that benefitted the defunct Farmers Field football stadium in downtown Los Angeles.
San Jose Sharks Invoke CEQA to Protect Arena Parking
Another "only-in-California" story.
Why It Makes Sense for Developers to Go to the Ballot Box in California
It may seem understandable for developers to resort to the ballot box after encountering difficulty with a planning commission or city council, but in California it makes sense even for cities like Moreno Valley that are friendly to new development.
California Environmental Law Continues to Frustrate Bike Planning (for Now)
Help is on the way. The law that requires the governor's planning office to devise an alternative method for measuring vehicle traffic for environmental compliance will also take up where an earlier law that exempted bike lanes from CEQA left off.
Southern California Association of Governments Stalling on CEQA Reform
One of the largest, most influential regional governments in the state has asked for exemptions from changes to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) that will measure Vehicle Miles Travelled (VMT) instead of Level of Service (LOS).
Another California Columnist Rails Against CEQA Abuse by NIMBYs
With the help of housing experts, San Francisco Chronicle columnist Chip Johnson points to abuse of the California Environmental Quality Act by NIMBYs as one of the main reasons for the Bay Area's housing crisis. Ethan Elkind offers an opposing view.
San Francisco Leading CEQA Reform Process—Scraps Level of Service
The San Francisco Planning Commission took historic action earlier this month, voting to end the use of Level of Service in environmental review.
Environmental Groups Sue to Stop Sprawl in the Inland Empire
On the fringes of the built environment in Southern California, comes a turn of events much more common in the urban core: the California Environmental Quality Act has been invoked to put the brakes on a general plan update.
Report: Coastal Los Angeles Will Likely Remain Unaffordable
Los Angeles home prices have long since skyrocketed above median income. A report by the Legislative Analyst's Office shows how difficult it would be to build L.A. out of its predicament.
Pasadena Ditches 'Level of Service' Review for Multi-Modal Measurements
Pasadena got out in front of the state of California this week by replacing "level of service" with a more holistic, less car-centric, set of standards for review under the California Environmental Quality Act.
Keeping Cities in the Dark
There's a third dimension to sprawl: all those photons that emanate from street lights, houses, and vehicles. As author Paul Bogard discusses in The End of Night, light pollution is an overlooked menace that presents a new frontier for planners.
So Why Doesn't CEQA Change?
Developers, public officials and others complain about the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). But the law doesn't change because everyone—even developers and public agencies—has something to gain from the leverage it offers.
Staying Vigilant on Level of Service Reform
The Natural Resources Defense Council's (NRDC) Switchboard blog chimes in on the potential benefits of California's ongoing reform of Level of Service (LOS) review.
The Many Benefits of 'Level of Service' Reform
A long read by Eric Jaffe serves as a primer on the "Level of Service" (LOS) requirement in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), as well as predicting the large impact of LOS reform on planning in the state and around the country.
California Governor's CEQA Reform Efforts: Doomed from the Start?
As calls for reforming California's oft-abused environmental law increase, opponents are digging in their heels in anticipation of Governor Jerry Brown's effort to revise the law to ease approval processes, reports Evan Halper.
To Reform CEQA, Return to its Roots
Rick Cole, the former City Manager of Ventura, California, and a well-known civic leader in Southern California, defends the need for CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) while calling for returning to the law's key roots.
Is CEQA Really to Blame for Preventing Infill Development?
According to new figures from California's Annual Planning Survey, the state's environmental law is low on the list of barriers to infill development, writes Ethan Elkind.
CEQA Reform May Solve California's Ethical Dilemma
Former California governors and Southern California Leadership Council members George Deukmejian, Pete Wilson and Gray Davis discuss the necessity of modernizing one of the state's oldest environmental laws in order to protect the state's economy.
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.
Jessamine County Fiscal Court
Caltrans
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
