ESP 171 Urban and Regional Planning
Spring 2011
|
Lectures |
TTh 12:10 – 1:30
212
Veihmeyer – note room change! |
|
Sections |
W 1:10 – 2:00 251 Olson W 3:10 – 4:00 293 Kerr W 4:10 – 5:00 113 Hoagland |
|
Instructor |
Office: 2130 Wickson Hall Office hours: TTh 2:30 – 4:00 pm or by
appointment e-mail: slhandy@ucdavis.edu |
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Teaching Assistant |
Bryan Pon Office hours:
W 10-12, 2-3 |
Go to...
Course objectives
Syllabus and assignments
Schedule of topics and readings
Other resources – including sources for
paper ideas
News Flash
Park or Ride: A Bike Lane Divides Brooklyn – NPR News,
5/20/11
Blighted Areas now a California Budget Battleground –
Sunday Morning Edition, NPR, 5/15/11
Palo Alto sued over Cal Ave streetscape plan – Palo Alto
Online, 4/13/11 - good example of using CEQA to fight a project
(Note: California Avenue is home to Palo Alto Sol,
Mexican food worth a 2 hour drive from Davis!)
Cities Versus Suburbs is the Wrong Debate – The New
Republic, 4/20/11
Free Parking isn’t Free – from WorldChanging, August 2009 –
but relevant to the Zoning lecture on 4/14
A Buck Saves Historic House from Demolition – “urban
homesteading” program in Buffalo, WKBW news, 4/13/11
An Odd Challenge for Planners:
How to Shrink a City – New York Times, 4/6/11
Rural Wyoming County’s Air Quality Rivals L.A. – Morning
Edition, NPR, 4/5/11
New Zoning Fad Creates Old Time Business Districts – On
Form-Based Codes, Marketplace, NPR, 4/4/11
Star Architect’s Civic Center Design Divides California City
– New York Times, 3/31/11
200th Birthday for the Map That Made New York –
New York Times, 3/20/11
Planetizen’s Top 10 Planning Websites of 2011 – March 2011
“How to meet the needs of more people in California, while
at the same time respecting fundamental limits on our tax dollars and natural
resources is one of the inexorable challenges we face.”
-
Edmund G. Brown Jr., Governor, 1978
Although
the economic recession has slowed population growth in California, the state
added 350,000 new residents between July 1, 2009 and July 1, 2010, according to
the Department of Finance. Projections
suggest that California will add 10 million residents in the next 20 years,
reaching as many as 60 million residents by 2050. The fastest growth has been and is expected
to continue in the Central Valley, the Sierra foothills, and the Inland Empire
of Southern California. If development
continues according to recent patterns, 45,000 acres of open land will be
urbanized each year, according to the 2003 Governor’s Environmental Goals and
Policy Report.
This
growth will exacerbate current problems associated with our existing
population: vehicle travel is growing
faster than population, over 90% of Californians currently breathe unhealthy
air, water supplies are unreliable and diminishing, increased impervious cover
is degrading water quality, native vegetation important for biodiversity has
been lost, habitat quality has been degraded, and the number of endangered
animal and plant species in the state has increased. How population growth in California is
accommodated will determine how much worse such problems will get: the future of our cities and the future of
our environment are inextricably linked.
This
course explores the ways in which cities plan for growth and asks how cities
can shape their future in a way that minimizes the harm to the environment
while also meeting the needs of their residents. The course will introduce students to
standard city planning tools (the general plan, zoning ordinances), as well as
innovative tools that cities are using to manage their growth in an
environmentally sensitive way. The focus
of the course is on planning requirements and practices in California, though
examples from elsewhere in the U.S. will also be considered. The relationships between local, state, and
federal policy will also be considered. The
objective of the course is for students to acquire a basic understanding of
local and regional planning with respect to law, policy, and practice.
Syllabus and Assignments
Syllabus
NEW: Writing Memos
ESP171 Exercise 1 Bike Tour Map – in Google My Maps
Planning terms – Things to look for on your tour
How to create a My Map in Google Maps
A list of city general plans in California with links to
websites
A guide to the American
Community Survey from the Census Bureau
Wildhorse Ranch proposal and EIR – Davis project
Essay
1 due 5/10: Essay Topic 1 – To Grow or Not
To Grow
Essay
2 due 5/17: Pick one of the following
two topics:
Essay Topic 2 –
Risky Redevelopment Business
Essay Topic 3 –
Eminent Domain Games
Topic due Thursday, 5/19 by noon via
SmartSite
Draft due Tuesday, 5/24 in class –
bring 2 copies to class for peer-review in section on 5/25
Final paper due Tuesday, 5/31 at
noon via SmartSite
Guide to Citations - be sure
you're following these guidelines!
Examples
of planning-related White Papers (ignore fancy formatting):
Individual articles in the Energy
Aware Planning Guide (warning: this is a big file!)
Research summaries and briefs from the Active Living Research
program
Schedule of Topics and
The
textbook for the course is William Fulton and Paul Shigley’s "Guide to
California Planning," third edition, published by Solano Press Books in
2005. The chapters listed in the schedule refer to chapters in this
book. Other readings are available below.
Additional resources and references are also provided below.
|
Date |
Day |
Topic Powerpoint Notes |
Assigned
Readings |
Reference
material Items of
interest |
|
3/29 |
Tues |
Introduction |
Chapter 1 “The
Next 100 Million” – Planning Mag “The
Megapolitans” – Planning Mag |
For reference: “Just the Facts” on California’s Population For reference: The
Governor’s Strategic Growth Plan |
|
3/30 |
Wed |
Section: Introductions |
|
|
|
3/31 |
Thurs |
The basis for planning |
Chapter 3 “Green
Manhattan” – The New Yorker “Healthy
Cities” – Planning Mag |
As seen in class: Koyaanisqatsi: Life out of Balance - see Wikipedia
entry for more information. Of interest: Blog on recent
trip to Pruitt Igoe site. As seen in class: Charley in
New Town on You Tube Of interest: Village Homes For fun: The
Levittown Historical Society |
|
4/5 |
Tues |
Who does what |
“California
Planning Guide” – pp. 2 Chapters 4 and 5 “California’s
Aerial Combat” – Planning Mag |
Extra: Animated map
of City of Davis annexations over time For fun:
California Carbon Calculator |
|
4/6 |
Wed |
Section: The City
|
|
As seen in class: The City
available through the Prelinger Archives |
|
4/7 |
Thurs |
Vision |
“California
Planning Guide” – pp. 3-5 Chapter 6 |
Extra: City
of Brea General Plan For reference: California Planning, Zoning, and Development Law 2010 |
|
4/12 |
Tues |
Planning in practice Guest
speaker – Karl Mohr, UC Davis |
The West Village Neighborhood Plan – UC Davis |
|
|
4/13 |
Wed |
Section: Intro to the U.S. Census |
|
|
|
4/14 |
Thurs |
Implementation 1 |
“California
Planning Guide” – pp. 5-9 Chapters 7 and 8 |
For reference: General Plan Guidelines –
Chapter 9 For reference: See
Wikipedia entry on Homeowners
Associations |
|
4/19 |
Tues |
Implementation 2 |
Chapter 12 “Silicon
Valley South” – Planning Mag “Green
Grow the Buildings” – Planning Mag “Savannah
Take the LEED” – Planning Mag |
For reference: The Planner's
Guide to Specific Plans Extra: Regulating
Code for Central Hercules Plan Extra: West Sacramento Triangle Specific Plan Extra: Petaluma
Downtown Specific Plan and Smart Code Extra: Colonias
FAQs |
|
4/20 |
Wed |
Section: Census lab |
|
|
|
4/21 |
Thurs |
Planning in practice Guest
Speaker – Tom Pace, City of Sacramento |
“Form-Based Codes: Implementing Smart Growth” - LGC “Zoning a
la carte” – Planning Mag “The
Not so Secret Code” – Planning Mag “Saving
the World through Zoning” – Planning Mag |
For reference: City of Sacramento 2030 General
Plan, plus EIR |
|
4/26 |
Tues |
CEQA |
Chapter 9 “California
Planning Guide” – p. 9-12 “Fighting
CEQA with CEQA” – Planning Mag |
For reference: General Plan Guidelines, Chapter 7 Extra: Clover Valley
Foundation in Rocklin – issues over developer-led EIR Extra: Interview
with Marilyn Jasper of Clover Valley Foundation Extra: SF Bike Plan EIR story Extra: Planetizen
Podcast of a discussion on the impact of CEQA on planning in |
|
4/27 |
Wed |
Midterm
review |
|
|
|
4/28 |
Thurs |
Planning in practice Guest
speaker – Trevor Macenski, Michael Brandon Associates |
Catch-up! |
|
|
5/3 |
Tues |
MIDTERM – Bring ScanTron card! |
|
|
|
5/4 |
Wed |
Section:
“The Unforeseen” |
|
Extra: The
Unforeseen website with background on the film and trailer |
|
5/5 |
Thurs |
Growth management |
Chapters 11 and 13 “Exploring
the No Growth Option” – Planning Mag “Right-sizing Urban Growth Boundaries” – Planning Map |
Extra: DavisWiki
on Measure J Extra: DavisWiki on
Covell Village Extra: DavisWiki on Target Extra: Portland
Metro UGB website |
|
5/10 |
Tues |
Encouraging development within boundaries 1 |
Chapters 17 and 18 “A
Redevelopment Revolution” – Planning Mag “Re-Forming
Regulations” – Planning Mag “Leading
the Parade” – Planning Mag |
For reference: EPA’s
Brownfield website For reference: Extra: Tejon Ranch Website Extra: Transbay Transit Center
website Extra: Santana
Row website |
|
5/11 |
Wed |
Section –
discussion/problem |
|
|
|
5/12 |
Thurs |
Encouraging development within boundaries 2 |
Chapter 15 “From
Blight to All Right” – Planning Mag “Neighborhood
Power” – Planning Mag “Round
3 for Eminent Domain” – Planning Mag “Fixing
Foreclosure” – Planning Mag |
Extra: California’s
Secret Government – City Journal, Spring 2011 Extra: Redevelopment:
Worth Fighting For! On YouTube For fun: Mark
Fiore cartoon short “Eminent
Domination” For reference: California Redevelopment
Association |
|
5/17 |
Tues |
Planning in practice Guest
speaker – Lisa Baker, Yolo County Housing |
Catch-up! |
|
|
5/18 |
Wed |
Section –
discussion/problem |
|
|
|
5/19 |
Thurs |
Matching
growth to infrastructure |
Chapters 19 and 10 |
Example: Traffic and Circulation Chapter of Covell Village DEIR |
|
5/24 |
Tues |
Using infrastructure
to manage growth BRING
COPIES OF DRAFT PAPER |
Chapter 20 “Blueprint
for a Valley” – Planning Mag “Breaking
with the Past” – Planning Mag |
For reference: SACOG website For reference: ”Smart
Growth and the Transportation-Land Use Connection” For reference: Federal
Transportation Policy and the Role of Metropolitan Planning Organizations in
California |
|
5/25 |
Wed |
Section – Peer reviews of papers |
||
|
5/26 |
Thurs |
Protecting ag land Guest Speaker
– David Morrison, Yolo County |
“Farmersville
California” – Planning Mag “Wine Wars”
– Planning Mag |
For reference: California Farmland Conversion Report For reference: Summary of farmland protection tools |
|
5/31 |
Tues |
Natural Resource Protection PAPER DUE |
Chapter 23 “California’s Urban Protected Areas” “The
Coachella Valley Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan” – Environmental
Management “Western
Riverside County Multiple Species Plan” – APA California Planner |
For fun: "The
Unforeseen" website and trailer For reference: Riverside County Integrated
Project - HCP For reference: The Land
Use - Air Quality Linkage from CARB |
|
6/1 |
Wed |
Section – Review for final |
|
|
|
6/2 |
Thurs |
Hazards Planning Course wrap-up and evaluations Class 13 Powerpoint |
Chapters 22 and 24 “All Choked
Up” – Planning Mag “All Fired
Up” – Planning Mag “Living
in Earthquake Country” – Planning Mag |
For reference: General Plan Guidelines - Chapter 10 and Safety Element
in Chapter 4 For reference: Public
Policy Institute of Getting to 2025: Can California Meet the Challenges? California’s Future: In Your Hands Special Survey on Californians and the Future Of interest: JFK's speech at UC Berkeley March 1962 |
|
6/4 |
Sat |
FINAL Option 1: Available on
SmartSite and Website at 10:15 am; due via SmartSite by 12:45 pm Option 2: Sent via email
at 8:00 am; due via SmartSite by 10:30 am; you must sign up for Option 2 by Friday at 10am! |
Have a great summer! |
For fun: The
periodic table of planning |
Sign up for Planetizen,
a weekly catalogue of newspaper and webpage articles addressing current
planning issues. This is a great way to
learn about what’s going on in the field, and might give you ideas for paper
topics.
The Local Government
Commission, based in
For ideas on solutions for your third paper, check the
"planning opportunities" section of the Energy
Aware Planning Guide - lots of good ideas, information, and examples on all
kinds of planning strategies.
(Caution: This one takes awhile
to load.)
The Top
10 Land Use Stories of 2007 for
Good References
Smart Growth
America and the Smart Growth Network also have lots of good resources on
techniques that cities are using to address issues related to growth. See these reports on the impacts of sprawl
and the benefits of smart growth:
-
“Measuring Sprawl and Its Impacts” – Smart Growth
-
“Endangered
by Sprawl” – Smart Growth
-
“Energy and Smart Growth” - Funders Network
-
“Protecting
Water Resources With Smart Growth” – Environmental Protection Agency.
The Governor’s Office
of Planning and Research is the place to go for information on state laws
and policies related to planning. Their
website hosts several key publications on planning in
See also the California
Land Use Planning Information Network, a project of CERES (California Environmental
Resources Evaluation System).
The
Local Government
Commission promotes innovative
planning practices in
There’s also
the Institute
for Local Self Government. The mission of this institute, a branch of
the League of California Cities, is to “serve as a source of independent research and information that
supports and improves the development of public policy on behalf of
Visit the Environment and Natural Resources page of the Welcome to
Information on the Williamson
Act from the State's Division of Land Resource Protection - California's
innovative program for preserving agricultural lands.
Non-profit organizations play a crucial role in efforts to conserve land in
Interesting
Stuff
Cyberbia,
"the urban planning portal," has links to all kinds of planning
related things. This is a good place to get to know what's going on in
the field and to find links to useful resources.
The American Planning Association
is another good place to go to find out what planning is all about. Check
out the website for the California
Chapter.
Thinking
about graduate programs in city planning?
Check out the Guide to Graduate and Undergraduate Programs in Urban and
Regional Planning, published by the Association of
Collegiate Schools of Planning. A News and World Report article on “what is an urban planner?”.
The Long Range Development Plan for the UC Davis campus is fun
to take a look at, especially the Neighborhood Master Plan for West
Village.
A project of the USGS and others looking at historical patterns of growth in the Central
Valley.
An interesting report from the California
Institute of Public Affairs on California's
Urban Protected Areas.
The
Green Vision Plan – a partnership of Southern California’s state land conservancies and the University
of Southern California’s Center for Sustainable Cities and GIS Research
Laboratory to create a visionary plan and practical planning tools to promote
habitat conservation, watershed health and recreational open space.
Cast your vote for McMansions using the Austin
Chronicle’s Bloat-o-Meter.
Curbed LA is
an entertaining blog on the LA sense of place.
See page on McMansion Envy.
An overview of Davis City Planning going back to 1925.
A
CNN special on New Urbanism vs. Sprawl
– with arguments on both sides.
Return to Department of Environmental Science and Policy
Return to Susan Handy's home page