Housing Element Challenges and Opportunities in the SB 375 EraBy: Greg Konar, AICP, Konar Associates and John Douglas, AICP, J.H. Douglas & Associates
SB 375 ushers in a new era for the housing element update process. The primary goals are to align transportation and land use planning through a coordinated set
of actions designed to support compact development, reduce greenhouse gas (GhG) emissions, and achieve the state’s housing goals as expressed through state housing element law and the Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA). Changes to state housing element law include an extension of the housing element cycle from five to eight years to coincide with the update of the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) and a requirement that both the RHNA and RTP be consistent with the Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS) – the essential land use/transportation link provided by SB 375 . In turn, the SCS must be shown to accommodate the RHNA.
REGIONAL HOUSING NEEDS ASSESSMENT (RHNA)
Jurisdictions within San Diego County will be the first in the state to update their housing elements under SB 375. The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) is currently in the process of preparing the RHNA and the local jurisdictions’ housing allocations – a process that involves consultation with the local jurisdictions and the state Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). The final RTP, SCS, and RHNA are expected to be adopted by SANDAG in July 2011. Under SB 375, local jurisdictions are required to complete the housing element update process within 18 months after adoption of the RTP, or January 2013 .
The RHNA establishes goals for ensuring that adequate sites are available for the production of residential units during the new planning period. Each jurisdiction’s allocation of the region’s housing need is divided into four income categories based on the area (county) median income (AMI). Units are allocated to the very-low, low, and moderate, and above-moderate income categories . While the above moderate income units are not affordable to lower and moderate income households, these units are still important to the overall housing supply.
SITES INVENTORY
The linchpin between RHNA allocations and local land use planning is the “sites inventory.” In 2004 the state legislature adopted AB 2348, which added a requirement for housing elements to include a parcel-level inventory of vacant or underutilized sites with realistic potential for housing development during the planning period. If the sites
APA California 2010 Conference:Coast Canyon Crest, Elevating Sustainability This year’s state conference will be held in our hometown at the beautiful La Costa Resort and Spa, November 1-4, 2010. The state conference provides a variety of networking and educational opportunities. This year, the conference sessions are established along three distinct tracks: (1) Coast- Preserving Resources; Sustainable Built Environment(2) Canyon- Transportation; Economics of Land Use(3) Crest- Planning Law & Policy; Community Engagement; Professional DevelopmentAdditionally, the conference will offer sessions that appeal to the Young Planners Group (YPG), which are denoted with “YPG.” The conference offers something for everyone. All local planners are encouraged to partcipate. Register by September 10th to receive the Early Registration reduced rate. Click HERE for more information and to register today!! See Page 9 for a look into the Conference’s sustainability efforts.
AICP Exam Prep Roundtable September 8, 2010 -- See Page 12 for details.
August Luncheon & Community Farm TourAugust 26, 2010 -- Join us for the “Heartbreaking to Groundbreaking” Story of the New Roots Community Farm. Event includes a tour and panel discussion. Register Online now!
Next Generation Housing Elements: Meeting the Challenge of SB 375 (6.0 CM)September 23, 2010 -- The 2010-2020 housing element cycle for the Sandag region will be the first in the state to be coordinated with the Sustainable Communities Strategy (SCS) and Regional Transportation Plan (RTP). With the anticipated shift towards infill, mixed-use and TOD projects, housing elements could have a vital role to play. Join us for an in-depth exploration of the housing element process as it relates to the goals of SB 375. Register Online
48th IMCL Conference “True Urbanism: Planning Healthy, Child-Friendly ComunitiesOctober 17-21, 2010 in Charleston, SCCo-Organizers: City of Charleston & IMCL CouncilThe conference will focus on how to create healthy communities, and how to improve children’s health and development by improving the built environment. We can all benefit from living in a walkable, bikable neighborhood in a city of short distances; children especially need independent mobility on safe streets and daily access to nature and community. Register Online
San Diego Section Board MembersSection Director, Brooke Peterson, [email protected]
Section Director-Elect, Dan Wery, AICP 858.614.5081
~First Place ~Community Recognition - Little Italy Association
Innovation in Green Community Planning - Quarry Falls LEED-ND Pilot Program (Wallace Roberts & Todd)
Focused Issue Planning Award - Downtown San Diego Needs Assessment for Open Space, Parks, and
Recreational Opportunities (Centre City Development Corporation)
Best Practices Award - Designing for Smart Growth (SANDAG)
Education Project Award - Community Plan Preparation Manual (City of San Diego)
Neighborhood Planning Award - Coast Highway Vision and Strategic Plan (City of Oceanside)
Distinguished Leadership Award for Planning Firm, Department or Agency - San Diego County Regional
Airport Authority Airport Planning Department
Grassroots Initiative Award - Neighborhoods First Initiative (LISC)
~ Awards of Merit ~Innovation in Green Community Planning - Green Building Standards (City of Chula Vista)
Neighborhood Planning Award - San Marcos University District Project (RBF)
SDAPA 2010 Awards Ceremony
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inventory does not demonstrate adequate capacity commensurate with the RHNA, the housing element must include firm commitments to specific actions the jurisdiction will take to create additional capacity, such as through rezoning.
While jurisdictions are required to make a good faith effort to achieve the RHNA goals through zoning and implementation programs identified in the housing element, no penalty is imposed if actual construction falls short of the targets. Additionally, construction shortfalls are not carried over into the next housing element cycle as long as an adequate sites inventory is identified and program commitments are implemented. Recognizing that cities and counties do not actually build housing, state law focuses primarily on those things local jurisdictions have control over, i.e., ensuring the availability of sites with “adequate capacity” to accommodate the RHNA targets in each income category, appropriate land use regulations, and programmatic actions to encourage and facilitate housing development - particularly lower income housing development.
SITES INVENTORY AND HOUSING ELEMENT CERTIFICATION
Demonstrating the adequacy and viability of the vacant and underutilized sites inventory is critical to housing element certification. Housing element certification issues include a wide range of topics, but those involving the sites inventory are at the top of the list in terms of both frequency and difficulty in obtaining HCD approval. An analysis of the major issues identified by HCD during the 2005-2010 housing element cycle for the SANDAG region showed that the most frequent and “persistent” issue was “suitability and realistic capacity of underutilized sites” (see table below). Persistent issues were those remaining after the second round of HCD review.
“Realistic capacity” is a term used to assess whether parcels listed in the vacant or underutilized sites inventory are likely to be developed at the specified density and within the housing element planning period. Throughout the state, HCD has questioned the validity of sites inventories and required cities and counties to provide additional analysis to demonstrate that identified sites are adequate to meet RHNA targets.
Typical HCD comments include requests for additional analysis and supporting information on: the feasibility of developing “small sites” (under one acre), the “level of certainty” for achieving assumed unit yields on sites zoned for mixed-use, and historical documentation or market assessments to support the realistic capacities claimed in the inventory. It is up to each jurisdiction to document that the unit yield assumptions are realistic and not merely a function of the maximum allowable zoning density. Units that may be produced through density bonuses and inclusionary housing programs are often not eligible for RHNA credit.
HCD scrutiny is even greater for underutilized (nonvacant) sites which, by definition, are constrained by existing development. Jurisdictions are generally required to analyze a variety of site-specific factors that indicate potential suitability for
redevelopment. Indicators of suitability may include vacant buildings, low-value uses (e.g., pawn shops, used car sales lots), advanced age of existing structures, degraded condition of buildings, low site utilization/coverage, low improvement-to-land valuation ratio, good lot consolidation potential, and proximity to recent redevelopment activity.
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
It is likely that SB 375 will have a significant influence on the next RHNA process. More compact development and corresponding reductions in vehicle miles traveled (VMT) will be necessary in order for regional planning agencies like SANDAG to demonstrate conformance with GhG reduction targets. To ensure consistency with the RTP and SCS, it seems certain that the RHNA must allocate a higher proportion of growth to urban infill areas, much of which will fall within the underutilized sites inventory. However, recent experience has shown that HCD is much more likely to accept vacant “greenfield” sites zoned exclusively for
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Continued from Page 4housing than potential redevelopment sites, particularly those designated for mixed use.
In the next housing element cycle, the RHNA and housing element underutilized sites inventories present an excellent opportunity to identify sites that may qualify as “transit priority” projects, as defined by SB 375. In fact, the identification of potential transit priority project sites could become the fine-grain, parcel-level link between the RHNA and the RTP. Under SB 375, it is expected that the next RHNA will be weighted towards infill development opportunities in high-density, transit-rich areas, with good physical (or transit) proximity to existing employment centers. But unless there is a common understanding between HCD, regional planning organizations and local governments of what constitutes a “suitable site” for housing development, cities and counties may find themselves in a “Catch 22” situation when seeking state certification of their housing elements. A realignment of priorities and assumptions regarding “suitable
sites” may be needed if the goals of SB 375 are to be reflected in the region’s housing elements.
The underutilized land inventory could become the most useful contribution of housing elements in promoting compact land use and transit oriented development. But this is likely to happen only if the site inventories are coordinated with the land use/density assumptions underpinning the RHNA-SCS-RTP, are updated more frequently than once every housing element cycle, and are easily accessible to the real estate development industry, affordable housing sponsors, and the general public.
SANDAG has already developed a regional inventory of vacant and underutilized sites based on land use data collected for the 2050 Regional Growth Forecast that has been incorporated into a web-based interactive mapping and analysis tool called the REDI (Regional Economic Development Information) System. SANDAG’s REDI database goes beyond the typical land inventory analysis by assigning “market status” factors to each of the underutilized sites. Market “readiness” is a factor that is rarely considered in the site identification process, but it could help to explain why simply up-zoning parcels would not necessarily be the best response to a RHNA shortfall. The REDI inventory promises a tighter fit between a jurisdiction’s assigned RHNA and what is considered “realistically achievable” under state housing element law. It should also provide useful information for developers of infill sites and for local jurisdictions in preparing their housing element sites inventories. A new understanding between HCD, regional planning agencies and local governments regarding sites inventory assumptions could go a long way toward expediting both the housing element certification process and the land use goals of SB 375.
~Editor’s Note: On September 23, 2010, SDAPA will be hosting a full-day workshop titled: “Next Generation Housing Elements – Meeting the Challenge of SB 375”. At the workshop we will explore the RHNA update process, regional growth projections, RTP-SCS-RHNA coordination, HCD certification process, TOD and affordable housing success stories, the role of non-profit affordable housing developers and other topics related to housing in the SB 375 era. Housing consultant, John Douglas ([email protected]) will be one of the workshop panelists. For more information or to register, please visit the SDAPA website at www.sdapa.org.
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Congratulations to San Diego’s Newest AICP Members!Lawrence Harris
Rita MahoneyAntoinette Meier
Connie MoenJoshua Schiffer
Adam StephensenTImothy Swing
An Inside Look Into the I-5 North Coast Corridor Project, Part I By: Shay Lynn M. Harrison, Environmental Analysis Branch Chief, Caltrans
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As a gateway to San Diego County, the I-5 North Coast Corridor is one of the most traveled highways in the nation. It carries locals and visitors to attractions such as its six lagoons, world-renowned beaches, Legoland and Del Mar Fairgrounds, employment centers and communities. In this first part of a two-part feature, Ms. Harrison brings an inside look into the unique environmental planning efforts and elements of sustainability that have been implemented into the I-5 North Coast Corridor Improvement Project. Stay tuned for Part II, which will be published in the Fall Newsletter later this year and will focus on the project’s extensive community planning and outreach efforts. Introduction
On July 9, 2010, California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) officially released the Interstate 5 North Coast Corridor (I-5 NCC) Project Draft Environmental Impact Report/ Environmental Impact Statement (DEIR/EIS). This 4.3 billion dollar project spans 27 miles from near La Jolla Village Drive in San Diego to Harbor Boulevard in Oceanside. The project would add four High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes (HOV)/Managed Lanes, two lanes in each direction, four Direct Access Ramps (DARs), various auxiliary lanes, and possibly one general purpose lane in each direction. There are four Build alternatives and one No Build alternative. Additional project information, including the public meeting dates, is available on the project web site at www.keepsandiegomoving.com.
This project works within the vision of the region as approved by the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) through the Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) to provide an efficient and integrated system of transit, local roadways, highways, pedestrian, and bicycle facilities that facilitate the movement of people and goods within the I-5 North Coast Corridor. This corridor, including rail and freeway components, is a critical part of that 40-year vision. For rail riders, this includes expanding the low center rail line and double tracking to increase the frequency of trains. For freeway travelers, the project’s HOV/Managed Lanes will increase system reliability and decrease travel time due to reduced traffic congestion by including the tools and techniques to actively manage congestion through pricing, vehicle eligibility and access. This infrastructure encourages multi-modal travel (transit and carpools) and increases the flexibility necessary to provide choices now and in the future: as times change, as technologies change, and as land uses change.
This project’s scenic and protected environment makes it a challenging location to plan needed improvements that meet the transportation vision of accessibility and mobility in the
San Diego region. Sustainable environmental goals include improvements for water quality, reduction to greenhouse gases, and enhancing and maintaining natural resources. In addition, this project supports the regional economy by including goods movement and tourism enhancing objectives.
Population, goods movement, tourism, and the local economy in San Diego and the Southern California region create the project area’s traffic. Since the 1970’s, San Diego’s population has grown by nearly three times and job growth followed suit when nationally significant industries located here. In studying project alternatives, the Draft EIR/EIS identifies various environmental impacts and mitigations. I-5 is adjacent to a river valley system and six lagoons. These areas provide habitat for fish and endangered species and stopping points for migratory birds. Proposed mitigation measures include increasing tidal flows into the lagoons, improving water quality, facilitating wildlife crossings, and creating and restoring habitats. Opportunities for compensatory mitigation have been reviewed for all the watersheds along the I-5 corridor. To the extent practicable, compensatory mitigation will be completed in each watershed; however, there may be more opportunities in some watersheds compared to those where extensive restoration projects have already taken place. Coastal lagoon habitats are a focus area for wetland mitigation and coastal sage scrub (CSS) occupied by California gnatcatcher are priorities for acquisition and restoration.
Along with Caltrans and FHWA’s proposed mitigation, Caltrans, in partnership with SANDAG, has prepared the Environmental Mitigation Plan (EMP) and the Public Works Plan/Transportation and Resource Enhancement Program (PWP/TREP). The EMP funding allocation category, created by the TransNet Extension Ordinance and Expenditure Plan (the voter approved half-cent sales tax for local transportation projects) mitigates habitat impacts for regional transportation projects by funding allocation for habitat acquisition, management, and monitoring activities. The PWP/TREP identifies and implements transportation, community and resource enhancement projects in a comprehensive and coordinated manner to meet the region’s mobility vision through 2030 while ensuring compliance with the California Coastal Act. By providing the planning, analytical, and implementation mechanism to address improvements throughout the corridor as a system, the PWP/TREP will address Coastal Act permitting requirements and provide the Coastal Commission the necessary information to make a consistency determination for the project.
Overview of Mitigation Efforts
The DEIR/EIS. PWP/TREP and EMP help Caltrans to analyze the
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corridor to identify restoration and creation opportunities. These opportunities will address impacts to highway improvements and can address impacts to rail improvements that would benefit the transportation system and environment as a whole. Mitigation measures include improvements to
water quality and the habitat of the lagoon environments.
Caltrans and FHWA discussed regionally important mitigation in the I-5 corridor with the resource agencies. Large restoration projects have already been completed at Batiquitos and Agua Hedionda Lagoons and another restoration project is currently underway at the San Dieguito Lagoon. Large-scale restoration projects are planned for San Elijo and Buena Vista Lagoons. Caltrans has been working with the cities and resource agencies to help move these two restoration projects forward by assisting in planning efforts and partially funding some of the technical studies. Caltrans and the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and other agencies are discussing plans to implement the restoration of the San Elijo and Buena Vista Lagoons.
The I-5 NCC Project proposes to remove and rebuild all overcossings to accommodate the proposed freeway widening, which affords Caltrans the chance to assess the bridges in the corridor. Pedestrians and bicycle facilities can be added and improved, and the waterway crossings can be lengthened or enhanced. In addition to the regionally important lagoon mitigation, Caltrans funded a study to examine all aspects of lagoon hydrology (tidal and freshwater) and propose bridge designs that would minimize tidal muting east of I-5 and lead to the possible enhancement of the existing wetlands.
San Elijo Lagoon Restoration
San Elijo Lagoon is one of the last lagoons within northern San Diego County that has not undergone major restoration project. Currently, the City of Encinitas, US Army Corps of
Engineers (ACOE), USFWS, California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG), County of San Diego, and the San Elijo Lagoon Conservancy are working to complete a Draft EIR/EIS for the lagoon’s restoration. This project includes restoration of the hydrological regime and the marsh habitat that is being converted from mudflats and low marsh to middle and high marsh. As a part of the I-5 NCC project efforts, Caltrans has worked with the lagoon restoration stakeholders to determine the optimal bridge opening at I-5 at the San Elijo Lagoon. The bridge opening would likely be lengthened from 131 feet to 262 feet, which would provide benefits such as enhanced freshwater flows and decreased tidal muting effects for this lagoon. Where tides are muted or restricted, the periods of inundation are altered and the range of tides are reduced.
Additionally, Caltrans is contributing funds to the remainder of the San Elijo Restoration project, including building a new inlet on Coast Highway 101, south of “Restaurant Row” in Cardiff by the Sea. Although the restoration project would not create a large quantity of wetlands, it would enhance all lagoon functions and decrease muting effects on tidal ranges. Caltrans has already funded hydraulic studies to facilitate the development of the restoration documents. This large regional restoration project would greatly enhance coastal lagoon habitat, particularly pertaining to mud flats, which are relatively rare within the region. Without the restoration project the lagoon would continue to fill in from sedimentation and wetland habitat would be lost. In addition, upland slopes around the proposed DAR at Manchester Avenue would be planted with CSS to help mitigate for upland impacts.
Buena Vista Lagoon
The Buena Vista Lagoon Foundation and Technical Advisory Committee (BVTAC) is currently pursuing a restoration project for the Buena Vista Lagoon. The BVTAC considered a range of alternatives, which assessed three different hydraulic regimes including keeping all freshwater (no action), creating a mixture of saltwater and freshwater, or opening up tidal flushing
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to convert Buena Vista Lagoon to all saltwater. The BVTAC decided to pursue the all saltwater habitat alternative and will complete a Draft EIR/EIS for environmental compliance. This restoration project will require modifying the inlet from the ocean, modifying a bridge at I-5 and other restoration activities. This will require the potential purchase of a number of privately held parcels within and on the perimeter of the lagoon. Caltrans is currently working with the CDFG and the BVTAC to identify these parcels and the steps necessary to purchase them. This mitigation effort would help the overall health of the lagoons and coastal systems without requiring large acres of habitat
creation.
San Dieguito River Valley
Caltrans, in cooperation with the San Dieguito River Valley Joint Powers Authority, is proposing to implement the creation of approximately 40 acres of coastal salt marsh adjacent to the large restoration project in San Dieguito Lagoon. The creation of this coastal salt marsh area would satisfy the no net loss of wetlands requirement. Additionally, approximately 17.2 acres of upland habitat would be created along the berms around the wetland and in a native grassland floodplain area adjacent to the wetland. A proposed plan has already been reviewed and found to be hydraulically compatible with the larger restoration
project in San Dieguito Lagoon. Trail enhancements propose to improve access to the coastline and its public beaches, lagoons, transit stations, and neighborhoods.
Public Participation
Caltrans has made the features of the I-5 NCC Project possible by seeking public input. Since 2001, Caltrans has sought coordination with the general public and various public agencies as part of the environmental review process. This participation has been accomplished through a variety of formal and informal methods reaching various stakeholders including meetings with service groups, Homeowners Associations, business organizations, local communities and planning groups, Chambers of Commerce and City Councils, in addition to local politician-sponsored meetings in an effort to update interested parties and the public on the status of the project. In addition, considerable coordination has occurred with the resource and regulatory agencies throughout the environmental review process. The regulatory agencies include: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS); U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE); U.S. Coast Guard (USCG); National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA/NMFS); California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG); Regional Water Quality Control Board – Region 9 (RWQCB); California Coastal Commission (CCC); the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO); Native American Tribes; the Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC); Camp Pendleton and the Cities of San Diego; Del Mar; Solana Beach; Encinitas; Carlsbad; and Oceanside.
This innovative project could not be accomplished without the support of: the Corridor Director, Allan Kossup; the Project Manager, Arturo Jocabo; Chief, Stewardship Branch, Bruce April; Biologist Sue Scatolini, and countless others here at Caltrans, FHWA and the public agencies that partnered with us.
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Recent ProgramsSan Diego APA Awards Ceremony - Little Italy Walking TourBy; Asha Saunders, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP, Dudek
A “Little” Background
San Diego APA’s Little Italy Walking Tour was held prior to the Awards Ceremony and provided a fascinating look into the planning and design features of this unique neighborhood through the eyes of Marco Li Mandri. Interestingly, our San Diego Little Italy is bigger, in square blocks, than San Francisco’s, St. Louis’s, and New York’s combined. LiMandri explains that of the 13 Little Italy’s within the US, ours is the only one that has grown. Marco LiMandri runs the Little Italy Association and his business, New City America. He is a firm believer in local neighbors having a direct say in how their neighborhood taxes are spent; thus, the creation of Little Italy’s Maintenance Assessment District (MAD). A MAD provides a legal mechanism by which property owners can vote to assess themselves to pay and receive services above-and-beyond what the City normally provides. MADs have gained their name from what used to be known as Landscape Maintenance Districts (LMDs) or Lighting and Landscape Maintenance Districts (LLMDs). However, as many districts now include much more than just landscape and lighting, the name has appropriately been changed. Passionate about creating vibrant, colorful, walkable communities, LiMandri works to establish such assessment districts throughout California. The Little Italy MAD was formed in 2000. It started with $85,000 and now generates an astonishing $850,000 per year.
Il Tour
As LiMandri directed us through the streets of the charming Italian neighborhood, he discussed the distinct features that have made it what it is today. An assessment methodology for new development was established to evaluate standards such as linear frontage, lot size, building square footage and
building use. A design review was added to avoid the placement of unseemly buildings. Additionally, CCDC set guidelines for Floor Area Ratio (FAR) and imposed requirements for mixed use development along the main road, India Street.
Our walk began at the one-mile marker, which distinguishes the start of a walking path that cleverly avoids having to cross any traffic signals. LiMandri points out the wonderfully landscaped streets and colorful planters, many of which resulted from a beautification project that LiMadri teamed up with Nancy Graham of Center City Development Corporation (CCDC) to complete.
As a part of the beautification effort, Little Italy was successfully awarded a quarter million dollars for planter pots; the existing maintenance budget helped to physically complete the improvements. As we continued our stroll, we noticed that everything, even trash cans, appeared to proudly read the label “Little Italy”. This branding can be seen as a symbol of the community’s pride, LiMandri explains.
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“Public spaces are critical” Limadri says, “remember the street is also a public space, but it’s just dedicated to cars.” One prominent public space is Palazzo Bellagio, which was created to encourage a sense of safety and allow community members to mix and mingle with one another; see Figure below.
As we continued to stroll down India Street, taking in the magnificent smells of authentic Italian fare. LiMandri explained that many restaurants, such as Cafe Zucchero and Mona Lisa, are family owned and operated, and some have been in business for 30-60 years. A delightful surprise awaited us as we neared a new restaurant that has quickly become one of Little Italy’s finest, Landini’s Pizzeria. Complimentary slices of Italian-stlye pizza were gratiously donated by the Florentine owner, Mr. Leonardo Landini and his wife Christine; see Firgure to the right. As they welcomed us in, LiMandri continued to express the importance of grand sidewalks to allow for
restaurants such as these to extend patios onto the sidewalk areas. This element has been a critical component of Little Italy’s revitalization and will continue to play an important role. LiMandri proclaimed his desire for the sidewalks to be further extended in an effort to make India Street exclusive for pedestrians in the future.
We ended our tour at the Piazza Basilione, which was established in 2001 to pay tribute to the “boys that never came home” from all of the wars of the 20th century. A beautiful fountain stands as the focal peice of this unique public plazza located at the souther corner of Fir and India. The historic tribute to Sergeant John Basilione, a great Italian American soldier and winner of the Navy Cross and Congressional Medal of Honor, demonstrates the appreciation of San Diego’s relationship with the Navy and Marines. Furthermore, it is a way of saying “thanks” from the community members of Little Italy.
Plaques surround this public space with names of several war soldiers, many of whom were residents of Little Italy and served during World War II; see Figure below.
Later that evening Little Italy was recognized at the San Diego APA Awards Ceremony with First Place award for the Community Recognition.
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Barrio Logan Walking Tour
The APA State Conference Sustainability PlanBy: Sarah Lozano, AICP, Dudek
Given the emphasis placed on sustainable planning and the progress made in this area by California planners, there is no better way to highlight the American Planning Association (APA) California’s commitment to “walking the walk” than to interject sustainable planning into the 2010 APA California Annual Conference. As the cornerstone of this initiative, the 2010 APA State Conference Sustainability Plan (Sustainability Plan) outlines our commitment to making this year’s conference a dynamic demonstration of sustainable practices.
The conference Planning Committee has taken a holistic approach to integrating sustainability as part of the planning, marketing, and implementation of the event. The Sustainability Plan is divided into nine areas encompassing specific sustainable elements and highlighting their relationship to overarching sustainability goals. Action items range from material purchases and food selection to transportation options and waste-management decisions. The Conference Sustainability Committee is estimating the conference’s carbon footprint and evaluating ways to offset this impact as much as possible.
The Planning Committee encourages all attendees to join the sustainability effort to help make this year’s Sustainability Plan a success. Check out the Sustainability Center located next to the Registration Desk for opportunities to make your individual conference experience more sustainable. For more information regarding the 2010 APA State Conference Sustainability Plan or San Diego Section’s sustainability efforts, please contact Sarah Lozano at [email protected].
Click HERE to register for the State Conference today!!
Join us for SDAPA’sAnnual AICP Exam Training Roundtable
AICP certified planners carry a high mark of distinction because they are required to meet rigorous standards, maintain their expertise through continuing education, and serve community interests. The next exam window is November 8-22, 2010.
WHO: All planners who meet the criteria to take the exam in November or are planning to take the exam next year are encourage to attend.
WHEN: September 8, 2010 6:30pm - 8:30pm
WHERE: Landini’s Pizzeria, located in the heart of Little Italy 1827 India Street, San Diego, CA 92101 Cost is $5.00 (includes food and beverages)
What’s on the Agenda?The AICP exam training roundtable provides an informal opportunity for those planning to taking the exam to gain some insight from AICP members who recently passed in May. You can expect to receive an overview of items such as study tips, pointers, experiences, exam materials and sample questions, as well as information regarding hot topics and essential “things to study”. There will also be an op-portunity to ask those nagging questions that may have come up during your study sessions.
REGISTER NOW on SDAPA’s website by clicking HERE
During the roundtable session we will be serving up some of San Diego’s best New York style pizza with a flare of Florence to feed those studious minds!! This is an opportunity you can’t afford to miss.
Becoming an American Planning Association member is easy! The APA website, www.planning.org, offers online membership services. To sign up go to
www.planning.org/joinapa/. You may also reactivate your membership, change your contact information and join up for additional services on the national website.
As a Planner, there are many benefits by becoming involved in the American Planning Association (APA). Whether you are interested in staying on top of current industry events, discussing planning issues, or just looking for a new job, APA is there to help facilitate it. As a professional organization, APA brings together people who share an interest in working towards better-planned communities.
APA aims to improve your career by providing opportunities to become more engaged in your profession. As a national professional organization, APA is highly recognized by private, public and academic entities as being on the forefront of the planning profession.
APA creates an opportunity to expand your career. As a member,
• UseAPAresourcestostayuptodateonpolicyissues
• You are encouraged to becomeAICP certified.American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) is a designation for those who choose to take their profession one step further. AICP allows you to become a credible planner and show that you are trained as a certified planner. In addition, our local San Diego APA section offers professional development workshops and luncheons to keep professionals up to date on local planning issues.
• Get recognized. Annual conferences andaward ceremonies for national, state and local sections offer a way to exchange ideas and for projects and hard work to be recognized by your professional peers.
To keep members up-to-date on national trends, local news and innovative ideas APA provides a number of publications. National, state and special interest divisions produce monthly periodicals and the San Diego local section issues a regular newsletter.
For students, becoming a member of APA is an incredible tool in learning to navigate the professional world of planning.
The most helpful resource and simplest way to stay involved with what’s with happening locally and around the world is to sign up for email notices on the APA websites. (National: www.planning.org and locally, www.sdapa.org).
To become a member visit APA’s website:http://www.planning.org/joinapa/.
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Free CM Credits!??!Planning for Healthy Places The American Institute of Certified Planners announces Planning for Healthy Places with Health Impact Assessments (http://professional.captus.com/Planning/hia), the first in a series of CM-eligible online courses from APA. Through examples and activities, this “how-to” guide explains the value of health impact assessments and outlines the steps involved in conducting one. The course was developed in partnership between the American Planning Association and the National Association of County and City Health Officials and is offered free of charge through a grant from the Centers for Disease Control. The course carries 6 CM credits.
Space Available!
Zucker Systems, a planning, development and management firm located at 1545 Hotel Circle South, Suite 300 has an excellent furnished extra private office space that it wishes to rent to a plan-ning or environmental consultant. Good opportu-nity for synergistic conversations. Call Paul Zucker, FAICP at (619) 260-2683.
SDAPA Support for Student Internships - The SDAPA supports students who are preparing to pursue careers in the planning field. As part of our supportive efforts, we are providing an active employment/internship assistance program which functions as an intermediary between the students and the planning business community at large.
While SDAPA does not guarantee employment, every possible effort is made to assist students in pursuing work experience in the diverse planning profession. SDAPA will accept and post internship opportunities for undergraduates and/or graduate students who are actively engaged in the pursuit of a career in the field with a planning emphasis. Intern positions will be posted on our jobs page at no charge.
We encourage you to participate in our efforts. Please download, complete, and submit the form below to Kevin Grant at [email protected]. Download Form
SDAPA Academic Liaison Mentor Program - Did you know that SDAPA has a Mentor Program that matches planning students with planning professionals? Students and faculty members are encouraged to utilize our SDAPA Board liaison to communicate and network between the Planning/Geography/Urban Studies Departments of the San Diego region universities and the professional planning community.
The liaison is also tasked with assisting student representatives in organizing interested students in becoming more involved in the planning community prior to commencement. For more information, please contact Kevin Grant at [email protected] or 858-342-8808.
Mail-List - Receive the latest SDAPA news and job announcements by subscribing to our e-mail list at no charge. Subscribe
Jobs Available - Check here for the latest San Diego Planning jobs. Go to jobs page
SDAPA Planning Library - Download PowerPoint presentations and workshop materials from SDAPA sponsored workshops and luncheons. Download Presentations
Request for Proposals - SDAPA is now accepting RFP documents in downloadable PDF format for posting on our jobs announcements page. Go to jobs page
Announcement Requests - Please submit announcement requests by e-mail to [email protected]. Announcements should be relevant to the San Diego planning community. Please see sample announcement request. Download sample announcement request
