Land Use and Environment

Cities and counties can have an enormous impact in shaping the physical environment of neighborhoods and the health and well-being of their residents. The Sustainable Communities/Land Use and Environment Program provides resources to support local officials in their efforts to plan and develop healthy communities that are socially, economically, environmentally and fiscally sustainable.

This website contains:

Case Stories and Examples from California Cities and Counties

Tools and Resources in the following areas:

Regional Partnerships Provide Leadership

Partnerships among public, private and nonprofit groups are nothing new, and examples abound. However, innovative partnerships that build capacity to address sustainability, energy efficiency, climate change and reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are relatively new. Two examples illustrate the creativity and vibrancy of these efforts.Read more »

Using Economic Development to Support Sustainability

The question of how to make local agencies more sustainable is an ongoing issue for local officials. Sustainable communities are places that foster and maintain a high quality of life. This requires a strong local economy that provides all residents with the opportunity to share in prosperity and enjoy the benefits of a clean environment. A healthy local economy also helps to ensure the fiscal health of the community’s public agencies.Read more »

The Value of Sharing Your Agency's Story

One of the “indispensable competencies” for local government leaders is the ability to communicate through stories, according to Frank Benest, former city manager of Palo Alto and consultant to local governments. Benest uses storytelling as a tool to help local officials with strategic decision-making, because stories provide a compelling way to convey who you are and where you are going.Read more »

City Officials Think Regionally to Tackle Transportation, Housing and Environmental Issues

California’s population, estimated at 37 million in 2010, is expected to grow to nearly 60 million people by the year 2050. As California grows, issues affecting cities are increasingly regional in nature. To help manage this growth and its associated challenges, city officials are participating more extensively in regional planning efforts.Read more »

A New Guide on Regional Planning for Transportation, Housing and the Environment

Understanding SB 375: Regional Planning in Transportation, Housing and the Environment provides local officials with a concise introduction to regional planning for transportation, housing and the environment as revised by SB 375, including how regional planning relates to cities and counties in a region.

The Institute thanks the law firm of Kronick, Moskovitz, Tiedemann, & Girard for its generous financial support in preparing this guide.Read more »

Land Use and Environment