By Richard Davis, AICP Candidate, September 14, 2026 Five recent Bay Area stories reveal how infrastructure decisions are shaping safety, mobility, climate resilience, and housing. BART credits its new fare gates with a sharp decline in rider crime and safety-related delays. In Palo Alto, rising costs are pushing officials to reconsider the scope of long-planned
What We’re Reading | September 7-11, 2026 Read More »
Northern News, July through September 2026 Edition, a publication of the American Planning Association, California Chapter, Northern.
July–September 2026 Northern News Read More »
This year’s Awards Gala honors outstanding recipients whose innovation, excellence, and leadership are advancing the planning field. Come celebrate, connect, and be inspired alongside colleagues and community members who share your passion for great places.
2026 Northern Awards Gala: Tomorrow night—Don’t miss it! Read More »
Emphasizing an Adaptive Parks and Recreation System for the Future By Casey Case and Rylee Rodriguez, Gates Studio, Walnut Creek With the recent wave of development across California to address housing shortages, meet quotas under Regional Housing Needs Allocation (RHNA), and integrate necessary commercial uses for growing populations, many cities are increasingly reaching full build-out
Planning in Parallel: Lessons Learned from the San Carlos Parks Master Plan Process Read More »
Congratulations to our newest board members and associates! Stuart Poulter, AICP, Co-director of Sustainability and Resilience he/him Stuart Poulter, AICP, is the Wildfire Resilience & Environmental Program Manager at Sequoia Ecological Consulting, Inc., where he leads CEQA compliance and wildfire resilience projects across the Bay Area, Central Coast, and Sierra Foothills. With more than a
Urban design is no longer the work of a single profession. To meet today’s interconnected challenges, trained designers must share their tools, broaden participation, and empower more people to shape, advocate for, and steward the places they call home.
Why Urban Design Needs More Urban Designers Read More »
As wildfire risks and insurance costs rise, California lawmakers are exploring grants, tax credits, incentives, and loans to make home hardening more affordable. The proposals could strengthen resilience across homes and neighborhoods.
California Lawmakers Look to Support Home Hardening Through Financing Programs Read More »
San José State urban planning students evaluated relocation options for La Pulga, the historic Berryessa Flea Market in San José. Through vendor surveys, customer outreach, and site analysis, the La Pulga planners studied how future sites could preserve this vital cultural marketplace, support local vendors, and strengthen community planning in East San José.
La Pulga’s Future: Preserving Culture and Identity in a Changing San José Read More »
San Francisco Bay Area leads in sustainable urban planning, blending growth with bold environmental policies, green building, and innovative projects. Regional cooperation and equity are central to overcoming challenges like climate resilience and housing. The region’s technical expertise and collaborative spirit offer a model for cities worldwide.
State of Sustainability and Urban Planning in the San Francisco Bay Area Read More »
Celebrate late-summer connections with Northern as we look ahead to the September 17 Awards Gala, new professional development webinars, and the APA California Conference in Los Angeles. Plus, join us in thanking departing Board members and welcoming a leadership transition in 2027.
Director’s Notes: Fall 2026 Read More »
