Laguna West, an early 1990s new urbanist development

Laguna West, an early 1990s new urbanist development 12 miles south of downtown Sacramento, recently became a point of contention in the June 6 primary for governor of California. State Treasurer Philip Angelides, now running for the Democratic nomination for governor, helped develop Laguna West and cited it as “a model of a livable, walkable, environmentally sustainable community” during the campaign. In response, Garry South, an adviser to Angelides’ opponent, State Controller Steve Westly, publicly painted Laguna West as a leapfrog development that exemplifies sprawl. Laguna West was planned by Peter Calthorpe but was built without important features that Calthorpe envisioned, such as a light-rail line, which the county later decided should be built elsewhere.