WASHINGTON - The coming retirement of the baby boomers has cities across the United States planning for what is being billed as a demographic earthquake.

Communities are doing everything from brightening street signs and widening sidewalks to redesigning housing to deal with an additional 35 million seniors expected by the year 2030, USA Today reported Monday.

In Cobb County, Ga. officials have created the nation's first "residential senior living zoning district," which allows more homes per acre to be built near grocery stores and other services, the newspaper said.

The National Association of Area Agencies on Aging said it receives at least 15 calls a week from cities and counties worried that they won't be ready when the first wave of boomers hits retirement age in four years.

"For so long the focus was on community planning mostly for young families and children," association Chief Executive Officer Sandy Markwood told USA Today.

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