An editorial in the MinnPost supports the regional planning of the Metropolitan Council in the Twin Cities metro area, which has been beset by a string of controversial decisions.
"For months, it seems, the Metropolitan Council has been under nearly constant attack," according to an editorial by Steven Dornfield. According to Dornfield, the Metropolitan Council (one of the nation's most famous examples of a regional planning agency) has been taking heat "on the alignment of the Southwest Corridor light-rail transit line; on its 2040 regional growth plan; on the adequacy of its plans for suburban highways and the list goes on."
Dornfield sees the criticisms directed toward the Metropolitan Council as evidence of waning political support for regional planning. In response to the attacks he's seen on regional planning from the right and the left, as well as urban and suburban interests, Dornfield crafts a defense of the Metropolitan Council by detailing the historical reasons for the creation of the council, the reasons it is easy to target for political purposes, and the unsavory alternatives (i.e., a council of governments) available for replacing the current council.
FULL STORY: In defense of the Met Council
The Mall Is Dead — Long Live the Mall
The American shopping mall may be closer to its original vision than ever.
Report: Las Vegas, Houston Top List of Least Affordable Cities
The report assesses the availability of affordable rental units for low-income households.
The Paradox of American Housing
How the tension between housing as an asset and as an essential good keeps the supply inadequate and costs high.
How to Protect Pedestrians With Disabilities
Public agencies don’t track traffic deaths and injuries involving disabled people, leaving a gap in data to guide safety interventions.
Colorado Town Fills Workforce Housing Need With ‘Dorm-Style’ Housing
Median rent in Steamboat Springs is $4,000 per month.
Indian States Give Women Free Bus Passes
The programs are part of an initiative aimed at helping more women join the workforce and improving access to basic needs.
City of Yakima
City of Auburn
Baylands Development Inc.
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Birmingham, Alabama
City of Laramie, Wyoming
Colorado Department of Local Affairs
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.