Master Plan

How a Historic Business Will Anchor a New Cultural District in Louisville

A historic corner of Louisville is getting a makeover as a cultural district for the 21st century. The $28 million already has preliminary approval for $7.2 million state tourism tax credits.

December 20, 2015 - The Architect's Newspaper

New Orleans Residents Seeking Less Density From the Zoning Code

A zoning controversy in a neighborhood in New Orleans has locals questioning how well the city's new Comprehensive Zoning Plan reflects the city's Master Plan.

November 14, 2015 - The Lens

St. Petersburg, Florida Launches Downtown Waterfront Master Plan

St. Petersburg is one of those lucky few cities granted the benefits of a downtown waterfront setting in a warm climate. But what will that waterfront look like in the future?

August 29, 2014 - Tampa Bay Times

Fairmount Park Philadelphia

Critiquing Philadelphia's Fairmount Park Master Plan

Architecture critic Inga Saffron describes a new master plan for Philadelphia's signature piece of open space as "important" and "welcome," but still finds that it falls short in addressing some of the park's critical needs.

May 14, 2014 - Philadelphia Inquirer

It's Time to Bring Bold Planning Back to Boston

As a reaction to the excesses of urban renewal, Boston has refrained from comprehensive planning for nearly 40 years. With a new mayor set to take office, it's time to create a new master plan for the city, argues a commentary in the Globe.

November 12, 2013 - The Boston Globe

New Master Plan for L.A.'s Union Station Will Focus on Passengers, not Developers

If you paid attention to the visions unveiled a year ago by the teams competing to develop a master plan for the area around L.A.'s Union Station, you might expect to see a development-focused final product. Apparently, you'd be wrong.

March 23, 2013 - Curbed LA

Maryland Governor Outmaneuver Foes To Adopt New Master Plan

Over "vehement objections from Republicans", Maryland's Governor uses a 37-year-old law to implement the state's master plan. Called Plan Maryland, the plan is focused on controlling the state's rapid growth.

January 2, 2012 - Maryland governor signs land-use order

Chicago's Response to NYC's High-Line

The Lake View neighborhood in Chicago will unveil a new master plan for a completely redesigned community, including a "Low Line" park walkway.

March 15, 2011 - WLS

From Memories to Master Plans

Maine mill town asks citizens to record their memories at downtown "Heart Spots" as part of the master planning process.

October 18, 2009 - The Journal Tribune

Oklahoma City Releases Broad New Plan

A broad new plan has been unveiled in Oklahoma City. Included in the plan is a new 70-acre downtown park and a raft of transit improvements.

September 22, 2009 - The Oklahoman

Master Plan Derailed by Error

Officials of Bridgeport admitted that the city's Master Plan of Conservation and Development was improperly adopted last year.

June 8, 2009 - Connecticut Post

Regional Transportation Master Plan for Tampa Released

The Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority has released its Draft Regional Transportation Master Plan. The plan calls for hundreds of miles of new LRT and commuter rail lines and a massive increase in local bus networks.

April 28, 2009 - www.TBARTA.com

Draft Master Plan Released in New Orleans

A new master plan for New Orleans has been released. Controversy is expected on the highly anticipated plan as public input is gathered.

March 23, 2009 - New Orleans Times Picayune

Plan Brings New Vision To The Two Augustas

A new master plan for the Georgia cities of Augusta and North Augusta looks to create a unified vision for the area geared around economic development and new housing beyond the traditional downtown.

February 11, 2009 - The Augusta Chronicle

Glimpsing into New Orleans' First Master Plan

The master plan will replace an outdated, complex zoning law and address urban housing, wetlands preservation, and transit, among other things. New Orleans is finally "poised for sustained growth," according to the plan's lead consultant.

February 11, 2009 - The Times-Picayune

New Orleans Planning By Force of Law

New Orleans residents this Election Day will decide whether to grant the "force of law" to the city's master plan, making it more difficult for officials to make amendments and exceptions for specific projects. The master plan has yet to be written.

October 28, 2008 - New Orleans Times-Picayune

The Eight Aspects of Good Downtowns

As the downtown master plan of Baton Rouge turns ten years old, planners are looking at the next stages of development. They say eight factors play into making this and other downtowns successful.

August 1, 2008 - Baton Rouge Business Report

Miami Parks Plan Looks Beyond Parks

Officials in Miami-Dade County have just released their parks master plan, an ambitious proposal that looks to go beyond creating park space by redefining the region's public realm.

March 17, 2008 - The Miami Herald

When Planning Matters

Why plan? That’s an important question for a planning skeptic like myself. I’m not at all convinced that conventional public urban planning has much value, despite (or because of?) spending eight years on a city planning commission. Yet, I don’t consider myself an “antiplanner”. I’m happy to leave that role to my friend and virtual colleague Randal O’Toole at the Cato Institute. (He even runs a blog called “The Antiplanner”.) Urban planning has a role even though, IMO, on balance, its application has had a negative impact on communities and cities. Notably, even the free market (and Nobel Prize winning) economist F.A. Hayek recognized a role for planning in his classic book on political economy The Constitution of Liberty. The question is: what is planning’s role and, perhaps more importantly, how has this role changed or shifted in modern times?

March 12, 2008 - Samuel Staley

A Brief History of Planning in San Diego

As the city of San Diego prepares to consider a new general plan, the San Diego Union-Tribune looks back at the last 100 years in city planning.

March 4, 2008 - The San Diego Union-Tribune

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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.