Planning Department

Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Launches New Permit and Code Tracking Website

The city of Pittsburgh launched a Buildingeye website to provide new access to the development and approval process in the city.

October 16, 2016 - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Arts District

The Arts District and the 'Missed Opportunity' of Planning in L.A.

Downtown L.A.'s Arts District transformed from an industrial sector to a vibrant, mixed-use neighborhood. Now, the community's attempts to protect their vision from haphazard development illuminate Los Angeles's broken planning process.

May 29, 2016 - The Planning Report

Developers are 'Poisonous' to Los Angeles City Council Hopefuls

Developers are persona no grata in a high-profile City Council election in Los Angeles. Is it a case of NIMBYs gone wild or the empowerment of neighborhood interests?

February 2, 2015 - Los Angeles Times

San Diego's Planning Department Brought Back from the Dead

This week, San Diego's City Council voted to resurrect the city's moribund Planning Department. A government-wide reorganization and energized leadership seem certain to ensure the department won't become a zombie.

October 31, 2013 - The San Diego Union-Tribune

L.A.'s New Mayor Halts Planning Department Merger

A controversial plan to merge L.A.'s Planning and Building and Safety Departments has been scuttled, for now. Mayor Eric Garcetti, who supported the merger as a councilman, announced it will not go forward in January as his predecessor had planned.

October 16, 2013 - Los Angeles Times

Will L.A. Put the Brakes on Planning Department Consolidation?

Two Los Angeles councilmen have introduced a measure seeking to delay implementation of one of former Mayor Villaraigosa's last major initiatives - the merging of the city's Planning and Building & Safety departments.

September 18, 2013 - Los Angeles Daily News

"Now or Never" as Developers Clamor for Approvals Before Bloomberg Departs

Apparently the construction boom that's taken place over the last 12 years in New York hasn't quenched developers' appetites to build. Many are pushing to get their projects approved before the development-friendly administration leaves office.

September 9, 2013 - Crain's New York Business

Does Proposed Merger Signal Planning's Surrender in Los Angeles?

Rick Cole, former City Manager for the City of Ventura CA, analyzes the upcoming merger of the Department of City Planning with the Department of Building and Safety in the City of Los Angeles.

June 13, 2013 - The Planning Report

Reborn San Diego Planning Department Gets New Director

Mayor Bob Filner's promise to revive San Diego's shuttered planning department became a reality with the announcement of Bill Fulton as its new director. The former mayor and author of the 'definitive guide to California planning' starts on July 8.

June 12, 2013 - The San Diego Union-Tribune

Planning Makes a Comeback in San Diego

As its neighbor to the north considers merging its planning department, San Diego is headed in the opposite direction. The departure of the city's Development Services Director clears the way for Mayor Bob Filner to reestablish a planning department.

May 13, 2013 - Voice of San Diego

Merger of L.A.'s Planning Department Looking Increasingly Likely

Long rumored plans to merge L.A.'s Department of City Planning with Building and Safety to cut costs and streamline permitting are coming into focus, as the outgoing mayor tries to push through the reforms before he leaves office.

April 4, 2013 - Los Angeles Downtown News

Despite Recent Progress, L.A. Leaders Clamor for More Permitting Reform

Efforts to reform L.A.'s permitting process are proceeding slower than many had hoped, reports Ryan Vaillancourt, and city leaders are looking to make more drastic changes. Could the city's planning department be consolidated as part of the effort?

March 6, 2013 - Los Angeles Downtown News

Reacting, Not Planning, in L.A.

Recently released plans for a possible new football stadium in downtown L.A. show how the city tends to react to developers rather than guide them, according to this criticism.

December 31, 2010 - Los Angeles Times

Reshuffle at L.A. Planning Department

With fewer staff members to cover the workload, L.A. is redefining planners' roles, including a change that will make planners more community-focused and less centralized.

June 27, 2010 - The Planning Report

The City Without a Planning Department

Petaluma, California, made headlines last year when it got rid of its planning department. The Architect's Newspaper takes a look at how the city is adapting to contract-based planning through hired consultants.

January 15, 2010 - The Architect's Newspaper

One Planner Left Standing

With the layoff of City Planner John 'Rusty' Lewis, Natchez, Mississippi is left with only one employee in its planning department - and she retires next week.

October 6, 2009 - The Natchez Democrat

Pay More, Get Faster Service from Planning Dept.

A controversial proposal in the London borough of Barnet would create a fast track for developers who pay more for faster service. Critics say this would create an unfair, two-tiered system, where richer developers get more access to government.

September 2, 2009 - The Architect's Journal

Disobedient Architect to Be Banned from Brooklyn

Brooklyn architect Robert M. Scarano Jr. has crossed Brooklyn's zoning laws too many times, and the city is making the case to ban him from submitting any plans. In the worst case, he put two apartment buildings in a location greenlighted for one.

June 16, 2008 - The New York Times

Shake-Up in Salt Lake City Planning

New Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker has followed through on campaign promises to begin an overhaul of the city's planning department, handing out a series of firings in an effort to revitalize and streamline the city's planning process.

March 7, 2008 - The Salt Lake Tribune

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Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

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The best of the Internet—since 2002.

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Planning apps for a brave new world.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

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.