Rural Development

Rural road in Central Ohio

Opinion: Ohio Needs Public Transit

A new Intel facility is set to bring thousands of workers to rural Ohio. Will the state embrace mass transit or give in to auto-centric sprawl?

May 25, 2022 - Columbus Alive

Colorado Springs, Colorado skyline

Fire-Prone Communities Fight New Development

New development in small Colorado towns threatens to overwhelm fire evacuation resources, raising alarm among local residents.

December 6, 2021 - Colorado Sun

Brockworth in Gloucestershire

Map of U.K. Development Types Reveals Wide Open Spaces

Satellite images make some of the best maps.

February 3, 2018 - Local Authority of Building Control

Engineering Civic Action Projects (ENCAP)

With Resources Scarce, Bridge-Builders Cultivate Creativity

Innovation means different things to different people. For Bridges to Prosperity (B2P), a nonprofit that builds footbridges in the developing world, it’s a way to help people thrive despite limited resources.

June 28, 2017 - Doggerel

Hillsborough River

With Florida Sprawl Comes Infrastructure and Public Safety Concerns

Some local officials in unincorporated Hillsborough County, outside of Tampa, Florida, are trying to take local residents up to the consequences of unmitigated sprawl.

May 5, 2017 - Tampa Bay Times

Charles County, Maryland

Limitations on Rural Sprawl in Maryland Nixed

Changes in state law that rolls back regulations on septic systems could spark more residential sprawl in Maryland's rural areas.

November 23, 2016 - MyEasternShoreMD

Good Design Sparks Rural Community Development

Now more than ever, creative professionals are turning their attention to community development. While this trend toward good design is exciting, it’s harder to find in rural areas. Here are a few ideas from the forefront of rural design.

August 14, 2014 - CommunityMatters

Conservation Distict

Deconstructing the Policing of Conservation Subdivision Design Standards

Continuing a conversation about the definition of conservation subdivisions, this article examines the inconsistent application of the term by policymakers. Moreover, the auto-dependent realities of rural development require more critical thinking.

March 19, 2014 - James LaGro

Rural Responsibility or Ruin?

The 2015 federal budget proposes a $50 minimum rent on subsidized rural rental housing to encourage “financial responsibility.” Will this really help the rural poor?

March 17, 2014 - Rooflines

Conservation Subdivision

Clarifying the Conservation Subdivision Design Approach

After a recent scholarly article raising questions about the definition of conservation subdivisions, Randall Arendt, author of "Conservation Design for Subdivisions" and "Growing Greener," wrote the following response.

March 2, 2014 - Randall Arendt

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Websites

The best of the Internet—since 2002.

Top Apps

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.