Environment

Self-Driving Car

Michigan Bill Would Be First to Allow Cars to Drive Without Humans

A state legislation package is aiming to clear hurdles obstructing the development of autonomous vehicles.

June 3, 2016 - GOV TECH - FUTURE STRUCTURE

Paris Skyline

Paris to Begin Serious Car Restrictions on July 1

The carefree days of driving any-old-junker-they-please are over for Parisians, and they'll be even further obsolete when the calendar changes from June to July.

June 3, 2016 - CityLab

Miami

100 Resilient Cities Program Reaches 100 Members

The Rockefeller Foundation’s global initiative for urban resilience rounded out its membership this month with the addition of 37 cities.

June 2, 2016 - The Guardian

Florida - Hurricane Frances Approaching (2004)

Op-Ed: Talking Resilience Isn't the Same as Being Resilient

Resilience, as such, isn't a problem. But Alex Beam takes issue with the current flood of resilience-related jargon. Can you blame him?

May 31, 2016 - The Boston Globe

Japanese Knotweed

One Reaction to an Invasive Plant Species: Eat It

When it comes to one particularly invasive plant species in Pittsburgh, some food retail businesses are saying, "if you can't beat it, eat it."

May 28, 2016 - The Wall Street Journal

Multnomah Falls

New Bus Service to Alleviate Congestion Between Portland and Multnomah Falls

Even natural attractions outside of urban areas have parking shortages and congestion problems.

May 28, 2016 - The Oregonian

Huge Drop in California Cap-and-Trade Revenues—Could Market Be Collapsing?

'Huge' is an understatement. Revenues were less than 2 percent of what was forecasted. The uncertainty of the continuance of the program may be responsible. The plummet in revenues to high-speed rail adds to uncertainty of the $64 billion project.

May 28, 2016 - The Sacramento Bee

Seattle & Mt. Rainier

When Mt. Rainier Blows, What Will Be Left?

As with most natural disasters, it's not a question of 'if' but 'when' when it comes to the eruption of Mount Rainier in Washington state. Scientists lay out a scenario for what to expect when the volcano erupts.

May 28, 2016 - KUOW

Garcetti Tree People

L.A.'s Water Supply Increasingly Relying on Management of Stormwater

In October 2014, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti acted to make the city more resilient from drought and climate change. In 2016, we get an update from leaders Gary Hildebrand and Marty Adams on L.A.'s stormwater capture systems.

May 27, 2016 - The Planning Report

Zion National Park

Months Before Turning 100, National Parks Are More Popular Than Ever

Turning 100 the same year as New York's first Zoning Code? The National Park Service, of course. The momentous occasion is likely to find the parks more popular than ever.

May 26, 2016 - FiveThirtyEight

Florida Everglades

The Consequences of Sea Level Rise in the Florida Everglades

In South Florida, much of the focus in dealing with seal level rise has been on pumps and property values. A strong case is emerging, however, for the protection of the natural environment of the Everglades.

May 26, 2016 - Capital Public Radio

Maine North Woods

The Controversial National Parks Proposal Dividing Maine's North Woods

The Washington Post provides feature-length coverage of an ongoing, long-lasting controversy over a proposal by a wealthy landowner to donate 87,500 acres for the purposes of creating a new national park.

May 25, 2016 - The Washington Post

Stone Age

Lessons from the Paleolithic Era for Contemporary Urbanites

Gustav Milne makes a simple argument via The Guardian: urbanization "is bad for us."

May 25, 2016 - The Guardian

Why Chicago Park Advocates Want to Preserve a Parking Lot

A Chicago nonprofit drew criticism for opposing the planned Lucas Museum in favor of a large parking lot. But the organization says it fits into their mission of promoting open space.

May 23, 2016 - Chi.Streetsblog

The Hills of Governors Island

The Power of Prospect: A First Look at the Hills of Governors Island

In the tradition of great urban landscapes, the Hills of Governors Island will soon challenge the status quo and create a dynamic new type of park for all people to enjoy.

May 19, 2016 - Mark Hough

View of Portland, Oregon from Pittock Mansion

Portland Digs Into Data on Seismic Vulnerabilities

With an earthquake due to shake up the Pacific Northwest in the not so distant future, Portland has provided an online map to identify potentially vulnerable buildings in danger of suffering major damage when the big one hits.

May 19, 2016 - The Oregonian

Denver Golf Course

Denver Stormwater Plan Ruffles Feathers

The Platte to Park Hill project would install new stormwater detention facilities at a golf course near Downtown Denver. Opponents to the project say it’s a burden on the neighborhood and a benefit to development interests farther down the watershed.

May 19, 2016 - The Denver Post

What Can Fort McMurray Learn from Greensburg, Kansas?

Rebuilding after a major disaster offers a unique opportunity for a community to step back and ask how it wants to build.

May 18, 2016 - Treehugger

Methane

EPA Releases Final Methane Rule for New and Modified Oil and Gas Wells

While the methane reduction targets are the same as the draft rule released last August (i.e., 40-45 percent reduction of 2012 levels by 2025), the new rule removes exceptions, resulting in a 30 percent improvement in reductions of methane.

May 18, 2016 - The Hill

China Flood

World Bank Report: Climate Change Puts 1.3 Billion People at Risk

Among the other interesting facts acknowledged by the World Bank: the costs of dealing with the effects of climate change are already increasingly quickly.

May 17, 2016 - The Guardian

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.

Associate/Senior Planner

Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development

Senior Planner

Heyer Gruel & Associates PA

Top Books

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The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

100 Most Influential Urbanists

The who's who of urbanism, according to Planetizen readers.

Urban Planning Creators You Should Know

A short list of voices on social, video, and podcasting platforms.