Environment

The Interstate 10 freeway cuts through residential neighborhoods in the city of Alhambra. Downtown Los Angeles is visible in the background,

The Consequences of Sprawl: Overcrowded Housing and Covid Deaths

Los Angeles is the nation's capital of both crowding and sprawl. A feature published by the Los Angeles Times provides the history of how the metropolis achieved this contradiction.

October 20, 2022 - Los Angeles Times

Line of offshore wind turbines with sunset over sea in the background

West Coast Offshore Wind Takes a Step Forward

The federal government announced a lease sale for locations along the California coast approved for offshore wind energy production.

October 20, 2022 - CNN

Desalination

Orange County Desalination Plant Wins Key Approval

A desalination plant is moving forward in Orange County with California Coastal Commission approval just a few months after another, uch more expensive project, failed the same test.

October 16, 2022 - Orange County Register

View of dried-up Colorado River

Federal Program Provides Direct Payments for Colorado River Water Conservation

A water buyback program will pay farmers who reduce their water use in an effort to sustain the West’s reservoirs, which are at historically low levels.

October 16, 2022 - KUNC

Site plan for CHEERS shoreline project

Cleveland Resilience Project Approves Design Contract

The plan to protect Cleveland’s waterfront from storm damage got a boost as the Port approved a $3.75 million design contract.

October 16, 2022 - Cleveland.com

Nederlandsche Bank building, Amsterdam

The Cradle-to-Cradle Approach to Building

The circular economy. Cradle-to-cradle. The regenerative economy. Whatever you call it, an approach to building that eliminates waste would transform the next generation of the built environment.

October 14, 2022 - The New York Times

View of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida barrier island

Hurricane Ian Puts Renewed Focus on Florida's Barrier Islands

Ian did not impact Southeast Florida, but coastal residents there took notice of the state's deadliest hurricane since 1935 that devastated much of Southwest Florida last month, particularly the barrier islands off the Gulf Coast.

October 14, 2022 - WPTV News

Fire burning on hillside behind house in Azusa, California

California Needs More Housing—But Where?

The state’s housing shortage is complicated by the growing number of places threatened by wildfires.

October 13, 2022 - CALmatters

Photo of European road in medieval city

Parking and Sustainable Urban Mobility

Parking policy, and any potential change in it, is a highly contested issue in most cities. The integration of parking measures into a Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP) can help achieve long-term goals.

October 12, 2022 - Parking and SUMP - Using parking management to achieve SUMP objectives effectively and sustainably’

Garden with bee houses labeled 'bee hotel' and scarecrow

How Pollinators Fight Warming Cities

Researchers are starting to understand how urban bee populations can support healthy green spaces and reduce the urban heat island effect.

October 11, 2022 - Wired

Worker in yellow vest and white hard hat looking down at water basin at wastewater treatment plant

Boise To Test Wastewater Recycling Tech

The city will launch a pilot program to assess five methods of treating wastewater to identify the most effective solution for a scaled-up program.

October 10, 2022 - Idaho Press

Close-up  of wooden beehive with bees flying in and out

A Sweet Deal: Zoning for Honeybees

A Boston ordinance could make it easier for residents to take up urban beekeeping.

October 10, 2022 - The Boston Globe

Wildlife crossing bridge over roadway in Banff, Canada with snow-topped mountains in background

Wildlife Crossings as Key Infrastructure

Animal-vehicle collisions cause billions in property damage, hundreds of human deaths, and dramatic losses in animal populations every year. Monitoring migration and building for animals can make roads safer for everyone.

October 6, 2022 - Governing

Flooded street with historic home in Charleston, South Carolina

As Development in Flood-Prone Areas Continues, Cities Are Slow to Respond

Drawn by affordable property, low taxes, and job opportunities, high numbers of Americans continue to move to flood-prone areas even as the threat of catastrophic flooding grows.

October 5, 2022 - The Washington Post

Aerial view of East Boston shoreline

Study To Assess Climate Mitigation Options for East Boston

A grant-funded research team will evaluate solutions for shoring up the area’s flood protection strategies and improving access and service on the Blue Line for local residents.

October 4, 2022 - Streetsblog Massachusetts

Los Angeles sprawl

The Inflation Reduction Act Missed a Chance to Rein in Car-Dependent Sprawl

The federal government is so far unwilling to reverse course on car-dependent sprawl. The Inflation Reduction Act is the latest example.

October 3, 2022 - Metropolis

Lake Mead 'bathtub ring'

Colorado River Water Crisis Deepens

The states that rely on the Colorado’s water must make drastic cuts in water usage to maintain use of the West’s most important—and most threatened—water source.

October 3, 2022 - NPR

Rendering of hydrogen storage tank with solar panels in background

Two New Clean Energy Programs Funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Unveiled

The U.S. Department of Energy announced two new programs last month that are funded by the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act: $7 billion to create regional ‘hydrogen hubs’ and $4.9 billion to ‘manage and store carbon pollution.’

October 3, 2022 - U.S. Department of Energy

Flooded street with palm trees bending in the wind during Hurricane Irma in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

Ian's Test

One of the most powerful hurricanes to hit the mainland United States in decades will be a major test for a governor with presidential aspirations as well as his constituents in the nation's third most populous state.

September 30, 2022 - Politico

The Pearl River floods with brown near downtown Jackson, Mississippi.

Costs to Fix Jackson's Water System Estimated at $1 Billion

Planning and funding are both in dire need in Jackson, Mississippi. The question is who should be in charge of all the planning and funding.

September 28, 2022 - Mississippi Free Press

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.

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Schools

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.