Land Use

Park(ing) Day

The Pandemic Revealed Public Space as 'Essential Infrastructure'

COVID-19 restrictions have highlighted the importance of abundant, multi-use open spaces accessible to all.

February 5, 2021 - San Francisco Chronicle

Washington State Capital

Housing and Land Use on Washington's Legislative Agenda

The Washington State legislature will consider a number of bills this session that would alter planning and development in a state grappling with population growth and rising housing costs.

February 4, 2021 - The Urbanist

Dakota Access protest

Thank Indigenous Activists for the Keystone XL Pipeline's Demise

President Biden's executive order may put the final nail in the coffin of the controversial pipeline project, but it was unwavering local activists who kept the pressure on for a decade.

February 3, 2021 - Atmos

PCH Santa Monica

Some Santa Monica City Councilmembers Unhappy With Housing Element Update

Local leaders are challenging state-mandated affordable housing requirements for the 2021-2029 cycle.

February 3, 2021 - Santa Monica Daily Press

https://picryl.com/media/strawberry-mansion-philadelphia-philadelphia-county-pa

Philadelphia Neighborhoods Leverage Zoning Overlays for Local Control

Overlay districts provide a tool for guiding the future of development and environmental controls at the neighborhood level.

February 3, 2021 - WHYY

Social distancing in a Trader Joe's line in Cambridgeport, Cambridge, Massachusetts March 21, 2020

Opinion: How Trader Joe's Nailed its Pandemic Response

Cities could learn from the grocery store chain's successful navigation of the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic.

February 2, 2021 - Rice Kinder Institute for Urban Research

Construction on the Georgia 400 / 285 Interchange

Sandy Springs Spending $5 Million on Bike and Pedestrian Improvements

The Atlanta suburb is taking advantage of a state project on SR-400 to add bike and pedestrian infrastructure to three area bridges.

February 1, 2021 - The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Bollards

Opinion: 'Performative' Pedestrian Improvements Need Deeper Scrutiny

Minor pedestrian-oriented improvements alone won't improve walkability if infrastructure still prioritizes fast-moving vehicles, according to this article.

February 1, 2021 - City Observatory

Maryland School

The Impacts of Zoning Laws in Montgomery County

Historic zoning decisions have left a lasting legacy of housing inequality. Current leaders have the opportunity to change that.

February 1, 2021 - Greater Greater Washington

Philadelphia Construction

Philadelphia City Council Pushing for More Control Over Zoning Variances

A cause abandoned by the Philadelphia City in 2019 is on the table again.

February 1, 2021 - WHYY

Marina City House of Blues parking

What Are Parking Requirements?

Parking requirements determine by law the amount of parking developers must include when building new developments. Though a standard of zoning and development codes nationwide, parking requirements are undergoing a process of reform.

January 31, 2021 - James Brasuell

Suburban Neighborhood

What Is Exclusionary Zoning?

Criticized as a key factor in perpetuating housing inequality in the United States, exclusionary zoning refers to a range of policies that, explicitly or implicitly, seek to prevent people of certain races, ethnicities, or income levels from buying homes in specific neighborhoods.

January 31, 2021 - James Brasuell

Washington, D.C.

Planning Trends to Watch in 2021

The nation is now tasked with the challenge of changing course in the middle of multiple, global crises. The necessity of finding a way to overcome the failures of the past and lay the groundwork for a new kind of future has never been more clear.

January 31, 2021 - James Brasuell

Disabled Parking

Parking Induces Driving, Study Says

New research published in the Urban Studies journal does the difficult work of connecting the dots between parking and driving.

January 31, 2021 - Sightline Institute

San Francisco Residential Neighborhoods

State Preemption Hitting Home for California Cities

Recently approved laws that force cities to take a more proactive approach to the state-mandated Regional Housing Needs Assessment process are beginning to take effect in California.

January 29, 2021 - San Francisco Weekly

Multi-Family Housing

The Connecticut Zoning Atlas Illustrates a Proclivity for Single-Family Zoning

A new online interactive mapping tool illustrates just how much developable land is devoted to one for of residential housing in the state of Connecticut.

January 29, 2021 - Hartford Courant

Mediterranean food cart in Portland

Dallas City Council Will Consider Food Carts

As the pandemic leaves restaurants and food businesses struggling to make ends meet, the Dallas City Council will evaluate a proposal legalizing detached food carts.

January 28, 2021 - The Dallas Observer

Vancouver 2012

Vancouver Might Allow Non-Profit Housing to Skip Rezoning Application

Vancouver is considering eliminating a rezoning application, which could save non-profit developers up to two years in the city's approvals process.

January 28, 2021 - Daily Hive

Granny Flat

Proposed Law Would Legalize Accessory Dwelling Units in New York State

Advocates have been calling for the New York State Legislature to legalize accessory dwelling units for years. A new law would take the first step.

January 28, 2021 - New York ADU Legislation

C.J. Peete Public Housing, New Orleans

Opinion: Public Housing Won't Solve the Affordability Crisis

Seeking repeal of the Faircloth Amendment could be a needless distraction in the new administration's efforts to create more affordable housing, according to an article by Jenny Schuetz for the Brookings Intitution.

January 27, 2021 - Brookings Institution

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

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.