Land Use

Gas Drill

Community Impact Funds Could Subsidize a Fossil Fuel Railroad

A railway project designed to move oil and gas across eastern Utah has received millions in grant money from a fund designed to mitigate the impacts of fossil fuels.

December 27, 2020 - High Country News

Water Dripping

Water Use and Land Use Are Deeply Intertwined

It's time to recognize the interconnectedness of land use planning, water policy, and sustainability initiatives.

December 24, 2020 - Water Foundation

Single-Family Housing Construction

New Single-Family Homes Shrank in 2019

The Census Bureau's "Characteristics of New Housing" report shows declining size among single-family homes built and sold new in 2019.

December 23, 2020 - LBM Journal

Washington

Comprehensive Update to Washington State's Growth Management Act Expected in 2021

Effective planning processes offer immense financial savings, and there's never been a more pressing need for both. The state of Washington is setting out to prove the planning dividend.

December 23, 2020 - The Urbanist

Cincinnati Suspension Bridge

Open Container Laws Ditched in Cincinnati's The Banks Entertainment District

The trend toward the liberalization of outdoor drinking laws continues in Cincinnati. The turned is prevalent enough that this isn't even the first example of a "designated outdoor refreshment area" on the Ohio River.

December 23, 2020 - WCPO

Rooftop Bar

Special Permits Could Be Required to Develop a Hotel in New York City

It could become a lot harder to develop a hotel in New York City, even in areas where hotel developments are zoned as-of-right and even after the pandemic has ravaged the industry.

December 23, 2020 - The Real Deal

Cement gravestones reading Father and Mother

The Race to Preserve America's Black Cemeteries

America's historic Black cemeteries, which have long fallen victim to displacement, relocation, and outright destruction, could have a new ally in the fight for preservation and recognition.

December 22, 2020 - Time Magazine

Chicago Apartments

Upzoning Isn't a Silver Bullet for Housing Affordability

Zoning changes have been a popular way to increase density and affordable housing, but more diversified policies could fill in the gaps where zoning fails.

December 22, 2020 - The Urbanist

Detroit, Michigan

A Farewell to One-Size-Fits-All Urbanism

Sustaining culture and character is more than a black or white proposition. It requires a careful blend that depends on local circumstances, meticulous research, and self-knowledge.

December 22, 2020 - Charles R. Wolfe

Utah

Study Touts the Housing Affordability Benefits of Density for the State of Utah

The density debate can't be avoided in fast-growing Utah, according to the researchers and political leaders who support the findings of a new report from the University of Utah's Kem C. Garner Policy Institute.

December 21, 2020 - The Salt Lake Tribune

Delivery Services

The Link Between Smart Cities, Fleet Technology, and Economics

The theoretical planning of smart cities could help make city economies stronger as purchasing becomes more straightforward.

December 20, 2020 - Devin Partida

Rittenhouse Square

Residential Development Tax to Fund Affordable Housing Programs

Philadelphia's city council passed the city's first-ever residential development impact tax, a plan that could boost the city budget by $9 million a year.

December 18, 2020 - WHYY

Manhattan Municipal Building

A Comprehensive Overhaul of Planning Considered in New York City

The New York City Council this week released a report that suggest the city do away with its "piecemeal" approach to planning in favor of a new comprehensive planning framework.

December 18, 2020 - New York City Council

Suburban Seattle

Citywide Zoning Reform Approved in Everett

Few cities are accomplishing such a swift and sweeping overhaul of its land use regulations as Everett, Washington, which just wrapped up its second major planning initiative in as many years on its way to launching a third.

December 17, 2020 - The Urbanist

A private club located in Florida

Locals Say Trump Can't Live at Mar-a-Lago

And they have the receipts.

December 17, 2020 - The Washington Post

Texas State Capital

Austin Hopes to Buck Tradition with Anti-Gentrification Measures in its New Transit Plan

Project Connect promises to prioritize equity and inclusion with $300 million dedicated to anti-displacement efforts.

December 17, 2020 - City Monitor

Senior Woman Washing Vegetables

Age-Friendly Columbus Offers Solutions for Aging Cities

Age-Friendly Columbus and Franklin County, a program of The Ohio State University College of Social Work, celebrated five years of community engagement and advocacy aimed at improving quality of life for older adults.

December 16, 2020 - NextCity

2010s

Pandemic, Equity Dominate 2020 Planning News

Even with the world shut down, many California planning issues continued to be debated online, fought over in court, enacted in city halls, and realized on the ground. And yet, racial equity and the pandemic are the defining stories of 2020.

December 16, 2020 - California Planning & Development Report

Avenida Septima

Bogotá Uses 7,000 Public Design Proposals to Redesign its Main Artery

To reimagine the city's most important artery, Bogotá sought community input via an innovative online platform.

December 15, 2020 - The City Fix

Missing Middle Housing

Statewide Zoning Changes Adopted in Oregon to Limit Parking, Add Missing Middle

The state of Oregon made planning history in 2019 by adopting House Bill 2001, paving the way for the state to preempt local exclusionary zoning laws. Now, over a year later, the state land use board has decided how to implement that goal.

December 15, 2020 - Sightline Institute

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.

Home and Land Services Coordinator

Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners

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.