Land Use

Laying the Groundwork for Cheaper Multi-Family Housing Construction
The processes of clearing land, building foundations, and making space for parking are three of the most expensive components of the construction process. Zoning can help reduce the costs to deliver more affordable housing supply.

Overcrowded Housing Connected to Coronavirus Infection
"This is a housing disease."

A 21st Century Planning Case Study: Buffalo, New York
Frederick Law Olmsted called Buffalo the best planned city in the United States, but in the second half of the 20th century it transitioned into a prototypical "Rust Belt" city.

Entertainment District in East Bay Area City Scrapped Due to Economic Uncertainty
A developer has changed its mind about a plan to bring a soccer stadium and convention center to the city of Concord in the East San Francisco Bay Area.

The '30 by 30' Framework Sets an Ambitious Goal for Nature Conservation
California State Legislature committee approved AB 3030 in May, adopting a plan to save 30% of land and sea from development by the year 2030. The Convention on Biological Diversity is likely to follow in adopting the 30 by 30 framework.

Violence Against Black Americans a Moment of Reckoning for the Planning Profession
After a wave violence against Black men in the United States, it is the duty of the planning profession to consider its role in perpetuating institutional racism.

Guide to Planning for Public Health, Published by WHO and the UN
There is no planning without public health, according to a new guide released in a moment of global crisis for both professional fields.

Dallas Eyes Big Property Tax Increase to Cover COVID-19 Losses
Dallas will need voter approval to overcome tax increase obstacles put in place by the Texas State Legislature.

Mothballed Rental Car Fleets Fill Stadium Parking Lots
A photo series showcases the disruptive effect the pandemic has had on the U.S. auto industry.

The Growing Footprint of Al Fresco Streets
The al fresco streets movement, moving dining and retail space into the public realm in space historically devoted to automobiles, continues to gain momentum around the country.

President's Record on Conservation Criticized
President Trump has weakened protections for 35 million acres of public land, despite repeating his intentions to surpass the model for conservation set by President Teddy Roosevelt.

4 Predictions for Urban Planning Post-Coronavirus
The big question for planners since the outset of the pandemic has been how cities and communities will change, and what role planners will take in implementing those changes. Here are four potential ways for urban planning to respond to the crisis.

Commercial Rental Market Teeters on the Brink
Large numbers of commercial renters in New York City are missing rent, according to reports.

New Coronavirus Hotspots Flaring Up in Rural America
The novel coronavirus is outlasting the narratives of March 2020, and the country will have to reevaluate its assumptions to understand and respond to shifting threats as the public health crisis deepens.

Louisiana Coast Will Disappear, Study Says. The Only Question Is How Soon.
Sea-level rise has passed a tipping point in the Gulf of Mexico.

New York's Open Streets Program Leaves Out Neighborhoods That Need Open Space Most
New York City has opened an increasing number of street miles for pedestrians and people on bikes, but far fewer streets have been opened in the neighborhoods that need it most—low income neighborhoods lacking walkable access to parks and open space.

2020 ParkScore Ranks Minneapolis at the Top
The need for access to parks and open space has never been as obvious, or as pressing.

ADU Ordinance Ready for City Council Scrutiny in Chicago
Chicago residents will have the option of building coach houses or convection units if a new law passes as written through the Chicago City Council.

Citywide Elimination of Parking Minimums on Track in Edmonton
Edmonton, Alberta could be the first major Canadian city to eliminate parking minimums citywide—an ambitious and notable step for all North American cities.

Visualizing the Coronavirus Pandemic
Mapping of the crisis is producing a fascinating and important trove of cartographic records.
Pagination
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.
City of Moorpark
City of Tustin
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions