Land Use

Scott Wiener Hasn't Quit the Statewide Density Cause Yet
California State Senator has released draft legislation to follow up on the previous SB 50, which in turn followed up on SB 827. The new bill, SB 902, promises a "light touch."

How Much Does it Cost to Rent an Apartment, Anyway?
Geoff Boeing of the University of Southern California writes about a recent article he co-authored in the Journal of Planning Education and Research.

Eminent Domain Challenges Remain for Dallas to Houston High-Speed Rail Project
While Texas Central's plan to build a high-speed rail link between Houston and Dallas has already dealt with years of opposition from rural communities, big fights over the use of eminent domain have yet to begin.

'Wall Street's Latest Real Estate Grab'
Seeing an opportunity for massive profits, private companies have snapped up homes and become corporate landlords in cities across the country.

Portland 2035 Comprehensive Plan Clears Legal Hurdle
The portion of Portland's Comprehensive Plan devoted to missing middle housing spurred a lawsuit that held up the plan until January of this year.

A Small City in Suburban New Jersey Plans for its Future
Questions of density and demographics are challenging a planning process in Ridgewood, New Jersey—the first plan update in the village in more than 30 years.

Dispute Over Siting of Coronavirus Quarantine Facility in Washington State
The Seattle area is ground zero for the coronavirus in the U.S., where 10 of the 11 deaths as of March 5 have occurred. King County's decision to purchase a motel in Kent for use as a quarantine facility is being met with protests by city officials.

Controversy Over View Plane Grows in Denver
While view planes are protected for public places in Denver, a group of private property owners are agitating as a new apartment building rises on the edge of the city.

Illinois Could Force Statewide Legislation of Accessory Dwelling Units
State legislation would preempt local governments that block the construction of accessory dwelling units, known locally as coach houses, to increase the supply of affordable housing options in the state.

The Right to the City: Planners’ Role in Creating Affordable and Inclusive Communities
In a modern, post-industrial society, economic opportunity depends on disadvantaged households’ ability to find suitable housing in an economically successful city. Planners can make that happen.

Super Tuesday Results for Planning and Land Use Votes
Super Tuesday wan't just for presidential primaries: numerous local elections decided the future of land use policy in the largest state in the nation, while Oklahoma City weighed in on planning-related issues as well.

Two Coastal Areas Face Climate Change Threats, but Their Stories Are Vastly Different
In Manila and the San Francisco Bay Area, the severe impacts of rising sea levels are indisputable. But the only similarities are that both places face very uncertain futures.

The Long, Tough Road for Property Tax Reform in New York City
Landlords and the NAACP agree on the need for property tax reform in New York City, but it took a lawsuit to get the city moving on reform, and the state is still dragging its feet.

The Federal YIMBY Act Makes Progress in the House
A federal bill intended to increase transparency in land use and zoning decisions as well as encourage localities to eliminate barriers to housing has advanced out of a House of Representative committee.

A First Comprehensive Transit Plan for the Charlotte Region
A massive public transit planning effort is underway in the Charlotte region.

Indigenous Peoples Lead Fight Against Climate Change
Tribal communities are preparing for climate impacts by drawing on their deep understanding of the relationship between humans and the natural environment.

San Antonio's Housing Equity Crisis Traced to Planning Roots
Lending and planning policies have split San Antonio residents into haves and haves for decades, according to a large feature published recently by the Rivard Report.

Controversial Development Site in Cupertino Compounds Legal Controversy
The city of Cupertino rezoned a controversial development site in case a judge tosses the developer's current plan for the site. Now the developer is suing, accusing the city of an illegal taking.

The Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda Era Concludes in Seattle
Before YIMBY was a household word and before Minneapolis ended single-family zoning, Seattle's Housing Affordability and Livability Agenda (HALA) broke the planning status quo.

Bribery Scandal Leads to Zoning Board Reforms in Boston
The planning approvals process took a black eye in Boston last year, when a bribery scandal sent a Boston Planning and Development Agency staffer to jail.
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