Land Use

YIMBY

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."

March 11, 2020 - KQED

Housing protest

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.

March 10, 2020 - JPER

Texas Central

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.

March 10, 2020 - The Dallas Morning News

Suburban Sidewalk

'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.

March 10, 2020 - The New York Times Magazine

Pearl District

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.

March 9, 2020 - City of Portland

Ridgewood

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.

March 9, 2020 - NorthJersey

kent, Washington

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.

March 8, 2020 - The Seattle Times

Colorado State Capitol Building

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.

March 6, 2020 - Denverite

Basement Apartment

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.

March 5, 2020 - Crain's Chicago Business

Street Food

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.

March 5, 2020 - Todd Litman

Super Tuesday 2020

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.

March 4, 2020 - James Brasuell

San Francisco Skyline

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.

March 3, 2020 - The New York Times

Hearst Tower Norman Foster

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.

March 3, 2020 - The New York Times

Capitol Hill

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.

March 2, 2020 - Financial Services Republicans

Charlotte Lynx

A First Comprehensive Transit Plan for the Charlotte Region

A massive public transit planning effort is underway in the Charlotte region.

March 2, 2020 - Plan Charlotte

Swinomish Channel Washington

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.

March 1, 2020 - Yale Environment 360

Texas Sprawl

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.

February 27, 2020 - Rivard Report

Cupertino, California

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.

February 26, 2020 - The Mercury News

Seattle Neighborhood

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.

February 26, 2020 - Sightline Institute

Brutalism

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.

February 25, 2020 - The Boston Globe

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.