Land Use

King Neptune Statue

Saying 'No' to Development in Climate Risk Areas

Only a few places have managed to stem the tide of development in areas at risk to the effects (like wildfire and flooding) of climate change. Virginia Beach is an early test bed for what it takes to tell developers "no."

November 21, 2019 - The New York Times

High Line with Denari

Recoupling Planning and Landscape Architecture

A closer marriage between planning and landscape architecture would mean strong connections between the processes of policy making and place making.

November 21, 2019 - ASLA The Dirt

Silo-Breaking Sustainability or Real-Life Lorax: L.A.’s First City Forest Officer

The city of L.A.’s first city forest officer, Rachel Malarich, opines on her new role in facilitating cooperation between the city’s departments to achieve a more equitable urban canopy.

November 20, 2019 - VerdeXchange News

Short-Term Rentals

Ontario Upholds Toronto's Airbnb Regulations

The vacancy rate in Toronto has been estimated as low 1.1 percent, but the province has approved regulations intended to restore units that have been taken off the long-term rental market by short-term rental platforms like Airbnb.

November 20, 2019 - The Globe and Mail

Tokyo Blur

New 'Smart Cities Challenge' Focuses on Intersection Technology

A group of ten cities have been announced as semi-finalists in the Smart Cities Challenge sponsored by Parson Corporation.

November 19, 2019 - Smart Cities Dive

Agricultural Land

Controversial Redevelopment Approved in Coastal Agricultural Area

A city on the northern edge of San Diego County has approved a controversial redevelopment. Supporters tout that agricultural components of the project. Opponents of the project say developers shouldn't be breaking ground in an agricultural area.

November 18, 2019 - ABC 10 News San Diego

Pasadena, California

Rose Bowl Property Ready for a Makeover

A famous local architect has been tapped to rethink the Rose Bowl's expansive property in Pasadena.

November 18, 2019 - Urbanize LA

West Palm Beach, Florida

Preserving Affordable Housing Along the Brightline in South Florida

The South Florida Housing Link Collaborative is working to develop and preserve affordable housing along South Florida's intercity rail line, in the process of transitioning to the Virgin Trains USA brand, as prices along the route climb.

November 18, 2019 - Miami Herald

Texas

An Ambitious Approach to Planning a Small Texas City

Bastrop, a fast-growing city located north of Austin, is plotting growth on a street grid.

November 17, 2019 - Public Square: A CNU Journal

California

Op-Ed: Housing Could Have Fared Better in San Francisco Election

This month's election yielded mixed results on housing. The pros: a solid victory for pro-housing Mayor London Breed and two affordable housing measures. The con: likely more anti-housing sentiment on the Board of Supervisors.

November 17, 2019 - The San Francisco Chronicle

Vancouver

Vancouver Launches a New Citywide Planning Process

The first days of public engagement for Vancouver's new citywide plan began this week in Vancouver.

November 17, 2019 - Vancouver Sun

Transit Oriented Development

Tenant Protections Expanded in Pasadena

One of the most famous suburbs in the country has expended tenant protections in the midst of the housing affordability crisis challenging much of the state.

November 15, 2019 - Pasadena Independent

Butte County, California

California Town Looks to Rebuild After Wildfire, but No Clear Path Forward

Paradise, California, burned to the ground last year, and the town’s recovery has begun. But questions remain about the measures that should be put into place to prevent another disaster.

November 15, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

California

Lawsuit Would Force Central Valley City to Comply With California Housing Law

The city of Clovis, California, didn't become 70 percent white by accident, according to the plaintiffs for a lawsuit in Fresno County Superior Court.

November 15, 2019 - Fresno Bee

Smart City

Developers Buy Land for 'Futuristic Mini-City' in Las Vegas

A development deal described as the most complex in recent Southern Nevada history is moving forward. The end result could be another digitally enabled city, in line with efforts in other cities like Toronto and TK.

November 14, 2019 - Las Vegas Review-Journal

Walking the Dog

The Suburbs, Reimagined

Eight experts produce a "manifesto for a new suburbia."

November 14, 2019 - Curbed

Montreal, Quebec

SUVs Pay More to Park in Montreal

The CBC News reports on a plan to charge more for sports utility vehicles (SUVs) to park in the Plateau-Mont-Royal borough of Montreal, following a model provided by other boroughs in the city.

November 13, 2019 - CBC News

Presidio San Francisco

S.F. Park Will Provide Panoramic Views of the Bay

In the northwest part of San Francisco, a new park will link the Presidio to the popular Crissy Field.

November 13, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

Marlyand

When the Floodwaters Receded in Ellicott City

Ellicott City, Maryland, a suburb located 12-miles from Baltimore with a historic Main Street that has experienced catastrophic flooding twice since 2016, offers a case study of the complementary effects of sprawl and climate change.

November 13, 2019 - NPR

Los Angeles Department of Transportation

Planning and Teaching in Southern California

Elizabeth Gallardo is a planning associate with the city of Los Angeles, working as part of an ambitious effort to update the city's numerous community plans while also teaching planning courses at a nearby university.

November 13, 2019 - James Brasuell

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.

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.