Land Use

Zoning Code Rewrite Paused in Newton, Massachusetts
The mayor of Newton says the city's planning department is stretched too thin, with several ordinances and large development proposals in the works.

The Consequences of Trump's Attempt to Reduce Bears Ears National Monument by 85 Percent
Drone footage and 3d models reveal the stakes in an ongoing legal controversy surrounding the Trump administration's attempt to undo the Obama administration's use of the Antiquities Act to create the Bears Ears National Monument.

'Parking Madness' With a Twist
Streetsblog USA has launched its annual "parking madness" competition that has shamed the nation's worst parking crater for six years now. This year, however, the award will go to a former parking crater.

Looking Beyond FEMA Flood Maps, Cities Raise the Bar for Buildings in Floodplains
Cities across the country are developing floodplain construction standards that are more stringent than those required by FEMA.

Florida Man Thought the New Comp Plan Included Zoning Changes
A Florida man is accused of not realizing an entirely separate process would be required to implement the zoning changes recommended in a recently approved comprehensive plan.

Planning for 1.8 Million New Residents Around Puget Sound
The state of Washington's 1990 Growth Management Act requires regions to create long-range growth plans. The Puget Sound Region Council is currently working on its latest iteration of the plan.

Cincinnati Ponders Short-Term Rental Regulations
Controversies short-circuited similar legislation in 2018, but the Cincinnati City Council is taking up the issues surrounding short-term rentals again this year.

Oakland A's Propose 6,000 New Homes
On top of plans to build a new ballpark, the Oakland Athletics have proposed developing 6,000 units of housing. Half would be located at the new site near Jack London Square, and the other half at the current Oakland Coliseum site.

Order Without Design: Pro-Housing, Pro-Infrastructure
In Order Without Design, Alain Bertaud takes a middle position between consistent supporters of suburbia and sprawl critics.

Zoning to Protect Manufacturing in N.Y.C.
Development in industrial areas is pushing out manufacturers, but new zoning regulations could help control the incursion.
2011 Master Plan for the Central Delaware Cut Philadelphia's Waterfront Short
Waterfront views and large parcels of vacant land should be a good urban revitalization in a growing city like Philadelphia, but the Central Delaware waterfront has fallen short of expectations.

Opinion: Even the Green New Deal Repeats the Same Old Sprawling Mistakes
With infrastructure and housing prices in the national discussion more than ever before, the federal government still doesn't seem ready to really change its ways.

Study: Housing Crisis Stems from Inequality (Not Zoning)
A new paper examines the impacts of broad economic trends—like inequality, job markets, and migration—on housing markets in the nation's major metropolitan areas.

The Fascinating Transformation of Suburban Architecture
The metamorphoses of suburban commercial buildings reflect a story of the urban landscape waiting to be told.

Ottawa Light Rail On Track to Expand
Canada's capital has approved a major set of extensions to its light rail O-Train system, encompassing 27.3 miles of new track and 24 new stations.

New Dog Park a First for Downtown Phoenix
Phoenix. Phoenix let the dogs out.

Pop Quiz: Can You Identify Cities By Density Alone?
A Planetizen editor failed this quiz.

Connecting the Issues of Flooding and Affordable Housing in Texas
A study released this week by the Greater Houston Flood Mitigation Consortium ( the University of Houston, the Kinder Institute, the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, and more) raises concerns that new floodplain regulations could harm renters.

Santa Monica Pedestrian Mall Wants People to Hang Out
Updates are coming to the Third Street Promenade as it seeks to innovate the retail experience.

Zoning Reform Gets Another Try as Massachusetts Wrestles With Housing Crunch
Strong support for local control has made statewide legislation to address the housing affordability crisis difficult to approve in the Bay State.
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
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planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie