Land Use

Malibu Zuma Beach

YourCoast App Will Make California's Public Beaches More Accessible

The app, developed by tech mogul Sean Parker (of Napster and Facebook fame), brings technology and environmental regulation together to give people the information they need to get to public beaches.

December 20, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

San Francisco Parklet

West Hollywood Pilots Pop-Up Walkability Improvements

Six-month pilot projects along the Sunset Strip include a parklet and painted sidewalk extensions by a street artist.

December 19, 2018 - Wehoville

Boulder Colorado

Sweeping Building Moratorium Issued in Response to Potential Opportunity Zone Investments

From opportunity zone to 'opportunity-free zone.'

December 19, 2018 - Daily Camera

River Mile

Skyline Redefining Redevelopment Moving Forward in Denver

The Denver City Council approved a development agreement and rezoning for a 58-acre parcel along the South Platte River that is currently home to the Elitch Gardens Theme and Water Park.

December 19, 2018 - The Denver Post

Kentucky

Updating the Land Development Code to Protect Trees in Louisville

The Louisville Metro Council has tasked the Louisville Metro Department of Planning and Design with updating the code to preserve and add trees to the city.

December 18, 2018 - WFPL

Trailer Parks

The 'Goldilocks' Problem of Housing Supply

All over the country, housing markets are faced with too much supply, too little supply, and just the right of supply.

December 18, 2018 - Brookings

Food Trucks

Food Trucks, Already an Industry Force, Set for More Growth

A new report details the state of the mobile food vending industry and makes predictions for the short-term future.

December 17, 2018 - Next City

San Diego Gaslamp District

A Transit-Oriented Parking Reform Proposal in San Diego

Under a new plan proposed by the mayor of San Diego, new developments in transit-rich parts of the city would no longer require parking.

December 17, 2018 - Voice of San Diego

Beach Homes

Oregon to Consider Statewide Ban of Single-Family Zoning

Legislation in Oregon would follow the lead of Minneapolis in overturning single-family zoning—for all cities in the state with more than 10,000 residents.

December 15, 2018 - Willamette Week

Bay Area Wetlands

EPA and Army Corps of Engineers Propose Revision of Wetlands Definition

Fulfilling a promise he made as a candidate, the Trump administration proposed a redefinition of what is classified as a wetland, with the result being the loss of federal protection of millions of acres of waterways and wetlands.

December 14, 2018 - NPR

California Streetcar

Gas Stations, Other Car-Centric Uses Banned From Transit-Oriented Areas in Sacramento

The city of Sacramento has implemented one of the most aggressively transit-oriented land use regulation schemes in the country.

December 14, 2018 - The Sacramento Bee

Brazil City

How Many People Live in Cities? The Answer Isn't Obvious

The measures of urbanization vary widely, and the differences pose a challenge in developing policies and plans for cities.

December 14, 2018 - CityLab

San Francisco Apartments

Recent Parking Reform: Start of a Wave of Change?

The range of cities that have recently removed parking mandates could help motivate others that are eyeing new parking policies.

December 14, 2018 - Sightline Institute

Wildfire

California Fire Chief: Consider Ending Development in Fire Prone Areas

When will California listen to the experts and stop building in fire prone areas? Not today.

December 13, 2018 - Associated Press via KCRA

Greenwich Village, Manhattan

The Sweet Smell of Density? Subconscious Influences on Perceptions of Urban Form

Michael Hooper of Harvard University writes about a recent article in the Journal of Planning Education and Research

December 13, 2018 - JPER

New York Street

Thumbs Down to Planning Rules of Thumb

In planning, a number of common principles of practice are widely accepted. However, an alternative set of guidelines can better serve as information and decision-making tools.

December 11, 2018 - City Commentary

Ontario, Canada

A More Complete Picture of the 'Smart City' Plans in Toronto

The game changing redevelopment proposed by Sidewalk Labs for the Toronto waterfront district of Quayside took new shape recently after the company presented an updated draft of its plan.

December 11, 2018 - Curbed

Tejon Ranch

Wildfire Risks Make Southern California Development a Gamble

The Tejon Ranch development would bring thousands of homes to a highly fire-prone area in L.A. County.

December 10, 2018 - Los Angeles Times

Stone Arch Bridge

Putting a Bow on Top of the Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan

The City Council overcame a last minute legal challenge to approve the Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan late last week.

December 10, 2018 - Star Tribune

Washington

Suburbs Encouraging Accessory Dwelling Units

Renton, a suburb of Seattle dealing with skyrocketing housing prices like many of the communities in the region, is allowing new density in residential neighborhoods in the form of backyard cottages.

December 8, 2018 - Crosscut

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.